If you want learn more about John Bell and/or help him run this ad as much as possible, please click here. Also, if you want to learn more about Bell’s opponent, the truly heinous Del. David Ramadan, you might want to start with Del. David Ramadan: Extreme, Egregious, Yet Somehow Holding Down an Obama District. The guy’s a real piece of work.
Does anyone out there seriously think that Virginia GOP Attorney General candidate is any less radical than Ken Cuccinelli? If so, here are two photos to disprove that falsehood.
First, see photo #1 below (see photo #2, of Obenshain with right-wing hate radio host Mark Levin, on the “flip”) has “Tea Party Mark” Obenshain with NRA Chief Executive Officer Wayne LaPierre. For some serious Wayne LaPierre lunacy, see here. Also see Two Decades of Paranoid Pronouncements by the NRA’s Wayne LaPierre (e.g., “one of [Bill Clinton’s] first moves as president could be to turn his administration into a gun-grabbing goon squad;” “Forget Stalin’s Russia. Forget Hitler’s Germany. The mightiest propaganda machine the world has ever known is right here in 1994 America;” “Not too long ago, it was unthinkable for federal agents wearing Nazi bucket helmets and black storm trooper uniforms to attack law-abiding citizens… In Clinton’s administration, if you have a badge, you have the government’s go-ahead to harass, intimidate, even murder law-abiding citizens;” “[Bill Clinton is] willing to accept a certain level of killing to further his political agenda. And the vice president, too.”). Yep, that’s who Mark Obenshain hangs out with.
Photo #2: Obenshain (with the “Guns Save Lives” sticker – classy!) and right-wing hate radio host Mark Levin (rallying today with Obenshain’s ticketmate Ken Kookinelli). That’s right, this guy (“Women In Combat Pose A Danger To ‘A Real Man’ Who Will React Differently If They’re In Danger;” “Sotomayor is ‘Ruth Bader Ginsburg plus about 50 pounds;'” “Oh, we want clean air and clean water. And what does that mean? Poverty!”; “BP hearings are a ‘Soviet-style spectacle‘ and are part of a ‘huge cover-up'”; “‘the Klan’s agenda’ and “the radical left’s agenda…are pretty similar.'”; etc. etc.). Again, that’s Tea Party Mark Obenshain’s – and Ken Cuccinelli’s – buddy. Any further questions?
Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines for Tuesday, September 17. Also, want to know why U.S. health care costs are so high, and what we could (theoretically) do about it? See the highly entertaining and informative video.
*An improbable day of horror as 13 die, including gunman (Sad to say, in America gun violence isn’t particularly “improbable.”)
*Another mass shooting – one that hits too close to home (Yes, also very close to Capitol Hill, where lawmakers terrified of the gun lobby block even the most modest, reasonable, and overwhelmingly popular measures – background checks, etc. – to try and prevent these atrocities.)
*In Syria, U.N. inspectors find ‘clear and convincing’ evidence of chemical attack (Bingo.)
*Public Backs Diplomatic Approach in Syria, But Distrusts Syria and Russia
*Ken Cuccinelli: Terry McAuliffe is a ‘bully’ (That’s rich, coming from the guy who a) bullied/harassed/persecuted UVA scientist Michael Mann; and b) bullied Virginia’s health board to reverse its ruling on women’s health clinics…)
*Climate, Coal Fire Up Virginia Race for Governor (“A group called NextGen Climate Action Committee is airing two ads attacking Cuccinelli over the [CONSOL Energy] case”)
*Virginia’s next governor will determine whether most abortion clinics close (“If Mr. Cuccinelli is elected governor in November, most of the remaining 18 clinics are likely to shut their doors within months.”)
*Va. Beach mayor to endorse McAuliffe for governor (“Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms is crossing the partisan divide to endorse Democrat Terry McAuliffe for governor, joining a list of more than 30 noteworthy Republicans now supporting his candidacy.”)
*Pro-LGBT Tech Executives Back Anti-LGBT Candidate For Virginia Governor (I researched this yesterday and found that the NOVA Technology Council PAC is slanted heavily Republican, with almost no Democrats on it. Shocker that they’d make this endorsement. Also note that the parent organization opted to make NO endorsement in the governor’s race.)
*Cuccinelli is losing (According to right-wing blogger Jennifer Rubin, of all people…)
*McAuliffe maintains financial edge over Cuccinelli in July and August
*Showing unity, GOP ticket makes rare joint appearance (They got the “Extreme Team” “band” back together – oh joy!)
*Fla. Sen. Marco Rubio backs Ken Cuccinelli (For a short sampling of Rubio’s corruption and craziness – just like his pal Cuccinelli, go figure! – click here.)
*McAuliffe to appear in forum Tuesday on CNU campus
*Herring pledges to help vets; Obenshain visits sheriffs (Wow, a reporter actually covers the Virginia Attorney General’s race – and with some actual substance, no less. Thank you Julian Walker!)
*$57 million in federal transportation funds diverted to Virginia
*The real defect in school law (“A state takeover of failing schools is unconstitutional, but a ruling shouldn’t end the debate over education.”)
*Sunny, brisk today then warmer; shower chances by the weekend
*Navy Yard shooting a reminder to Nationals, Braves that baseball is ‘just a game’
Just got this in an email from Truthout, under the heading “Monsanto Spends Millions to Defeat Washington GMO Labeling Initiative”:
Washington state will vote on a ballot initiative to label GMO food this fall. Monsanto, banking on repeating its California victory, has given $4.6 million to the campaign to defeat it. But while fundraising is 3-to-1 against it, the “Yes” campaign is confident savvy voters will stay strong in their 66 percent support during an an inevitable onslaught of advertising.
The whole premise of capitalism is that buyers have the information of interest to them pertinent to their decisions in the marketplace. It is nobody’s business but their own, according to the market ideology of liberty, what criteria they wish to apply to their decisions. They have a right to know what they are buying.
Some people want to know if the food they are buying includes genetically modified organisms (GMOs). According to the capitalist worldview, that should unquestionably be their right to know.
It’s understandable that Monsanto would not want people to avoid products that utilize their GMO technology. So it’s no mystery why they’d not want labeling to be required. But it’s nonetheless unmitigated chuptzpah, not to mention capitalist hypocrisy, for them to seek to prevent buyers from knowing what they’re getting.
Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC and ProgressVA Highlight Cuccinelli’s Dangerous Record and Agenda on Women’s Health Outside Cuccinelli/Rubio Fundraiser in Richmond
You can view photos from the event here: https://www.facebook.com/PPAVirginia/photos_stream
RICHMOND, VA — Today, Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC and ProgressVA supporters and volunteers rallied outside the fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to say they’re not fooled by Cuccinelli’s attempts to appear moderate on issues important to Virginia women and their health. Cuccinelli has a clear record of interfering with women’s health – and holds some of the most extreme views on women’s health by any major party candidate in the country. For example, he is a leading advocate for extreme and dangerous so called “personhood” efforts which, if enacted, could interfere in personal, private medical decisions relating to birth control, and as a state senator, Cuccinelli voted against a measure that would have specified that contraception does not constitute abortion. Cuccinelli is against abortion, even in the cases of rape, incest, or when a woman’s health is in danger, and has said his ultimate goal is to make abortion disappear in America.
As polling shows that these views are costing him significantly with women (and a broad cross-section of voters), Cuccinelli is now trying to obscure his actual positions; most recently, he told voters that he has a “flat position” on birth control and that he won’t touch contraception if elected governor in November.
Participants were joined by Planned Parenthood Votes’ human-sized birth control pill pack named Pillamina to remind attendees of Ken Cuccinelli’s record on birth control and Marco Rubio’s co-sponsorship of the much-talked-about Blunt amendment, which would have allowed bosses to refuse to cover birth control in their health care plans.
You can view photos from the event here: https://www.facebook.com/PPAVirginia/photos_stream
“We aren’t fooled by Ken Cuccinelli’s attempts to appear moderate and Virginia voters shouldn’t be either. The truth is, KenCuccinelli holds some of the most extreme views on women’s health by any major party candidate in the country. That’s why we’re working hard to make sure Virginian’s know exactly where he stands when they head to the polls this November,” saidCianti Stewart-Reid, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC.
The action comes the same day Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC Executive Director Cianti Stewart-Reid posted a Huffington Post op-ed highlighting the similarities between Cuccinelli’s and Rubio’s positions on women’s health.
You can read the full Huffington Post piece here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cianti-stewartreid/marco-rubio-ken-cuccinelli_b_3933938.html
“Ken Cuccinelli has made a career out of attacking women's access to comprehensive reproductive care, from birth control to abortion. Women won't be fooled by his new attempts to hide his extreme record,” said Anna Scholl, Executive Director of Progress VA.
Like Cuccinelli, Senator Rubio has a record of extreme opposition to women’s health:
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Paid for by Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC.
Authorized by Terry McAuliffe candidate for Governor.
From the McAuliffe for Governor campaign…very interesting (note: Larry Sabato tweets that this is “stunning,” noting “VA Beach is a critical swing locality & Sessoms is a real power there. That’s a BIG defection from Cuccinelli.”
MEDIA ADVISORY: Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms To Endorse McAuliffe for Governor
Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms, the Republican mayor of Virginia’s largest city, will endorse Terry McAuliffe for governor tomorrow. This is the first time Sessoms has endorsed a Democrat for governor in his more than 20 years in public service in Virginia Beach.
“Terry McAuliffe’s focus on diversifying and growing Virginia’s economy will help foster economic growth in Virginia Beach, and help Hampton Roads to become a greater center of commerce in the Commonwealth, and I am proud to give him my full support,” said Sessoms. “Terry’s commitment to supporting investments in transportation and education here in Hampton Roads will make our communities stronger and prepare our workforce for the innovative jobs of the 21st Century.”
Sessoms’ endorsement marks the sixth out of the seven mayors in Hampton Roads to endorse McAuliffe. McAuliffe has also been endorsed by Mayor Paul Fraim of Norfolk, Mayor Molly Ward of Hampton, Mayor McKinley Price of Newport News, Mayor Kenny Wright of Portsmouth, and Mayor Linda Johnson of Suffolk.
Sessoms will announce his endorsement Tuesday while touring the Virginia Beach Advanced Technology Center with McAuliffe and Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim. The support for McAuliffe by both mayors Sessoms and Fraim signifies a major step in bringing the region together to foster economic growth, innovation, and job creation. McAuliffe will also release his economic development plan for Hampton Roads on Tuesday.
DETAILS
WHO: Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim
WHAT: McAuliffe, Sessoms, and Fraim will tour the Virginia Beach Advanced Technology Center, where Sessoms will announce his support of McAuliffe for governor.
WHEN: Tuesday, September 17, 2013, at 11:00 AM
WHERE: Virginia Beach Advanced Technology Center, 1800 College Crescent Virginia Beach, VA 23453
In all the hoo-ha over the Northern Virginia Technology Council PAC’s bizarro endorsement of Ken Cuccinelli (although note that the parent organization, the Northern Virginia Technology Council, has decided NOT to endorse anyone in this race), I’ve seen numerous references in the corporate media to this group as “nonpartisan” or “bipartisan.” But is it really? Let’s look at its members and see for ourselves.
*The chair, Dendy Young, has donated nearly $20,000 to Republican federal candidates, including Robert Hurt and Keith Fimian. He’s also donated an enormous $109,150 to Republican candidates in Virginia, including Jim Gilmore, Mark Earley, Jerry Kilgore, Bob McDonnell, Dave Albo, Jim LeMunyon…and on and on. Over the years, 87% of his state-level political contributions have gone to Republicans, while just 10% have gone to Democrats (over half of which went to one candidate, Steve Shannon).
*The Vice Chair, S. Bradford Antle, has given heavily to Republican federal candidates like Keith Fimian and Scott Rigell, plus the National Republican Congressional Committee. At the state level, he’s donated to ZERO Democrats, while giving to Republicans Barbara Comstock, Tag Greason, and Pat Herrity.
*Board member Rob Quartel has given to the Fairfax County Republican Committee, to Republican Rob Wittman, as well as to Republicans Ken Cuccinelli, Barbara Comstock, Bob McDonnell, Jim LeMunyon, and many others. He has given to ZERO Democrats over the years, according to VPAP. In addition, Quartel has “served in the Ford White House, as Issue Director for the Ford Campaign, as Domestic Policy Director for George Bush (1979), and as an issue advisor to numerous other Presidential campaigns since.”
*Board member Todd House has given to Republicans and to lots more Republicans (e.g., Jim Gilmore, Jerry Kilgore, Mark Earley, Caren Merrick). He has given to ZERO Democrats.
*Board member Bobbie Kilberg is “a Republican operative who has worked for Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush.” She also “sought elected political office twice in Virginia, in 1987 as the Republican candidate for the State Senate and in 1993 as a candidate for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor.”
*Board member Anne Gavin’s professional background “includes a political appointment at the U.S. Department of Transportation under President George H.W. Bush, a stint as Press Secretary for the Republican National Committee in 1994 and Communications Director for the 1996 Republican National Convention.”
*Board member Joel Hinzman has only given to Republicans, as far as I can determine.
*Board member Anthony Bedell “has worked on more than a dozen Republican campaigns including George Allen’s 1993 gubernatorial campaign, Allen’s 2006 senatorial campaign, and Bush-Cheney 2000 and 2004.” He also “was elected Chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee in 2006 and served two terms.”
*Board member Matthew Calkins has given only to Republicans as far as I can tell, including $2,500 to Mitt Romney last year.
*Board member Joel Partridge is a lobbyist for the NRA. ‘Nuff said.
*Board member Don Rainey is a diehard Republican, having donated to ZERO Democrats and a bunch of Republicans over the years.
*Board member Peter Sirh is a diehard Republican, having “served as Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), a member of the House Majority Leadership.” Also worth noting, “As Chief of Staff, Mr. Sirh operated as a top House Leadership aide, part of a select team charged with the task of increasing the GOP majority in the House.”
*Board member Sandeep Somaiya gave $5,000 to Romney/Ryan last year. He also gave $5,000 to Aneesh Chopra. So…let’s call him an independent.
*Board member Matthew McQueen has given to both Democrats and Republicans. So has Robert Omberg.
*I’m not sure about six members – C. Michael Ferraro, Rick Montfort, Duffy Mazan, J.L. Novak, Marie Payne and Michelle Frank; and four – Tim Cook, Kathryn Falk, Chris Long, and Suhakar Kesavan – appear to donate mostly to Democrats. Others, like Steve Cooker and Will Castleberry, appear to have given to both parties.
That, my friends, is certainly not an evenly balanced “bipartisan” or “nonpartisan” group. Instead, out of 27 members, there appear to be 12 Republicans, 5 independents, 4 Democrats, and 6 undetermined/nonpartisan. That is also in stark contrast to the Washington Post’s wildly misleading description of the board as “bipartisan.” Sure, if you consider having just 4 Democrats on a 27-member board to be “bipartisan,” then sure. But obviously, it’s not “bipartisan” in any serious sense.
In addition to its heavily Republican membership, it’s important to point out the Northern Virginia Technology Council PAC’s past endorsements. In 2005, they endorsed Jerry Kilgore over Tim Kaine and Bob McDonnell over Creigh Deeds for AG. In 2009, they again endorsed Bob McDonnell over Creigh Deeds, this time for Governor. They did endorse Steve Shannon over Ken Cuccinell for AG in 2009, making the current endorsement of “the Cooch” even more bizarre.
Finally, I’d just point out that this endorsement goes totally against the Northern Virginia Technology Council’s members’ own self interest. What do they care about? Well, they strongly supported the transportation package earlier this year, which Ken Cuccinelli opposed and Terry McAuliffe supported. They presumably support science, which Ken Cuccinelli consistently has demonstrated he doesn’t respect or even “believe” in. They are generally from companies with forward-thinking policies on LGBT employees, yet Ken Cuccinelli is a rabid, raging homophobe. Presumably, they also support a strong public education system for their employees and executives’ families, yet Ken Cuccinelli’s policies would devastate that system. We could go on and on, but this is just so brain dead it’s not even possible to wrap one’s brain around. Unless you’re a heavily Republican group, like the Northern Virginia Technology Council PAC, perhaps then it might make sense?
Democratic Virginia Attorney General candidate Mark Herring has released his plan to support U.S. service members, veterans and their families, and it’s a good one. Here are a few key points.
*”[A]t least one in ten Virginians is a former service member. Many others are currently serving, and still others are members of military families.”
*”Mark [Herring] has a proven record of commitment to supporting service members, veterans and their families. As a state Senator, Mark has served as co-chair of the General Assembly’s Virginia National Guard Caucus. He sponsored legislation that exempts payments to individuals from the Virginia Military Family Relief Fund from state income tax. And, he championed the Virginia Military Parents Equal Protection Act in 2008, which protects military parents from losing important child custody and visitation rights as a result of their deployment.”
*Herring’s plan will provide “access to resources for service members and their families during deployment.” That includes “a new veterans’ hotline…[which] will allow service members and their families to call the Attorney General’s office to seek help on problems with state or federal benefits.”
*In addition, Herring’s plan will increase funding for the Virginia Military Family Relief Fund, and will “aggressively enforce Virginia’s existing consumer protection laws, partnering with veterans and consumer advocacy groups to identify scammers and taking swift, decisive action to hold them accountable.”
*Herring’s plan will focus on “easing the transition back home,” by “ensuring health and mental health needs are addressed, making job training and placement a priority, and assisting with any outstanding legal issues returning service members may have.”
Great stuff. Clearly, the choice for Virginia veterans on November 5th is Mark Herring for Attorney General. Go Mark (Herring, not Obenshain)! 🙂
Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, September 16. Also, check out the audio of crazy extremist EW Jackson asking Saturday, “What if Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Washington had been stopped before it ever got started?…I really believe that this election is the equivalent of that.” Well alrighty then!
*Larry Summers withdraws as Fed chief candidate
*Obama, Boehner struggle to gain control of parties (Rep. Jim Moran: “I’ve been here for 20 years, and I’ve never seen so much of a repudiation of the conventional sources of power in the legislative or executive branch.”)
*Dem opposition dooms Larry Summers’s Fed candidacy
*Why Ken Cuccinelli is losing the Virginia governor’s race (“‘It’s going to be a bath,’ one prominent state Republican who wants Cuccinelli to win went so far as to say.”)
*House Republican leaders: Debt hike better fight (In other words, hold the country’s economy and finances hostage.)
*Terrible Candidates, Awful Campaign Take Virginia From Bellwether to Sideshow (“Virginia’s governor’s race can carry national implications, giving political strategists clues about mid-terms and the presidential. Not this time.”)
*McAuliffe camp erupts over PAC’s continued endorsement of Cuccinelli (The concept that a technology PAC can endorse the anti-SCIENCE is just bizarre, frankly. Of course, this group supported Jerry Kilgore for Governor in 2005, and last I checked, there was no “Governor Kilgore.”)
*Cuccinelli’s strong stands against illegal immigration could become problematic in Va. (“Cuccinelli, Virginia’s attorney general, championed hard-line immigration policies while rising through the state ranks – but he has awkwardly sought to play down his record in hopes of not alienating Hispanics and Asians who represent a small but growing part of Virginia’s electorate.”)
*Republican…er, Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial: High cost (“Virginia Attorney General and GOP gubernatorial nominee Ken Cuccinelli ‘seems to take the long way around to the right decision.’ He has done that again, unlimbering himself of $18,000 – the value of gifts given to him by Jonnie Williams Sr.”)
Virginia is test state for program that shares gun data
*Messing with accountability (“Legislators who say the lines of authority are too strict for technology services should heed past mistakes.”)
*Accreditation group’s warning may be lifted after UVa visit
*Executive chef trial could cost taxpayers over $500K (“The reason McDonnell needs the lawyers is because Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli recused himself from prosecuting the chef, as well as state officials like McDonnell.”)
*LG candidate Jackson likens election to American Revolution (“Already known as a provocative orator, E.W. Jackson took political hyperbole to new heights Saturday when he compared the stakes in this year’s statewide elections to those at the time of the American Revolution.”)
*Possible shower ahead of nice stretch (“The tranquil and what many consider terrific weather pattern persists again this week.”)
*Wilson Ramos drives in 5, catches 23rd straight game in Nationals’ 11-2 victory (The Nats are still in the race for the post-season, even if it may require them to win nearly all their remaining 13 games. By the way, I’m intentionally not talking about that other sports team in town, the really bad one with a horrible owner and a racist name.)
