5th District Debate Pt. II: Candidates define justice, discuss defense

Editor’s note: In October, Hampden-Sydney students asked eight questions. 17 Debate in the 5th District. The last edition contained answers to the first four. We’re providing the candidates’ answers to two more questions today and concluding with the final two in our next issue.

Candidates for Virginia’s 5th District congressional seat laid out their platforms and spoke about their goals during a public forum on Thursday, October 17. The discussion took place at Hampden-Sydney College, with questions submitted by students and each person receiving two questions. Minutes allowed for response.

They included Republican and current state senator John McGuire and Democrat Gloria Witt, who serves as president of the Amherst County NAACP chapter. Each person was asked the same eight questions during the event, which they had to answer in front of a group made up mostly of Hampden-Sydney students. What we do is present their answers as they were given.

Q: The Biden-Harris administration has sought to promote equity across the federal government. How do you understand justice and do you support it as a goal?

Gloria Witt: Yes, I support justice as a goal. You know, we got to where we are as a people, African Americans, people of color, because of the efforts to create equality after we started with the handicap of enslavement. And without diversity, equity and inclusion, we end up with, let’s say, power brokers calling the shots. For me, justice simply means meeting people where they are. If my parents didn’t have a college education, it would be difficult for me to get this education. It’s a very different path forward. I like to think of it as if everyone wants a pair of shoes and everyone gets a size 7 Nike. How would that feel? This is equality.

Justice would give a person what they need. You could get a size 7, you could get a size 6 and you could get a size 12 because it fits. America is an inclusive place. It will never happen again, no matter how much they dream of putting the ketchup back in the bottle, it won’t happen. We are an inclusive America and we are not going to change that, no matter how much Project 2025 tries to bring us back, it’s not happening and that’s why we need to acknowledge the differences because that’s what makes us powerful, that is what makes us unique, and that’s why I want to be in Congress to represent your voice, because we need different voices in the room because we come from different places and have different beginnings. And that’s why I value justice. And we all need to start embracing it more. We have now moved from equality to a conversation about justice. Give people what they need to be successful.

John McGuire: Well, what I would say as a veteran and as an American is that I love our country and the American people. If someone saved your life on the battlefield, you wouldn’t care if they were male or female, tall or short, pink or blue, Democrat, Republican or Independent, we are all human. And when you have a good idea, you have a good idea. It doesn’t matter what you call yourself. You can call yourself a Democrat or an independent Republican, but if you have a good idea, you have a good idea. I believe in equal opportunity for all of America, but what I don’t advocate for is equal outcomes. If I spend 10 years with a violin and you spend two weeks with a violin, we cannot be equal in that respect. When I look at diversity, equity and inclusion, I am against it. It should be meritocracy. If a plane crashes in the jungle and you only have to go one way to save your entire team, would you want someone who’s never been in the jungle? Or do you want a Navy SEAL who is a survival expert to keep the team alive? It should be based on performance and I don’t care if you’re pink or blue or whatever. If you are the best heart surgeon, it should be a meritocracy.

I believe that diversity, equity and inclusion is a Marxist idea. And by that I mean that it’s fine if you take justice and replace it with Marxism. It’s about achieving the same results without the same effort or work. So equal opportunities for everyone? Absolutely. But I don’t believe in the same outcome for everyone. It doesn’t work. It’s a path to failure. And if you saw the failed assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, and thank God by the grace of God it failed, then how great is he? 6’4 or something like that? They had very small people trying to protect him. It makes no sense. It should be based on the merits and qualifications required to perform the job.

Q: How would you vote on continued funding of defense bills supporting the war in Ukraine and Israel?

McGuire: Well, I have to tell you, we have a lot of problems in our country. And that’s why I think we can do a lot of things with our money. When I see this wall, we must build the wall and secure our border. And when I see people tearing down these metal walls and selling them for pennies on the dollar, walls work. We must put our money into helping the people affected by Hurricane Helene. I’m not sure what the best solution is, but I know that four years ago we didn’t have the problems in Ethiopia, Ukraine and Israel, and I think we need, President Trump, of all politicians, me. I listened to all the world leaders say about Ukraine and he said the best thing anyone has ever said.

Remember: Our job is to be your voice and represent everyone in the 5th Congressional District. Not some of you. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, Republican or Independent, I love you. We are here to represent you all. And he said the best thing anyone has said. He said I just want people to stop dying. I’ve had personal, intense conversations with President Trump and he said, “John, you’re a Navy SEAL, you’re only going to get six hours of sleep for the first 100 days, God willing he wins and God willing I am.” I am Your congressman. He said you only get six hours. He doesn’t want it to take four years to clean up this land. He wants our young people to have a better future. He wants all Americans to be able to live, work and support their families in peace. That’s why we must end these wars abroad and bring people together in peace.

Witt: I’m just trying to understand what Senator McGuire just said. That was, what do you call it? Eating salad. This was salad at its best. A few things, I wish I had something to write about, but I don’t. What would be my solution to financing the wars? Ukraine is waging a war for democracy. You get it. Russia came in and hurt. We said we would support them, and as far as I’m concerned, we’re totally on board. And we must continue to support them because if they make it to Poland, our allies, our sons and daughters will be at war. That’s why I’m all for funding whatever it takes. As far as Israel and Hamas are concerned, the situation is complicated and terrible.

Israel had the right to enter and protect itself and at this point we need a ceasefire. Women and children are dying in large numbers and it’s complicated. And honestly, let’s just say our legislators who are dealing with this now, being the newbie in the political world, I would say I need to learn more, but we need to have a truce. We must release the hostages and have a long-term strategy for a two-state solution. We must seek peace in this bucket because things are becoming increasingly difficult in this part of the world. We have to keep talking, we have to keep the channels open. Hopefully, given today’s new events, we can reach a ceasefire, release the hostages and at some point the situation will calm down because we do not want to escalate the fighting.