Pelosi Headlines Fairfax County Dems' Dinner

Nearly 500 Democrats gathered Sunday night at the Tysons Corner Hilton for their major fundraiser. They promised to keep Virginia blue and heard from U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

The guests ranged from Virginia Democratic congressmen Jim Moran, (8th) and Gerry Connolly (11th) to state legislators, county supervisors, school board members, 2012 candidates for local offices, staffers from the Obama campaign and Democratic party workers who are the party's front line troops.

This was the Fairfax County Democrats' first Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt dinner. Special guest: Anna Eleanor Fierst, great-granddaughter of the former president and his first lady. Anna Eleanor Fierst  is vice president for administration of the Woman's National Democratic Club.

"Democrats are restoring economic stability for all families," Cesar del Aguila, newly elected chair of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, said as he kicked off the dinner.

McLean residents Margi Vanderhye, who is chair of the county Democrats Women's Action Committee and Jeff Barnett, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress against U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th), co-chaired the dinner.

Pelosi, who mainly made the case for the re-election this fall of President Barack Obama and for Democrats taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives, briefly touched on a Fairfax issue --- the current impasse in building Phase 2 of the Metrorail's Silver Line from Reston to Dulles Airport and into Loudoun County.

 “We know this is a job creator,” Pelosi said. "It improves the economy of the region and improves the quality of the life of people in this area. Just ask anyone who has been stuck in traffic on the Dulles Toll Road."

 “Some would turn this into a fight on labor unions,” but we know it’s about jobs, she said to applause.

Of Republicans, Pelosi said, “They simply do not believe in the public role. They want to eliminate the role of government.”

"Since they don’t believe in the public role," there is little on which Republicans and Democrats can agree on. We are committed to reducing the deficit, but it’s also important to note that nothing brings more money to the treasury than educating the American people. That’s one area where we don’t want to cut.”

She also said Republicans were trying to suppress the vote. “The Republicans are suffocating the campaign with secret campaign contributions. They are poisoning the debate and that is to their advantage because people have thrown up their hands and saying 'a pox on both your houses.' ”

 Democrats want disclosure of such spending she said.

 “In order for us to reignite the American Dream we have to win," she said. "Virginia holds the key to electing Vice President Biden and President Barack Obama."

Face in the crowd included: 

Virginia State Senators:Janet Howell, (32nd), David Marsden (37th), Chap Petersen (34th), Toddy Puller (36th).

Virginia House of Delegates: Mark Keam (35th) who represents a sliver of McLean,  David Bulova (37th), Kay Kory, (38th)  Jim Scott, (53rd), Charniele Herring (46th).

Fairfax Supervisors: John Foust (Dranesville(, Cathy Hudgins (Hunter Mil)l, Gerry Hyland (Mount Vernon), Jeff McKay (Lee), Kate Handley (former chair of the Fairfax Board of Supervisors).

Fairfax School Board: Jane Strauss (Dranesville), Kathy Smith (Sully), Dan Storck (Mount Vernon), Ilryong Moon, Ted Velkoff and Ryan McElveen, At Large.

Other Guests: Mayor of Richmond Dwight C. Jones.