From the Democratic Party of Virginia:

New emails obtained from Virginia Senator Donald McEachin’s Freedom of Information Act request for records pertaining to Ken Cuccinelli’s scandal with Star Scientific and CEO Jonnie Williams reveal that Cuccinelli dramatically undervalued the cost of his stay at Williams’ Goochland County Mansion.

As the internal emails linked below demonstrate, Cuccinelli and his staff decided that his month-long stay at Williams 9,000 square foot Goochland County mansion should be valued at $27 per day on his Statement of Economic Interest, a cost on par with low-rent long-stay motels in the Richmond metro area.

Cuccinelli’s unrealistic valuation of the cost of Williams’ gift raises questions about whether he intentionally sought to mislead Virginians about the depths of his financial relationship with Williams, who was locked in a years-long battle with Virginia to avoid paying state taxes and would later sue the Commonwealth over that matter.

“Ken Cuccinelli’s decision to mask the true value of the gifts he received from Jonnie Williams are just the latest examples of his clear pattern of putting his own personal and financial interests ahead of his responsibility to the people of Virginia,” said DPVA spokesman Brian Coy. “While ordinary Virginians do not have access to ‘gifts’ from rich patrons like free, month-long stays in 9,000 square foot mansions, Ken Cuccinelli had no problem leveraging his office to secure one for himself. 

“It’s time for Ken Cuccinelli to come clean on the circumstances surrounding his stay at Jonnie Williams’ mansion and why Virginians just can’t trust him to put their best interests ahead of his personal and political agenda.”

To read the internal Cuccinelli emails discussing his $27 per-day mansion stay click here. 

The Loudoun Times-Mirror is out with its endorsements this morning, and they’re significant for a couple big reasons.

1. Loudoun County is basically THE prototypical suburban/exurban, large “swing” county in Virginia. It also usually picks the winner. For instance, in 2005, Loudoun County went by 6 points for Democrat Tim Kaine over Republican Jerry Kilgore for governor. Kaine won. In stark contrast, in 2009, Loudoun went 61%-39% for Republican Bob McDonnell over Democrat Creigh Deeds. McDonnell won. In 2006, Loudoun barely went (by about 1 point) for Democrat Jim Webb over Republican George Allen. Webb barely won. In 2012, Loudoun went for Democrat Barack Obama over Republican Mitt Romney by about 4 points. Obama won Virginia by…about 4 points. Sensing a pattern here? 🙂

2. The Loudoun Times-Mirror is a paper that endorses a LOT of Republicans — Mitt Romney for President in 2012; Bob McDonnell for Governor in 2009; and John McCain for President in 2008; Frank Wolf pretty much every year; and several Republican House of Delegates incumbents (Randy Minchew, Tom Rust, Jim LeMunyon, Tag Greason) this year (note that they also endorsed Democratic House of Delegates candidates John Bell, Mary Daniel and Kathleen Murphy – all excellent picks!). No, this is not a monolithically Republican paper like the Richmond Times-Dispatch has essentially been over the years, but it’s got a strong lean towards the right side of the political spectrum.

All of which makes the Loudoun Times-Mirror’s endorsement of this year’s entire Democratic statewide slate – Terry McAuliffe for Governor, Ralph Northam for Lt. Governor, and Mark Herring for Attorney General – so striking. These are not mealy-mouthed or wishy-washy endorsements either. A few key passages jumped out at me.

*Ken Cuccinelli “cannot resist placing his own ideological concerns above the business of governing…Whether it’s conducting an independent investigation into climate change research, attempting to limit nondiscrimination policies for gays and lesbians at colleges and universities or his continued push to limit women’s options on abortion, Cuccinelli cannot divorce himself from social issues and an economic platform of lowering taxes without specified budget cuts is suspect. His tendency toward the crusade du jour makes him ill equipped to serve as a mediator between political parties, an Achilles heel shared by far too many of our public officials today.”

*E.W. Jackson “has continued to stand behind an ever-expanding string of extremist comments.”

*Mark Obenshain‘s “introduction of the personhood bill gives us serious pause,” and “leads us to believe that an Attorney General Obenshain would be as activist as the Cuccinelli administration ending this term.”

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. The truth really hurts, ya know?

Now, a few (very positive) words from the Loudoun Times-Mirror on the Democratic candidates.

*Terry McAuliffe: “Virginia needs someone like McAuliffe to be a salesman for the commonwealth. Whether or not his overtures will be accepted, he is also a man likely to extend a hand on bipartisan compromise. For those concerned with his lack of legislative experience, we point to the success of Sen. Mark Warner, who likewise was without experience as an elected official before his term as governor.”

*Ralph Northam: An “easy” choice, as Northam’s “an experienced legislator with a level demeanor and a desire to reach across the aisle to improve the commonwealth,” with much to contribute on “future debates on health care and Medicaid expansion.”

*Mark Herring “has fought to protect the elderly from financial abuse, supported the region on transportation issues and worked across party lines for his constituents. More important, Herring cares deeply about each and every issue he espouses and understands the human cost in bad legislation and missed opportunities. Our sole regret is that should he win, Loudoun wouldn’t have Herring to represent us in the General Assembly.”

In short, that was an easy call – basically a “no brainer” – for this key “swing county” paper which generally leans solidly Republican. Just as it should be for Virginia voters in 13 days. 🙂

DPVA decided to take these “down,” so to speak, but we can keep them “up” forever here. LOL

The following is from the DPVA (also note the photo of Obenshain with NRA extremist nutjob Wayne LaPierre; in another photo from that same event, Obenshain is wearing a “Guns Save Lives” sticker):

Tea Party AG candidate’s votes in General Assembly prove he’s in the pocket of NRA

Today, noted opponents of gun violence in Virginia reacted to the recent NRA ad attacking Mark Herring and discussed Tea Party candidate for Attorney General Mark Obenshain’s extreme record on gun safety.

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence’s Lori Haas and Mary Croft with the Blue Ridge Coalition to Stop Gun Violence exposed Mark Obenshain’s extreme voting record and lack of support for common sense measures to prevent gun violence during his career as a state Senator.

“Time and again, Mark Obenshain, along with Ken Cuccinelli, has sided with the NRA and against Virginians who are demanding common sense reforms to reduce gun violence,” said Lori Haas. “Virginians don’t want another Attorney General like Ken Cuccinelli and that’s what Mark Obenshain will be. They want an Attorney General who will work to keep our children and our communities safe and stand up for common sense measures like universal background checks. Virginians want an Attorney General like Mark Herring.”

“Mark Obenshain’s record on guns puts him squarely on the radical fringe in Virginia,” said Mary Croft. “We’ve lived under Ken Cuccinelli the last four years and it hasn’t been good for Virginia. Virginians want an Attorney General who is focused on public safety and protecting our communities.”

Mark Obenshain’s abysmal record preventing gun violence includes:

·         Voting to allow guns in bars [SB334, 2010]

·         Voting for the repeal of the one hand gun a month law [SB323, 2012]

·         Voting to allow guns in child day care centers [SB1364, 2007]

·         Voting against closing the gun show loophole [SB109, 2008]

You may have noticed a new group called “Common Sense Virginia” running an anti-McAuliffe TV ad. The ad fallaciously claiming that McAuliffe would cost the average Virginian $1,700 a year somehow or other. Their “source” is a Washington Times article, but that merely quotes the Cuccinelli campaign’s made-up “numbers.” The ad buy is nearly $500,000, so get ready to see a lot of this crap.

So what on earth is “Common Sense Virginia?” Well, the treasurer of the PAC is Virginia Beach “fine jeweler” David Nygaard, who appears at the end of the ad, giving the disclaimer. Who is this Nygaard character?

1. He appears on Cuccinelli’s campaign site as an endorser, complaining about McAuliffe (supposedly) hurting the “already overregulated and overtaxed” economic climate, and also carping about McAuliffe’s support for Obamacare and even gasp! – a public option. Typical right wingnut stuff, in other words.

2. He wrote a letter to the editor last month, printed in multiple Virginia newspapers, defending Bob McDonnell against supposedly unfair treatment in the Star Scientific scandal; praising McDonnell for returning all of the gifts and loans from Jonnie Williams; and commending McDonnell’s economic record, as well as McDonnell’s support for the transportation plan (which we’d point out Cuccinelli OPPOSED and McAuliffe SUPPORTED).

3. He notes on his website that he is a member of C12, a “fellowship of Christian CEOs” that has been critical of the contraception mandate, and which partners with Family Life, a Christian non-profit that sells “ex-gay” testimonial CDs.

4. He promotes a Christian health insurance cost sharing group (Christian Care Medi-Share), which “requires applicants to have ‘a verifiable Christian testimony indicating a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ,'” and also “to attend worship services regularly and be involved in church ministries.” In addition, the group requires “no smoking, no illegal drugs, no alcohol abuse, no extramarital sex,” and “won’t cover someone who gets the AIDS virus from a homosexual partner or catches hepatitis through drug abuse.”

5. He used a loophole to avoid paying a sign maker in full for services received by writing, “Negotiation of this check constitutes payment in full …” on the check that “allowed Nygaard to pay about $1,440 less for the sign than the $8,400 they originally agreed upon.”

Great guy, huh? (nope!) Are any of us surprised that he’s supporting Ken Cuccinelli for Governor? (nope!)

More evidence that Del. David Ramadan is an extremist. On Nov. 5, vote John Bell instead! Thanks.

Wow.

Democrat Terry McAuliffe has jumped to a 17-point lead over Republican Ken Cuccinelli in the Virginia gubernatorial race following the federal government shutdown that hit Northern Virginia hard and Hillary Clinton’s weekend visit to the state.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters finds McAuliffe with 50% support to Cuccinelli’s 33%. Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis is a distant third with eight percent (8%) of the vote. Three percent (3%) like some other candidate, while five percent (5%) remain undecided.

That’s by strongly Republican-leaning Rasmussen Reports, no less. Amazing…honestly not sure what to make of this one.

From the Women’s Strike Force

WOMEN’S STRIKE FORCE ISSUES ALERT TO ALL VIRGINIA VOTERS

(Richmond, VA) The Women’s Strike Force, a bi-partisan Virginia political action committee (PAC) formed to preserve the progress women have made in the protection of their reproductive and health care rights, wants to alert supporters and all Virginia voters of an apparent attempt by right-wing conservative, Rick Santorum to confuse voters by initiating the call for a “Strikeforce” to help elect Ken Cuccinelli as the next Virginia Governor.

It is ironic that Santorum and members of the Tea Party’s Patriot Voices PAC would choose to enlist the use of the term “strikeforce” to rally Ken Cuccinelli supporters when it bears such a strong resemblance to the Women’s Strike Force, a Virginia organization whose mission is to challenge the outspoken extremists who voted to deny women the right to their own reproductive health care decisions.

WSF President, Katherine Waddell says, “Clearly the Women’s Strike Force is having an impact on the House campaigns to turn out incumbents who voted to restrict women’s reproductive health care choices. To date, the Women’s Strike Force has donated more than $60,000 for the 2013 House campaigns.”

“From now through this election and beyond, we will continue to raise funds, recruit volunteers and promote our mission to help elect legislators who will support women’s reproductive rights, and we invite others to join with us for this important cause,” says WSF Board Member, Margaret Vanderhye.