Cantor helps launch National Council for a New America

By: Staff | Times-Dispatch
Published: May 01, 2009

Culpeper’s Congressman Eric Cantor, Sen. John McCain and other prominent Republicans in Washington have launched the National Council for a New America.

In a conference call Thursday with reporters, McCain described Cantor, Minority Whip in the U.S. House of Representatives, as “the driving force” behind the organization, which is being operated under the House-Senate Congressional Caucus.

Cantor called the initiative “an effort to begin a conversation with the American people in a wide open policy debate.”

He invited Democrats, Republicans and independents “to come and engage in a discussion surrounding the principles of freedom and opportunity.”

“We do this not just to offer an alternative point of view or to be disagreeable,” wrote Cantor in a letter from his office Thursday, signed by, among others, GOP Reps. John Boehner (Ohio), Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky). “Instead, we want to ask the American people what their hopes and dreams are.”

The NCNA aims to bring together citizens from across the country at a series of forums and town hall meetings, starting with an initial gathering Saturday in Arlington — time and place to be announced.

According to online reports, the meeting will be held in a small Italian restaurant and will be attended by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

“The NCNA will be a dynamic, forward-looking organization that will amplify the common-sense and wisdom of our fellow citizens through a grassroots dialogue with Republican leaders,” the letter says.

However, the letter goes on, the forum is not for Republicans only.

Areas of focus will be the economy, health care, education, energy and national security.

“We know America’s best days are ahead, but we need to work hard to ensure that promise. We also know that the American people want choices and alternatives — that there is no one right solution for what America and its people need.”

The group plans to call a “national panel of experts” like, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sen. McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

All of the experts listed in the letter are Republicans.