In opening salvo of campaign, Cantor foe acknowledges error

A Richmond businessman who wants to unseat Rep. Eric I. Cantor next year launched his campaign today with a stinging attack but later said he made an “honest mistake” with a key allegation.

Charlie Diradour also acknowledged today that he doesn’t live in the 7th District, which is not a requirement.

Diradour, who will seek the Democratic nomination next year to run against the House Republican whip, released a YouTube video that he said showed Cantor used his BlackBerry to Twitter during President Barack Obama’s nationally televised speech on health care.

Cantor had earlier said he used the BlackBerry to take notes during the address.

After Diradour’s allegations, Cantor’s campaign said that none of the Twitter messages were sent during Obama’s speech. Time stamps on the messages also showed that.

Diradour, however, said one of the tweets could have been made during the speech, but he wasn’t sure.

“It was an honest mistake,“ Diradour of the error in his allegations.

Ray Allen Jr., senior stratgist for Cantor for Congress, said “no tweets went out during the president’s speech—period.“

“This charge is an outrageous lie. It is amazing that someone who thinks he wants to represent the good people of the 7th District would begin his campaign with an outrageous lie and fabrication,“ Allen said. 

Diradour later said that regardless, Cantor should not have been using the BlackBerry during the president’s speech.

Diradour’s Web video points out that the House rules of decorum and debate include a provision that members shall “refrain from eating, smoking or using electronic equipment, including cellular phones or laptop computers, on the floor.“