You think David Brat was unusual? Meet Micah Edmond
The victory of economics/ethics professor David Brat over Eric Cantor in Virginia’s 7th District about three months ago featured a surprising win for an unusual candidate. But if you think that was strange, turn to Virginia’s District 8, where Micah Edmond is the Republican nominee for the House of Representatives.
Edmond is not only that somewhat rara avis, a black Republican, but he’s something even less common: a black Republican Jew. How many people can there be with that particular combination of traits, much less people with that particular combination of traits who are running for major political office? Add to that “observant Orthodox Jew,” and you have Micah Edmond.
Oh, and a Williams graduate. And Marine.
Edmond is very unlikely to win. The 8th is a strongly liberal Democrat district where a lot of federal government employees live. His opponent, former lieutenant governor Don Beyer is heavily favored.
But after Brat’s victory, I wouldn’t say it’s totally impossible that Edmond could at least make a stronger showing than one might ordinarily expect. Beyer is closely connected to President Obama and to money, having been Obama’s Mid-Atlantic finance chairman in 2008, and he’s from a family that owns a lot of well-known auto dealerships. Obama rewarded him by making him ambassador to Switzerland and Lichtenstein, which sounds like a nice gig. You get the picture. But in November, will the voters find the Obama association quite as fabulous as they once did?
[NOTE: If you’re wondering how it is that Edmond came to be Jewish, he is a convert, and this is his story:
“When I was in high school, my biological mother just left me,” he said. At that time, he had a close friend who was Jewish, and he sometimes attended services with the whole family. They ended up adopting him but didn’t insist he become Jewish.
“With my parents, it was up to me whether or not I wanted to convert,” he recalled. However, Edmond liked what he saw, particularly the “study, dedication and value system of not leaving anybody behind in the good deeds you do.”]
Sounds like a fine man and an independent thinker. Just the sort of person we need in Congress. Imagine this country with a majority of such men in office. We had them once and desperately need them once again.
If he does lose, he would serve his country best by moving to more fertile ground, i.e. to a district presently represented by a RINO, for a loss in his current district will not be a personal failure but a reflection of an electorate so lacking in common sense as to be profoundly self-destructive.
What a wonderful and unusual story!
In all frankness, I don’t know what combination is statistically more unlikely: Marine and Williams or Black and Jewish.
He has to be the only person in America with all four.
Funny, I worked with a black Jew who was also a Williams graduate.
farthing:
But was he a conservative?
And a Marine?
Very Heinleinian!
I will now start paying attention to Mr. Edmond, he sounds like a fine fellow with an illustrious future.
Not sure what district he could move to in the DC suburbs. Fortunately, the most Conservative district in the area, Fauquier County which was my old home, is well represented by Frank Wolf. But, Wolf is getting within sight of retirement. The Bureaucrats now dominate most other Northern Virginia districts, and they vote their rice bowls.
May the Lord bless Micah. It will people like him who can save the Republic. (From what little I know of him.)
Thx for the heads up. I wish him well — he sounds like a good man.
I wonder ..if Sammy Davis Jr. is rolling over in his grave.
The last time I read about an honest soul like Edmond — his name was Lot.
He couldn’t save the place, either.
And Edmond has an even taller challenge: DC!
&&&
Will it be said… “The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine and his lectern?”
Preach it brother!
BTW, Edmond is exactly the kind of soul that ought to be tapped for the larger cause.
He should be aimed at the 0bamanation.
Not 0bama — but, rather, those lemmings that worship his prattle.
When people vote only for their employer, it’s no longer a democracy or republic, but a corporate oligarchy.
Same complaint people had about Iraqi tribes voting.
Virginia 10 is also my district, and Frank Wolf has already announced he is retiring, so his seat is up for grabs in November. The Republicans are duking it out to find a nominee, and my concern is that the district could go Democrat since it’s becoming more and more liberal.
Frank Wolf was a decent representative and I’ve always liked his voting record, but he’s been in Congress since 1981. Good or not, it’s time for someone new. I’m a firm believer in term limits.
Don Beyer has had a long career in Virginia, as well as being a businessman of significant stature for decades… I recall driving past his car dealership in Falls Church back in the late 80s when I first lived in the area. I have little doubt he’s got everything going for him.
Edmond sounds like a worthy challenger whom I would definitely support, but he’s fighting an uphill battle. Let’s hope the boat anchor called “Obama” gives him the help he needs.
Marine by CHOICE and Jew by CHOICE!
Since our Gentle Hostess didn’t provide a link, I will —
http://micahedmond.com/donate/
If you like the man and what he stands for, I’m sure he’d appreciate your help. I just sent him a donation.
I would think that the cognitive dissonance of Black, Jewish and Conservative would make Democrats’ heads explode. Love it.