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Virginia News Headlines: Saturday Morning

By
lowkell
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1

Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, August 10. Also, check out President Obama’s weekly address, in which he talks about how “it’s time to build on that progress by creating a better bargain for responsible, middle class homeowners.”

*Obama announces proposals to reform NSA surveillance

*TRANSCRIPT: President Obama’s August 9, 2013, news conference at the White House

*‘Independent Study’ On Keystone XL Closely Linked To Fossil Fuel Companies (Also see A Few Questions on the New IHS CERA Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline Report and note that the corporate media flunkies couldn’t bother to do any of this work before breathlessly reporting the oil-industry-funded “analysis.” #FAIL)

*Reid raises race in discussing GOP opposition to Obama’s agenda (“It’s been obvious that they’re doing everything they can to make him fail…And I hope, I hope, and I say this seriously – I hope that’s based on substance and not the fact that he’s African-American.”)

*Cantor: ‘No One Is Advocating a Government Shutdown’ (Yet another blatant lie by Can’tor: in fact, a lot of Republicans have been advocating just that – a government shutdown as leverage vis-a-vis their “Obamacare” obsession.)

*U.S. justice denies bid for delay on Va. sodomy law (Cuccinelli continues to waste Virginia taxpayer money, loses yet ANOTHER case, and proves that he’s anything but “frugal” – or a competent attorney, for that matter.)

*Cuccinelli says he would ‘just write a check’ to repay gifts from donor if he could (Perhaps if he were more “frugal,” aka handled his personal finances better, he COULD “write a check?” What a loser.)

*Shuffling money around got Pentagon its $1B to end furloughs

*In Leaked Audio, Cuccinelli Affirms Support For E.W. Jackson (I’ve transcribed the key part here. Yes, these three nuts – Cuccinelli and his “clones” – are one team, no doubt about it.)

*Cuccinelli’s Strange Obsession (“Not only is Cuccinelli’s position highly discriminatory against gays and lesbians, it raises troubling questions about what he considers important in Virginia. The Old Dominion faces many problems such as clogged highways, creating jobs, eradicating poverty and improving health care. Why should what goes on in the bedroom of a legal-aged teenager dominate his focus?” Cuccinelli has serious “issues,” to put it mildly…)

*McAuliffe, Cuccinelli attend joint forum for Northern Virginia business community

*Call special session for ethics reform

*McDonnell denies talking to Star CEO Williams about taxes

*McDonnell offered state medical board post to doctor who lent $50,000

*Hillary Clinton hosting McAuliffe fund-raiser

*Star Scientific tells investors it does not expect criminal charges (Now, what about Gov. Rolex?)

*Jackson’s latest disclosure error an oversight, campaign says (Lots and lots of “oversights” in that campaign!)

*Goodlatte issues statement on Obama’s surveillance proposal

*Confederate flag an ugly reminder (“It’s an obligation that Virginia Flaggers, who say they want to honor Southern heritage, should consider as they pursue plans to raise a giant Confederate flag off Interstate 95 near Richmond.”)

*Clouds hard to kick, showers lurk today

*Nationals reverse course – for a night (“Dan Haren continues his second-half resurgence and is buoyed by a stout offense as Washington snaps a four-game slide.”)

Video: EW Jackson to GOP – Don’t Ever Become Less Extremist or I’m Outta Here!

By
lowkell
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5

According to Bishop EW Jackson, the Republican Party of Virginia’s nominee for Lt. Governor, he’s a Republican for NOW, but watch out! According to Jackson:

I’m ultimately not dedicated to a party, I’m dedicated to the truth. And as long as the Republican Party holds the principles of truth that I believe in, I will be a faithful, loyal Republican…I don’t want to ever leave the Republican Party, but I don’t want the Republican Party to leave me either. And if it leaves me, I’m going to leave it.

So, EW Jackson says he’ll stay a Republican as long as it holds the “principles of truth” that he believes in. Principles like the following, perhaps?

“Homosexuality is a horrible sin, it poisons culture, it destroys families, it destroys societies, their minds are perverted, they are frankly very sick people psychologically and mentally and emotionally”

“I am going to be at the Justice Dept. on Monday speaking at a press conference opposing the Hate Crimes Law as anti-Christian bigotry.”

“The President has proclaimed June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Pride Month. Well that just makes me feel ikky all over. Yuk!”

“Obama was apparently suppressing a report debunking the global warming hysteria. Transparency? Sure! Like an iron curtain.”

“We must drill for oil and natural gas now. Our very survival depends upon. We are a fossil fuel based economy and all the wishful thinking by environmental extremists will not change that for the foreseeable future. ”

“A different and harsher legal response may be appropriate for the medical professionals who knowingly perform horrendous procedures to bring about the death of children in the uterus. This monstrous activity has become socially acceptable in some circles, but it must be stopped. It is evil and we must help people see it for what it is, the taking of innocent human life.”

“It is time to bring an end to the hyphenated American. We have balkanized ourselves into islands of ethnocentrism: Italian-Americans, Irish-Americans, Jewish-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and African-Americans.”

“The ‘homosexual religion’ is the most virulent anti-Christian bigotry & hatred I’ve ever seen.”

“What we’re facing right now is a situation where slowly but surely Sharia law is creeping and it’s crazy. And that’s where I think this president, given his druthers, would like to see us go.”

“This ‘Christian’ Pres. believes homosexuality is right and the Bible is wrong. He thinks he’s Pres. of Sodom & Gommorah! Or he’d like to be.”

“The homosexual movement is a cancer attacking vital organs of faith, family & military – repositories of traditional values.”

“Tony Perkins was disinvited as spkr at Andrews AFB because he opposed Obama promoting open homosexuality in the military. This the Gestapo?”

“Now I know there’s a lot of argument is [President Obama] a Muslim. I can tell you this, he certainly does have a lot of affection and favor for Islam. That seems to be his priority. I’ve heard him talk about Islam in ways I’ve never heard him talk about America. Well, Christianity, I don’t even think about that with him; I’m an adult, cmon, that’s a joke.”

“The idea that Barack Obama is a Christian is laughable.”

“The Ku Klux Klan did not do nearly as much to destroy black life as Planned Parenthood has done.”

“The Democrat Party and their black civil rights allies are partners in this genocide.”

“Liberalism and their ideas have done more to kill black folks who they claim so much to love than the Ku Klux Klan and lynchings and slavery and Jim Crow ever did, now that’s a fact.”

“The hate crimes bill, now think about that, that we would actually punish people for what they think.”

“I don’t think that the federal government has much of a role at all constitutionally, at all [in disaster relief]”

“Virginia is duty bound to DEFY NOT COMPLY with any federal encroachment on the rights and freedom of our people. Working families across the Commonwealth are disappointed that a Republican led General Assembly decided to COMPLY and NOT DEFY a law that will greatly hurt the economy and health care options affecting all Virginians.”

“We ought to fly every politician up to [the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve] and let them see what they think they’re preserving. It is a barren wasteland…I happen to believe that God put that coal there and put that oil there for a reason, and it’s idiotic not to go down there and get it.”

“How do you get the incongruity of conservative people voting for all these liberals? I mean, you’ve got, for example, the black community voting for Bobby Scott – Bobby Scott is opposing Congressman Randy Forbes’ effort to pass a resolution to reaffirm our motto, ‘In God we trust,’ and yet he’ll go to churches and campaign there and they’ll vote for him…that’s got to stop!”

“I am not a birther….[but Barack Obama] has an outsider attitude towards our country…that’s what the apologies are all about…he thinks that we’re answerable to the world…I have never heard him once mention the Founding Fathers…”

Bottom line: the fact that someone as extreme, nasty, bigoted, and frankly insane as EW Jackson is comfortable in the Republican Party is truly disturbing.

Video: NARAL President Ilyse Hogue Discusses “Outrageous Lies” at VA “Crisis Pregnancy Centers”

By
lowkell
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2

As Hogue explains: “Not only are [these centers] lying to women, but they are actually endangering women’s health…[they] take money from much-needed programs that actually support families that need the help and moving them into these “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” that try and shame and humiliate women and endanger their health by giving them the kind of information that you played for your viewers. This is the face of the anti-choice movement, and the politicians that stand with them like Ken Cuccinelli in Virginia…voters have a right to know that these politicians support these centers that intimidate women and like to them and are often doing it with taxpayer dollars.”

Also note that these so-called “crisis centers” are funded in part by the state of Virginia’s “Choose Life” license plates, and of course they’re strongly supported by Gov. McDonnell, Attorney General Cuccinelli, and Cuccinelli “clones” Mark Obenshain and EW Jackson. It’s disgusting.

P.S. The lies include that condoms don’t work, that birth control pills cause cancer, that all abortion (even in cases of rape or incest) is murder (and destroys a woman’s self esteem). Again, this is YOUR TAX MONEY AT WORK! Grrrrr.

Terry McAuliffe Talks Jobs; Ken Cuccinelli Talks Tea Party at Manassas Forum

By
lowkell
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7

I was out and missed the beginning of this, but here are a few tweets from Terry’s Q&A session.

*@tomperriello: @TerryMcAuliffe’s right – Medicaid expansion moral/economic plus for VA MT @APBobLewis: TMac says Va to lose billions & 33,000 jobs w/o it

‏*@APBobLewis At Gov’s forum in Manassas, @TerryMcAuliffe 1st, focusing on transportation before crowd of NoVa biz leaders. Sez @KenCuccinelli is its foe.

*@JulieCareyNBC “Don’t voters deserve to know where you stand?” McAuliffe “That’s cute to say but I don’t make decisions before I have all facts”

*@benpershing VA Sierra Club PAC ‏@StopCuccinelli McAuliffe points to Cuccinelli’s lawsuit against UVA and @MichaelEMann, noting anti-science atmosphere won’t attract high-tech jobs

*”Let’s get him to VA!” McAuliffe says of Derek McGinty. “Fix that traffic!” McGinty responds. Laughter all around

11 am: Now it’s Cuccinelli time, and he goes right for all-negative-and-all-lies-all-the-time.  

*@MartinDiCaro .@KenCuccinelli says @TerryMcAuliffe is unindicted co-conspirator in a union money laundering case; invented scheme to rent Lincoln bedroom.

*@JulieCareyNBC Cuccinelli accuses McAuliffe of more job destruction than creation. “Terry is the only candidate in this race that’s chased biz out of VA”

*@RobertSarvisVA @KenCuccinelli, stop beginning with “lifetime of putting Virginians first.” Did u hear murmur run through audience at that dbl-plus untruth?

*@briandevine Not a good sign when you have mention your own financial disclosure problems in your opening statement

*@RobertSarvisVA @KenCuccinelli spending ALL his intro talking about @TerryMcAuliffe. This is sad. Media covers this, and not my campaign? Pathetic.

*@BrianCoy The very attacky @KenCuccinelli clearly doesn’t have much to say about his record to a crowd that cares about jobs, transpo and results

*@scontorno Cuccinelli: “We have not created a state health care exchange and I support maintaining that position.”

*@BrianCoy Wait is this the point where @KenCuccinelli explains how he’ll pay for his unrealistic $1.4 billion tax cut?!?! No, no it’s not. (Note by Lowell: he’s actually citing North Carolina as a model for Virginia?!?!?!? Holy crap, what a moron.)

*‏@scontorno Cuccinelli: “I can’t believe that anybody in this room don’t believe that 1/6 of [tax breaks] don’t want need to be knocked out.” (Lowell’s note: can anyone explain what on earth that babble means?)

*‏@hsilverbergwtop #VaGov on creating jobs.Cuccinelli: Lower state income tax,control state spending, elminate tax credits and loopholes. (Lowell’s note: guarantee 100% NONE of those things will create jobs.)

*‏@dsherfinski @KenCuccinelli: “Governor McDonnell took a broad view of government reform. I take a narrow and deep view.” (Lowell’s note: well, alrighty…)

*‏@JoshSchwerin Cuccinelli takes the opposite position from the business community on just about everything. Prefers his own ideological agenda

*@BrianCoy @KenCuccinelli would allow his anti-government paranoia to leave Medicaid expansion money and 30,000 jobs on the table #ExtremeTeam

[Lowell’s note: As of 11:26 am, Cuccinelli has basically dodged questions, lied, repeated right-wing talking points, attacked “Obamacare,” and pandered to the Tea Party fanatics in the audience.]

*RT @briandevine: me watching Cuccinelli http://ow.ly/nMEAn  

‏*@JulieCareyNBC Cuccinelli says he’s open to more local taxing authority for transportation funding. Wants to lessen Gov’s role in road spending decisions (Lowell’s note: In other words, Cuccinelli admits that his plan to cut taxes at the state level means that localities will have to raise taxes to make up the difference. #FAIL)

*@BrianCoy .@KenCuccinelli retreads Dr. Phil talking point that he last used to attack Medicare and Social Security #Howsthatworkinoutforya

*‏@lowkell Now, @KenCuccinelli is failing to mention that he rejected a League of Women Voters/AARP debate as a “left wing, stacked” affair. #FAIL

*@Acscholl @KenCuccinelli: energy has impact on poorest regions [which is why my office is helping Consol screw VAns out of money they’re owed]

*‏@Acscholl 45 y.o. @KenCuccinelli’s “record” fighting for women is a reference to action in college. What’s that say about what he’s been up to since?

*@Acscholl Every time he attacks unions, @KenCuccinelli attacks working families that keep VA humming: nurses, firefighters, sheriffs, etc. #mainstream

*‏@BrianCoy @TerryMcAuliffe looked comfortable, gubernatorial in forum. @KenCuccinelli spent more time reading the oppo book than talking issues

*@BrianCoy Forum: @TerryMcAuliffe’s jobs first substance topped @KenCuccinelli’s flailing attacks and empty rhetoric. #TerryWins

Mark Obenshain Refusal to Back Ken Cuccinelli: Amateur Hour in the Virginia GOP

By
Goldmanusa
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0

by Paul Goldman

One of Terry McAuliffe’s hidden advantages – actually it isn’t all that hidden really – is Democratic ticket unity, indeed the unity of the statewide ticket with the General Assembly Democrats. This is best shown with the fight over a Special Session for Ethics Reform. Even though the Washington Post has said a Special Session is the right politics – usually enough to get all NOVA elected officials ready to say amen – the Democrats have been following T-Mac’s lead here up and down the line. Even Senators Northam and Herring, who lose ABSOLUTELY NOTHING by agreeing with the Post and Republican LG Bill Bolling on the need for immediate action, have followed McAuliffe’s lead. As I have written, the Post is not incorrect in its analysis as to why Democrats don’t want a Special Session, or at least aren’t calling for one.

Turn now to the Republicans, specifically the ticket of Cuccinelli and Obenshain (Reverend Jackson is the odd man out, in many ways I should add, of Virginia politics right now).  The head of the ticket, Mr. Cuccinelli, has called for a Special Ethics Session. Despite begrudging support for immediate action from Bolling and the Post – no friends of Cuccinelli – Mr. Obenshain’s silence on the matter speaks as loudly as any AC/DC vocals.

That is to say: If T-Mac had called for a Special Session, his AG running mate Mark Herring would have been the first to back the Macker up. It would have been a no-brainer for Senator Herring.

Let’s Understand the Politics Here: There is NO DOWNSIDE in 2013 for wanting to appear more pro-reform than Governor McDonnell. Admittedly, this is a very low bar, indeed a non-existent bar. For some reason, the Governor’s advisers believe he is better served doing nothing of substance this year, but rather making some grand proposal for action AFTER HE LEAVES OFFICE. Given the choice, therefore, of leaving office with the record of having the image of CAUSING THE MESS, or leaving office with the image of AT LEAST HAVING MADE THE EFFORT TO FIX HIS OWN MESS, his legal/political advisers choose the former.

Let me ask: Is there some Booby Prize we aren’t aware of being offered this year by Donald Trump,  million bucks to the gubernatorial advisers who make the MOST MISTAKES IN A ROW? If so, then I can understand how McD’s advisers are doing it again, having already slow-walked him into the worst PR mistake in the history of the Governor’s Mansion.

That being said, the advisers to Mr. Obenshain are at least trying to get honorable mention in this worst-political-advice contest, an asterisk really since they aren’t advising a Governor.  

Let me tell you what Mr. Obenshain’s father – the legendary Republican who largely founded the modern Republican Party here in Virginia – would have done. He was one tough guy, brilliant really, probably would have been U.S. Senator, possibly Bush 41’s logical running mate but for a tragic accident that took his life prematurely during the 1978 Senate campaign. Mr. Obenshain had beaten John Warner for the GOP nod and would have easily kicked Andrew Miller’s to the political curb. But he died in that crash during the summer, leading to the need for the VA GOP to find a replacement. Thus John Warner and thus Warner’s narrow upset win over Miller.

So let me tell you what Mr. Obenshain would have done had he been running for AG in 2013: a 100%, “I got your back Ken” endorsement of a special session. Dick Obenshain understood politics and political strategy. So does anyone who has ever been in the military or even a political fire fight.

Simple: You don’t abandon the guy on the point. You don’t cut and run EVER. You back up the leader. As Benjamin Franklin advised, in this business you either “hang together” or you “hang separately.” This is why I have said that, in the end, Reverend Jackson will cost the GOP a lot more than they realize because, in the end, they can’t simply pretend he isn’t on the GOP ticket.

For his part, Mark Obenshain seems to feel – what other explanation is there? – that he is ahead in the polls and thus can hand Cuccinelli out on this issue. To be sure, it is only one issue and a Special Session per se is not that big a deal politically speaking at the current time. But Obenshain’s REFUSAL TO BACK CUCCINELLI speaks volumes to anyone who knows how campaigns are won and lost. While it is true that GOP AG candidates have tended to outperform GOP GUV candidates, this is a misleading statistic. If you examine previous elections, the seeming advantage is less than it seems, although statistically true admittedly in terms of actual votes cast.

Still, the rule as understood by Dick Obenshain remains true: All other things being equal, the smart political play for a down ballot guy is to back up the play by the guy at the top of the ballot. That Dick’s son, Mark, is not doing so on the Special Session issue tells me a lot. As does the fact the Cuccinelli campaign made their Special Session play WITHOUT having Obenshain ready for move #2, without having other Republicans lined up, without having move #3, and #4, etc. ready to go.

There is a reason Bill Bolling made his big announcement, and the Post thought it necessary to show they were for faster action than the GA leadership and Governor McDonnell. This generic issue has the potential of dominating the fall election, thus making it imperative not to let the other guy get an upper hand in the argument.

Since T-Mac is the favorite, he doesn’t need a win on the issue, just a tie. Cuccinelli, the underdog, needs a win. Thus, Terry’s fine with Ticket Unity here: it prevents any gap in the “line” as they say in the war movies. “Stay with me” said Russell Crowe in “The Gladiator” as they charged into battle — “hold the line.” Thus, Obenshain’s refusal to “man up” for Cuccinelli is very revealing.

Of course, it makes absolutely no political sense. It creates an opening which doesn’t help either Obenshain or Cuccinelli. That Obenshain’s campaign didn’t see that is very revealing. There are only two possible reasons as a matter of politics: (1), they missed it, or (2) they believe they are stronger than Cuccinelli and can win even if he loses by a sizable margin.

If they missed it in the moment, then it is curious they have not by now seen the need to back Cuccinelli. So I don’t think they missed it. Rather, they did it intentionally, as a matter of strategy. Given the Jackson problem, such an Obenshain strategy – cutting Cuccinelli loose over an issue the AG’s campaign could easily support – is further proof that the GOP has amateurs in winning VA elections running their show.

If there is any reason for me to back off my lonely prediction of the first DEM sweep since the Wilder campaign pulled off the three-fer, at this point I sure don’t see it.

Virginia News Headlines: Friday Morning

By
lowkell
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4

Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, August 9.

*Mitch McConnell’s Campaign Manager: ‘I’m Sorta Holding My Nose For 2 Years’ (“The most unpopular senator in the country can’t even get his own campaign manager to like him.”)

*House GOP: Welfare reform 2.0 for food stamps (Can’tor’s plan would slash $40 billion from food stamps, hurt millions. This is what Republicans – the “screw you, I’ve got mine!” folks – are proud of these days. Shameful.)

*Cuccinelli Campaign Treasurer Abruptly Departs Slap-Hillary Super PAC

*Virginia doctor who lent governor’s firm $50,000 was offered position (Quid meet quo. Quo meet quid.)

*GOP candidate Jackson omits title lender flight (“Fresh from their nominations at Virginia’s Republican statewide convention in May, the party’s nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general were jetted across Virginia courtesy of a car title lending company.” More evidence for why we desperately need ethics reform in Virginia.)

*McAuliffe, Cuccinelli Share Stage at Friday Forum

*Meaty scandal may topple Virginia politicians

*Strickland, Puckett stump for McAuliffe in Bristol stop

*Why NBC refused to air SF-made anti-Keystone Pipeline ad (VIDEO) (OK, WRC’s explanation is a complete joke. I mean, this station aired tons of ads last year that were blatantly false, outright lies, smears, etc. They have NO STANDARDS, yet they won’t air a humorous ad opposing the Keystone pipeline? Watch it for yourself – see above – and judge for yourself.)

*Richmond Billboard Tells Ken Cuccinelli to Give Back Gifts From Star Scientific CEO

*Virginia Elections 2013: Mark Herring Would Ban Gifts Over $100

*No swing likely for House of Delegates, Sabato’s Center says (“Sabato’s colleague Geoffrey Skelley says that while Democrats need to win 19 seats to win a majority, the party is unlikely to win more than five seats. The reason is in part that voters in off year elections tend to be older, whiter and more conservative, and in part because of redistricting and strong GOP slates.”)

*VDOT, Corps at odds over new road’s environmental toll on wetlands

*Steamy day brings chance of storms

*‘skins have ups, downs in 22-21 win

*Ditching the Redskins, Once and for All

Rightwing Group Rips “losing” Cucc Campaign; Cites its “backward view of a woman’s role in society”

By
lowkell
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3

You don’t expect something like this from a conservative, Republican-funded group, but check out what their spokesperson has to say about the Cuccinelli for Governor campaign.

None of [The Hillary Project’s Christopher M.] Marston’s other clients gave a damn. We’re not a Republican group and everyone who matters knows that Marston is just a compliance vendor – nothing more. But, one struggling campaign flipped out. The Ken Cuccinelli for Governor staff pushed Marston to choose between us and them since they thought that it could become another example of Cuccinelli’s backward view of a woman’s role in society. They are facing an uphill battle in Virginia, and like all losing campaigns, they are grasping at straws and chasing ghosts.

Wow, that’s not something you see every day. Also: OUCH! The truth hurts, especially when it comes from someone on your own “team.”

P.S. For more background on Marston (including his comment on Blue Virginia) and “The Hillary Project,” see here.

P.P.S. If even the “Slap Hillary” people think Cuccinelli’s view of women is “backward,” what does THAT say about him?

“Eid Mubarak”: Mark Herring Announces “Muslims for Herring”

By
lowkell
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0

From the Mark Herring for AG campaign:

 

Today, Muslims in Virginia and across the United States will celebrate Eid Al-Fitr and the completion of the month of Ramadan. Democratic candidate for Attorney General Mark Herring released the following statement:

“I extend my personal greetings and congratulations to the community on this joyous occasion,” Herring stated. “During Ramadan, Muslims engage in many charitable acts and service in the larger community, helping those who are less fortunate while they themselves are fasting. Virginia’s diversity is something to be celebrated and we must continue to protect the freedoms people of all faiths enjoy in our great country. Eid Mubarak.”

Also today, Herring’s campaign for Attorney General announced the formation of a “Muslims For Herring” coalition led by the following co-Chairs:

Naila Alam – CEO of Express Care

Firas Barzinji – General Counsel at the Sterling Management Group

Dr. Babur Lateef – Physician and former candidate for Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors

Abu Mahfuz – Chairman of the Bangladeshi American Democratic Club

Shahid Malik – Former candidate for Sully District Supervisor in Fairfax County

Yasmine Taeb – Government Relations Manager at the Arab American Institute

“Mark Herring has been a friend and an ally of our community. Whenever we have come under attack, he has stood with us,” stated Dr. Babur Lateef. “From opposing ‘foreign law’ bills, to advocating for the Medicaid expansion, Mark Herring has been on our side. Now he needs our help to become Virginia’s next Attorney General.”

“Mark Herring’s opponent State Senator Mark Obenshain has spent his career focused on divisive social issues. Virginia cannot afford four more years with an Attorney General who would rather serve the Tea Party than all Virginians,” Lateef said. 

One of Nation’s Most Sexist, Racist, Homophobic Commentators Goes All in for Cuccinelli

By
lowkell
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2

If you missed it yesterday, “Red State” editor and (former) CNN commentator (to the unending disgrace of that once-respectable network) Erick Erickson has gone all in for Ken Cuccinelli. For more on this, see the “flip” for Erickson’s fundraising appeals, just to give you a flavor for how “all in” Erickson is here.

Why should you care about this? Because, simply stated, Erick Erickson is one of the most sexist, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic (add as many as you’d like, pretty much) commentators around today. And that’s saying a lot in a world of Rush Limbaughs, Glenn Becks, Sean Hannitys, and Bill O’LIEllys. But yeah, Erickson is really bad. How bad? Check a few of these beauties out.

*Erickson: “At what point do the people … march down to their state legislator’s house, pull him outside, and beat him to a bloody pulp?”

*Erickson: Michelle Obama is a “marxist harpy wife.”

*Erickson: Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter is a “goat fucking child molester.”

*Erickson: The Clintons killed Vince Foster and Democrats would do likewise to former Rep. Eric Massa.

*Erickson: “Defends Beck’s statement that Obama is ‘racist’ and lashes out at ‘Obama Brownshirts.'”

*Erickson: Comments on President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize that “I did not realize the Nobel Peace Prize had an affirmative action quota.”

*”In an anti-gay rant posted on RedState, Erickson wrote: ‘[White House Safe Schools “Czar”] Kevin Jennings is a profoundly sick and immoral human being — a proponent of statutory rape, an opponent of the Boy Scouts of America, and a zealous advocate of NAMBLA.’ He added that Jennings is ‘not just a gay man, but a man who believes in the full gay rights agenda, where men and boys can have sexual relationships free of prudish moral people frowning’ and called Jennings ‘a man who encourages predatory relationships between young boys and grown men.'”

*”After an anti-abortion ad during this year’s Super Bowl, Erickson wrote, ‘that’s it?!?! That’s what the feminazis were enraged over? Seriously?!? Wow. That’s what being too ugly to get a date does to your brain.'”

*Erickson: “Good thing I didn’t suggest the feminists … you know … shave. They’d be at my house trying a post-birth abortion on me.”

*Erickson: “‘It is and has always been the left’ that resorts to violence.”

Need more evidence that this guy is one of the most appalling, offensive, hateful people in this country? See the “flip” – and “flip out” with disgust!

Check out 6 Of [CNN Contributor Erick Erickson’s] Most Outrageous Comments. Here are a few:

*Erickson: “When you look at biology, look at the natural world, the roles of a male and a female in society, and other animals, the male typically is the dominant role. The female, it’s not antithesis, or it’s not competing, it’s a complementary role. We as people in a smart society have lost the ability to have complementary relationships in nuclear families, and it’s tearing us apart.” (Also see the video at the top of this blog post)

*”It is a fact that children in a two parent, heterosexual household tend to have a more stable upbringing and a better chance of success than those of single parents or gay parents. This is a fact. This is not to insult gay parents. This is not insult single parents. It’s just a fact. And the, of the subset of children who are raised in a two-parent, nuclear, heterosexual household, children where the father is the one who is the leader of the family, or the breadwinner of the family, however you want to say it, tend to out-perform those where the mother is the primary provider of the family outside of the home. Those are the fact. All I have done is pointed them out.”

*”Todd Akin said something dumb. Claire McCaskill voted for Obamacare. I’ll take a dumb statement over a destructive vote.”

*”Erickson likened First Lady Michelle Obama and other women leaders at the Democratic National Convention to the cast of Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues. He thought he made a funny, but instead CNN was inundated with calls to fire him immediately.”

Oh, and who could forget this (Erickson encourages women in Texas, after the state Senate passed a ban on abortions after 20 weeks, to go buy coat hangers so they can abort their own babies, apparently).

I mean, seriously, this could go on all day. The guy is just appalling, as far right as you can get and also as bigoted.

Anyway, THIS is the guy who’s all in for Cuccinelli. And guess who’s thrilled with Erickson’s support? None other than Ken Cuccinelli himself, who “retweeted” the Red State tweet saying, “We Must Support Ken Cuccinelli.” Oh, and of course Cuccinelli’s finance committee co-chair, pathological liar, and right-wing nutjob Pete Snyder loved it. ‘Nuff said.

Friends,

We used to be able to raise money quickly for candidates we support.  Ken Cuccinelli is a candidate we support.  He’s running for Governor of Virginia.

Bobby Jindal and I both agree this is the most important political race in the country this year.

Can you help RedState?  Show the world again just how RedState readers support conservatives.  Go here now.  Give what you can.

RedState readers must help Ken Cuccinelli.  Will you help us help Ken?

Also, for those of you who have already given, some have emailed asking why the contribution receipt came from ActRight.com.  They are the online fundraising platform we are using to raise money for Ken.  Every penny you give will go to Ken, but the processing comes via ActRight.com.

Don’t worry.  Now please go get your friends to contribute.  Let’s see if we can make our goal of $10,000.00 by sun down today.

Sincerely yours,

Erick Erickson

Editor-in-Chief, RedState

Morning Briefing

For August 7, 2013

1.  We Must Support Ken Cuccinelli #standwithken

We have not done this in a while. Perhaps, in growing up, we let go of some things of our youth we should not have let go. One of those was raising money in a coordinated effort for solid candidates.

We must start doing that again. And so today I want to ask you to make a commitment. RedState endorses Ken Cuccinelli for Governor of Virginia and we want you to join us in giving him a contribution. I have personally given him $50.00 already to get this going. Will you join me? Match me, double me, triple me, or just give what you can.

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is running for Governor of Virginia. He is not just opposed by the Democrats, but by big business Republicans who want a Governor who will give them the taxpayers’ money for their purposes. Ken has been very clear – he will not use government to pick winners and losers in business. Big business hates that.

Ken Cuccinelli is for Virginians, not major corporations wanting their tax dollars. He is also, unlike Terry McAullife, of Virginia through and through. We need to help him. He is going to be outspent and we need to even the odds. If he loses, the left and Republican Establishment will together assail conservatives.

Ken must win. We must help.

How fast can we raise him $10,000.00? Just how fast? In the past, it has taken RedState one day to that. Can we do it again? Throughout the day, can you help us? Can you have your friends help us?

Donate now to Ken Cuccinelli. He is RedState’s pick for Governor of Virginia. He needs your help. Give what you can. Send your friends to actright.com/ken.

Can we raise Ken Cuccinelli $10,000.00 today? Can we go back to our roots, open our wallets, and help Ken Cuccinelli? Will you, on your own website, in your own emails, with your own friends, link to the donation site and help make this a team effort?

I stand with Ken. You should too.

Let’s help Virginia avoid Terry McAuliffe. . . . please click here for the rest of the post

Washington Post Wants Special Ethics Session…Sort Of

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Goldmanusa
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by Paul Goldman

Just Do It! says Nike. But this is proving hard for the Washington Post editorial writers. That’s why today’s editorial is so striking even though the boys and girls at Amazon.com got to the end of the process — and couldn’t click the buy button. They just couldn’t put a Special Session call in the cart. They gave all the reasons why we needed to clean up the dirty money at the Mansion. But they punked out in the last line of their editorial (“The General Assembly should fix this, and the sooner the better”).

They just couldn’t bring themselves to call for a Special Session because…well….Cuccinelli outflanked them and they…well…they are so afraid of being seen as not regarding Cuccinelli as the devil himself. They are going to back the Dem ticket….so they did the political thing and punked out. In 1989, they criticized my strategy for taking the “No Blacks Need Apply” sign off the door to the Governorship. They might have been right, who knows?

But at least I had the courage of my convictions. What else does “sooner the better” mean in today’s context but a Special Session?

I take the Dr. King view of change: When a thing is right, the time is always right. He didn’t worry about your past, just your commitment to the future. He had too much to change to have the luxury of feeling morally superior. It was never a “me” thing, always a “we” thing.

The Post first broke the story about how a sleazy business guy bought the Governorship of Virginia through the use of dirty money. To me, the story has always been a Jonnie Williams story as much as it has been a story about “Bob for Bob” McDonnell out to line his pockets.

But the Post, as The Beatles might say, have until today taken the easy way out.

Sleazy business guys have no place in the Governor’s Mansion, around the Governor’s Mansion. Unfortunately, there are plenty of them on both sides of the aisle. The Post needs to call them all out, sooner the better!

The overwhelming number of business folks are good people, but the bad apples give everyone a bad name. So you have to eliminate their ability to corrupt the system.

I think the Post knows it should be openly calling for a Special Session, knowing it would be the best way to get the best possible fix since the special interest money would have the least influence right now.

Plus: The Dems have nothing to lose pushing for a Special Session, and the Post normally would use Cuccinelli, the GOP nominee, as a way to prove they were championing something bipartisan.

HOWEVER: The Post, as you can see from the editorial, is 200% anti-Cuccinelli, it galls them for him to have outflanked them. The Post’s excuse for not calling for a Special Session: Cuccinelli isn’t sincere.

So what? Let’s assume they are right: let’s presume it is all ploy. Surely he has never been a reformer in this realm before.

I ask you: Do you think the Post thinks Democrats refusal to back a Special Session is all principle?

Answer: No, indeed the Post admits it is all politics.

My response: Like that’s a surprise, like politics rules in an election year is a surprise?

Dr. King’s wisdom is therefore so key: When a thing is right, the time is always right. It is the only way to find a path through the sleaze.

“Sooner rather than later” means only one thing: A special session BEFORE the election.

I mean: Unless you got something to hide, why would you be afraid of disclosing MORE before the election as opposed to only AFTER you are in office?

President Johnson let Republican Everett Dirksen get credit for much of his civil rights legacy. Why? Because he kept his eye on the change, nothing else mattered, whatever it took.

LBJ was flawed as anyone. But his greatness is clear, and we are a lot better for him, warts and all.

Whatever it takes to get the dirty money out of the Governor’s Mansion as soon as possible.

Virginians will credit the people who had the guts to do it, not whether they were the first or last to call for a Special Session.

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