It is interesting how the news media, even FOX, is playing up the Virginia Republican Primary defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor as a Republican loss, rather than as a victory for his opponent, Dr. David Brat, a professor of economics at Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA, the oldest Methodist-run college in the country. Pundits attribute incumbent Cantor’s defeat, largely, to his position on immigrant amnesty, exacerbated by the current flood of un-attached children across the Mexican border.

Dr. Brat’s  areas of academic specialization are listed as Macro Growth Economics, International Trade and Finance, Economic Methodology, and History and Ethics.  His academic curriculum vitae indicates that he is currently working on a book whose projected title is:  “Ethics as Leading Economic Indicator? What went Wrong? Notes on the Judeo-Christian Tradition and Human Reason.”

He has previously published works titled “God and Advanced Mammon – Can Theological Types Handle Usury and Capitalism?” and “An Analysis of the Moral Foundations in Ayn Rand.”

The media is playing down the fact that he is an avid disciple of Ayn Rand, although as you can see, her philosophy is the topic of one of his books.

Congressman Cantor, and the Karl Rove led Republican establishment, spent over $5 million on his re-election campaign.  Dr. Brat spent $122,000.  Dr. Brat is said to be the darling of the Tea Parties, yet, there is apparently no evidence of support from any of the major Tea Party groups.  He did it all on his own, in what could certainly be described as a “grass roots” victory!

Dr. Brat said during his victory speech, “It’s not about David Brat winning tonight, it’s about returning the country to its principles.”

It is also interesting to note that his Democrat opponent in this fall’s race, Dr. Jack Trammell, is also a Randolph-Macon College Assistant Professor and Director of Disability Support Services.  He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University, (Virginia’s formerly all-black college).  He recently authored books titled “The Richmond Slave Trade: The Economic Backbone of The Old Dominion,” and the “2010 Anthology of Appalachian Writers, Silas House Volume II” and “Down on the Chickahominy: The Life and Times of a Vanishing Virginia River.”  

It is reported that Randolph-Macon students ranked Dr. Trammell higher than Dr. Brat in a Rate My Professor survey.  Do you imagine that the subject matter in “Disability Support Services” might be a tad easier to grasp than that found in Dr. Brat’s instruction in “Macro Growth Economics, International Trade and Finance, Economic Methodology, and History and Ethics”?

Now you tell me, please, which professor’s background and credentials do you think our nation needs most in Washington at the present time?