A recent panel discussion between Mike Turner and a spokesperson for his primary opponent has garnered coverage on CNBC.com and Forbes.com.

CNBC.com

March 26, 2008

At a panel discussion in Purcellville, VA on March 20th, Retired Air Force Colonel Mike Turner, a candidate for U.S. Congress in Virginia's 10th District, squared off against a spokesperson for Professor Judy Feder, his opponent in the June 10th Democratic primary. The winner will oppose incumbent Frank Wolf in what is expected to be a hotly-contested general election. Turner presented specific ideas for ending the war in Iraq, resolving the economic and housing crises, and improving regional transportation; he then announced his support for single-payer national health insurance.

Forbes.com

March 26, 2008

Turner asserted, "It is time to stop studying health care and time to take action for the benefit of the American people." According to the National Library of Medicine, a "Single-Payer System" is an approach to health care financing with only one source of money for paying health care providers. The potential advantages include administrative simplicity for patients and providers, and resulting significant savings in overhead costs.

Forbes.com coverage.

Judy Feder, Turner's Primary Opponent, still working on a position on health care

PURCELLVILLE, VA—At a panel discussion organized by the Blue Ridge district of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee on March 20th, Retired Air Force Colonel Mike Turner, a candidate for the U.S. Congressional seat in Virginia’s 10th District, squared off against a spokesperson for his opponent in the June 10th primary, Professor Judy Feder. When questioned about important issues, Turner talked about ending the war in Iraq, fixing the economy, and transportation, then he announced his support for Single Payer national health insurance. Subsequently, the Feder spokesperson revealed that Feder was still "working on a healthcare proposal" and would be "rolling it out later."

Former Chair of Loudoun County Democratic Committee says Turner can defeat Frank Wolf in November

PURCELLVILLE, VA—Retired Air Force Colonel Mike Turner, who is a candidate for the U.S. Congressional seat in Virginia’s 10th District, has received the endorsement of Thom Beres, the former Chairman of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee (LCDC), and a veteran of the Gulf War.

Mr. Beres stated, “From my experience, Mike has the best chance of winning in November. He has demonstrated the leadership, background, and skills needed to beat Frank Wolf and bring needed change to the district and country.

Winchester Star
March 3, 2008

With 28 years of military experience, Mike Turner probably is an atypical Democratic candidate for Congress.

Since retiring from the Air Force in 1997, Turner has worked in senior national fundraising positions for the American Red Cross, Junior Achievement Inc., and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

He said those experiences also caused him to consider running for Congress and challenging Wolf.

In the military, Turner served under Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and Gen. Wesley Clark.

He said those experiences gave him more of a sense of politics, working with those leaders as they advised presidents and tried to guide foreign policy.

"I am appalled by the Bush administration’s foreign policy," Turner said. "Frank Wolf voted for this unconscionable war."

Fairfax Times
February 20, 2008

For the meantime, the rematch between Feder and Wolf will have to wait as each faces a primary challenger they'll have to step over to get at one another.

Feder is facing Michael Turner, who worked for her own campaign in 2006. Turner is a resident of Waterford in Loudoun County and a retired Air Force colonel. Turner styles himself as a fiscal conservative who will appeal to moderates more than Feder.

Turner wants to appeal to "blue dog" and Reagan Democrats.

"The candidate who can beat Frank Wolf must be a moderate. ... and that person must be credible with the more conservative one-third of registered voters in the district," Turner said in a released statement.

Read the entire article.

Martin Casey
Loudoun Easterner editor
(Reprinted with permission)

Mike Turner of Waterford wants to be your next congressman.

He opened his campaign Thursday evening with a kickoff reception at Lansdowne Resort attended by about 45 hard-core Loudoun Democrats.

Turner vowed to beat Judy Feder in the June 10 Democratic primary, and then to go on to defeat 14-term Republican incumbent Frank Wolf next November.

Feder, whom Wolf defeated in the 2006 election with the help of 57 percent of the Loudoun County vote, already has announced that she will try again.

Turner was at Feder's side two years ago serving as her precinct operations chairman. But the Loudoun Democrats in the room Thursday were pleased to have a "hometown" candidate to back against Feder, who lives in McLean and is dean of Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute.

Turner, 56, is a retired Air Force colonel who graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1973 and spent 28 years in uniform. He's an experienced pilot of helicopters and fixed-wing fighters and fighter bombers. He was air operations briefer during Desert Storm for Gen. Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Richard Cheney.

Former Schwarzkopf Top Aide Cites More Funds and Improved Efficiencies as High Priority Issues that Cannot Wait

LEESBURG, VA—Retired Air Force Colonel Mike Turner, who is a candidate for the U.S. Congressional seat in the 10th District in Virginia, has called for the Bush administration to provide increased support for veterans without delay. His urgent plea to the President and Congress is to allocate more funds for support of veterans’ health programs and to implement drastically improved efficiencies in counseling and claims processing. Col. Turner, who was a senior aide to General Norman Schwarzkopf in the first Gulf War, has first hand experience with the problems inherent in the veterans’ support systems. Colonel Turner stated that, “Support of returning troops must be given the highest priority. As Congressman of the 10th district of Virginia, I will not approve one more dollar for the war in Iraq until more funding for our returning veterans is authorized and appropriated.”

His position paper can be found here.

Winchester Star
January 4, 2008

The Frederick County Democratic Committee wants 2008 to be the year that the party makes a major breakthrough at the ballot box.

During the committee’s caucus meeting on Thursday night at the Frederick County Public Safety Building, the group elected its officers for the new year — just over one month before the Feb. 12 Democratic Primary, when voters will choose between Judy Feder and Mike Turner as the Democrats’ candidate in the 10th District House of Representatives race against incumbent Republican Frank R. Wolf, who is seeking his 15th two-year term.

...

The key, De Arment said, is to go back to basics and attract voters.

"We need to go out there face to face and get to know each other," he said. "E-mails are great, mailings are useful, but we need to meet the people and build our support."

Read the entire article.

A Desert Storm veteran, a former commentator for National Public Radio, and a contributor to Newsweek.com, Turner has been an outspoken national critic of the war in Iraq since before the war began. In his announcement, the retired fighter pilot also praised former Governor Mark Warner’s decision to seek the U.S. Senate seat of outgoing Virginia Senator John Warner and pledged his full support to Governor Warner.

Like Governor Warner, my principal focus from now until November 6, 2007 will be on getting our local Democratic candidates elected. I’ve been working very closely with the entire slate of candidates running in Loudoun County, from the County Board of Supervisors to the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia State Senate.

Washington Post
July 10, 2007

"Democrat Mike Turner, who works for a nonprofit fundraising organization, said he plans to file his candidacy papers this week. He will face Feder in a Democratic primary next summer.

Turner and Feder are trying to capitalize on President Bush's unpopularity in Virginia, largely driven by the war in Iraq. A recent poll of Virginia independents conducted by The Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University found that Bush is viewed as the worst of the past nine presidents.

Turner criticizes Wolf's support for Bush and the war.

'The war brought his lack of leadership into stark relief,' said Turner, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel."

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