"Gerry Connolly, given his 20 year employment in and in depth understanding of our industry, is the only candidate running for this election who can step up and strongly help fill the void created by Tom Davis' departure."

I can't believe he let someone send this out on his behalf.

However, misguided Rosenbergs portrayal of the situation and the logic behind why he feels SAIC should endorse Connolly explain to me exactly how this one persons viewpoint is reflective of the candidate.

If it is, buy that standarrd everyhting that RK posts here is reflective of Bynre, Obama and any other candidate RK is endorsing. Is this correct? Can anything that RK posts be held as reflective of the candidate they are speaking to?

While most likely a violation and I certainly will leave that arena to those more in the know in term sof the law, the intent of this was for one person (Rosenberg) to move people to action and move people to support the candidate that he supports.

Its is reflective of Robert Rosenbergs view and nothing with Connolly. If you disagree than I guess the actions of Code Pink and the statements of those supporting it are reflective of Barrack Obama. I certainly do not think so, but by the standard expressed here they are reflective I guess.

More importantly, you're correct, this is Rosenberg's view of Connolly. And let's be clear, Rosenberg was an SAIC Executive Vice President....this email is essentially SAIC's view of Gerry Connolly; which is what makes the email so damaging.

SAIC, and it's senior exectives, clearly believe Connolly is in their back pocket and can be "counted on" when he reaches Capitol Hill. That's an important piece of information for voters to understand about Gerry's relationship with SAIC, because it's the thing Gerry himself has been denying the whole time.

"Mr. Connolly, were you aware that SAIC was going to send a communication to its employees regarding your campaign?"

That precludes the opportunity for him to weasel out in narrowly truthful terms by 1) the fact that he didn't personnally see or review the email, or 2) the fact that he didn't know what the specific form of communication would be.

The fact that he mentions Tom Davis, for a DEMOCRATIC primary, is extremely revealing about what SAIC thinks about their own employee (Gerry Connolly) and the person their senior management would like to see win the 11th district (Gerry Connolly).

These are not, I repeat NOT, merely the sloppy ramblings of some random Connolly supporter trying to urge a few friends to vote for Gerry.

This tells you everything you need to know about why Connolly is an EMPLOYEE of this company and why this company wants Connolly to take Tom Davis' seat.

We do not, I repeat NOT, want to replace Tom Davis with Tom Davis.

Gee, what could the head of Fairfax, or a U.S. Representative, do for major government consulting company?  

I don't know the contract numbers or the critical business intel they've gained, or could gain, but it's downright silly to ask how a government consulting company can benefit by having one of it's own employees on the Fairfax board or in Congress.

There is no "why" from Rosenberg other than he wants his employee/friend/operative to win.  Then he benefits and his company benefits.  

It IS that simple.

I am trying here to get ous on a track that no one wants to endeavor upon and that is the very issue of "government consulting" in the first place----gee we used to call it lobbying---I guess we have evolved -snark.

"The new position of community relations chief was conceived by Connolly and Robert Rosenberg, the firm's general manager for operations in the D.C. area"

He's the guy who hired Connolly to do his job.

"The new position of community relations chief was conceived by Connolly and Robert Rosenberg, the firm's general manager for operations in the D.C. area"

"Rosenberg's vision for an underground shopping area" at the proposed SAIC rail station in Tysons.

Two weeks after Connolly was hired by SAIC he voted, as Providence District Supervisor, for the current Tysons rail alignment that included this station at SAIC's frontdoor without disclosing his financial ties to SAIC.

Any proposed land use, such as the retail mentioned by Rosenberg, would have to be approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, of which Connolly is Chair.

Connolly also represents SAIC on the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors.

SAIC is a major landowner in Tysons and Reston and hopes to reap huge profits by rezoning their property. Connolly controls their destiny in that regard. So wouldn't it be a windfall for them to have Connolly on their payroll?

WRONG!

It's in the 8th.  It's on the north side of Route 7 between there and Greensboro Drive, in Tysons precinct.

I can forgive that this person may not know the boundaries of the Fairfax County Congressional districts however, given their crazy gerrymandered boundaries that put Reston and Mount Vernon in the same district, but split Tysons Corner and its environs into three different districts....but come on....at least get your facts right if you're going to support someone in a written appeal.

I routinely drive, in nearly a straight line, through the 11th and the 8th and the 11th again before coming to the 8th again (where I work) from where I live in the 10th.  Makes the campaign signs very entertaining.

This is the real deal, not a race for County Supervisor, someone over in the Connolly Camp better get it together or they're going to lose this race.

CONNOLLY NOT READY FOR PRIMETIME

So, in that respect, I completely agree with you. Based on what I've seen out of Connolly, he should have been held to higher standard a long time ago.

The fact that he has as much power as he does is, quite frankly, astonishing.

Hi, Gerry!

Byrne Endorsed by Two More Members of Congress: Representatives Woolsey and Hinchey Endorse in VA-11

Byrne Cited as Leading Voice on Iraq; Draws Support From Co-Founder, Prominent Member of the Out of Iraq Caucus

Fairfax, VA-With momentum in her favor after reports last week that the Democratic primary race in Virginia's 11th congressional district is a dead heat and this week's endorsements by two members of Congress, Leslie Byrne announced today that she has now been endorsed by Reps. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Maurice Hinchey (D-NY). Woolsey and Hinchey give Byrne a total of five congressional endorsements, four from members of the House and Senator Jim Webb (D-VA).

The news that sitting members of Congress continue to endorse Byrne over her opponent Gerry Connolly comes on the heels of a round of bad news for the Connolly campaign. Just today the Washington Post reported that Connolly and SAIC may have engaged in illegally soliciting donations, and just a week ago questions were raised in the Washington Post about Connolly's employment with SAIC.

The endorsements of four members of the Out of Iraq Caucus, including co-founder Rep. Woolsey, is particularly important. The Iraq War is playing a major role in the 11th congressional district race.

"These endorsements make it clear that Leslie Byrne is the right choice for voters who are looking for leadership on the Iraq War," said Byrne campaign manager Joe Fox. "Representatives Woolsey and

Hinchey are working hard to bring the troops home, and they are letting Northern Virginians know that Leslie is the ally they want by their side in Congress."

"I am proud and honored to have the endorsement of Representatives Woolsey and Hinchey," said Byrne.

"I am looking forward to working with them to bring an end to this conflict as a member of the Out of Iraq Caucus when I get to the halls of Congress next year."

Byrne has signed on to "A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq" along with more than 50 other congressional candidates, and is calling for the swift withdrawal of all of our troops and a new diplomatic and economic offensive in that nation. She has been publicly opposed to the war from the very beginning, joining 75 other former congressmen in calling on President Bush to put more effort into diplomacy before the invasion took place.

Woolsey and seven other representatives founded the Out of Iraq caucus in June 2005 to coordinate congressional efforts aimed at bringing home our troops.

"In 2003, more than two-thirds of Americans supported the war in Iraq. I was among those who did not, and I know how tough a position that was to be in. Leslie Byrne didn't shy away from making the tough call then, and she won't shy away from making the tough calls it takes to bring our troops home," said Representative Woolsey. "I came to the U.S. Congress with Leslie, and have always known her to be someone with the courage to say and work for what she and her constituents believe. I am looking forward to serving with her again."

"Leslie Byrne has never let anything or anyone stop her from doing the right thing. At a time when our fighting men and women can't afford any delays, we could use her drive and determination in Congress. The next Congress will have a genuine opportunity to end the war in Iraq. We can't risk letting that opportunity go to waste," said Representative Hinchey. "Leslie was one of the few people saw the dangers in invading Iraq before the war began. We need more representatives with her sort of foresight to help us end the bloodshed."

###

Leslie Byrne is a former member of Congress who has fought for economic and social justice in the Virginia House of Delegates, the Virginia Senate, and as the Consumer Advocate of the United States under former President Bill Clinton. She and her husband Larry have two grown children and two grandchildren, all living in Northern Virginia.