Virginians, Pay Attention: Why It Will Be A Disaster if Bob McDonnell is Elected Tomorrow
posted by: Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux 50 days ago
Tomorrow is Election Day, and although it's an off-year, it's an important day in Virginia. Because our governors can only serve one term, tomorrow Democrat Creigh Deeds (who happens to represent my central Virginia district in the State Senate) will face off against Republican Bob McDonnell, who strangely enough is from Northern Virginia. McDonnell, the former state attorney general, is up 11 points in the polls. This is terrible, terrible news for anyone who is mildly progressive or even moderate - and Virginia voters need to realize this before they go to the polls tomorrow. If anyone is considering not voting because they don't approve of Creigh Deeds, I strongly urge you to reconsider. Deeds is not perfect, but McDonnell is a nightmare.
I will admit that I am an ambivalent Deeds supporter. I disapprove of the way that he has refused until very recently to capitalize on Obama's win in Virginia last year, and I am far less proud of being a Virginian today than I was a year ago, when it looked like my state was going to go blue for the first time in decades. But being a liberal from Virginia, I am used to compromising, and doing what Ralph Nader so often decries: choosing between the lesser of two evils. In this case, there is no question that while Deeds is not my ideal candidate, McDonnell would be a trainwreck.
I wrote earlier this month about McDonnell's misogyny, and it is this that has cost him the most - he never recovered his 15-point lead after the Washington Post unearthed his 1989 master's thesis. In this thesis, McDonnell he described working women and feminists as "detrimental" to the family. He favored government policy that gave married couples greater privileges than "cohabitators, homosexuals or fornicators." He described the 1972 Supreme Court decision Eisenstadt v. Baird, which legalized the use of contraceptives by unmarried couples, as "illogical."
As I wrote in my last post, this was 20 years ago - but contrary to McDonnell's protests that it was a youthful indiscretion (although by the time you get to writing a master's thesis, I think the days of youthful indiscretion are pretty far behind), he has backed up all of these assertions with 18 years of policy. He is opposed to abortion even in the case of rape or incest, and actually voted against an end to wage discrimination. McDonnell would be a disaster for feminists or any supporters of women's rights.
But he would also be an environmental nightmare. In terms of environmental policy, McDonnell would be an unabashed supporter of industrial voices who want less regulation and a slower transition to alternative energy. This is a serious problem for Virginia, especially the southern part of the state where air and water quality and coal plants are hotly debated (my mother, who has served as an appointed official on the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board since the early 2000's, is already predicting that if McDonnell is elected, her days as a progressive environmentalist on the board will be numbered). McDonnell, as a delegate from Virginia Beach to the state legislature, voted to limit a state wetlands-protection program. He consistently preaches "business-first" approaches, and recently described cap-and-trade programs as a "horrible new energy tax."
In terms of education, McDonnell also has a bleak record. He has voted against increasing teachers' salaries throughout his career, and aired ads that attacked Deeds for proposing legislation that would raise teachers' salaries to the national average. His transportation plan will drain huge sums of money from education resources. As a veteran of the Virginia public schools, I can attest to the fact that even the best schools need more, not less, funding. McDonnell has even voted against the most logical of bills - lowering class sizes. He has also voted against investing in higher education, despite the fact that Virginia's excellent public universities (the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary are two of the best public schools in the nation) may have tuition hikes halfway through the year because their funding has been so heavily slashed.
There is less than 24 hours before the polls open in Virginia. Tomorrow will be a crucial day for Virginia voters - and I urge everyone who is feeling the slightest bit ambivalent about their choice to read up about Bob McDonnell. Any problems that you have with Creigh Deeds will immediately be eclipsed by the massive problems that McDonnell would present for the state. Let's work to energize progressive voters, get out the vote, and save Virginia from four years of disastrous governance.
I will admit that I am an ambivalent Deeds supporter. I disapprove of the way that he has refused until very recently to capitalize on Obama's win in Virginia last year, and I am far less proud of being a Virginian today than I was a year ago, when it looked like my state was going to go blue for the first time in decades. But being a liberal from Virginia, I am used to compromising, and doing what Ralph Nader so often decries: choosing between the lesser of two evils. In this case, there is no question that while Deeds is not my ideal candidate, McDonnell would be a trainwreck.
I wrote earlier this month about McDonnell's misogyny, and it is this that has cost him the most - he never recovered his 15-point lead after the Washington Post unearthed his 1989 master's thesis. In this thesis, McDonnell he described working women and feminists as "detrimental" to the family. He favored government policy that gave married couples greater privileges than "cohabitators, homosexuals or fornicators." He described the 1972 Supreme Court decision Eisenstadt v. Baird, which legalized the use of contraceptives by unmarried couples, as "illogical."
As I wrote in my last post, this was 20 years ago - but contrary to McDonnell's protests that it was a youthful indiscretion (although by the time you get to writing a master's thesis, I think the days of youthful indiscretion are pretty far behind), he has backed up all of these assertions with 18 years of policy. He is opposed to abortion even in the case of rape or incest, and actually voted against an end to wage discrimination. McDonnell would be a disaster for feminists or any supporters of women's rights.
But he would also be an environmental nightmare. In terms of environmental policy, McDonnell would be an unabashed supporter of industrial voices who want less regulation and a slower transition to alternative energy. This is a serious problem for Virginia, especially the southern part of the state where air and water quality and coal plants are hotly debated (my mother, who has served as an appointed official on the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board since the early 2000's, is already predicting that if McDonnell is elected, her days as a progressive environmentalist on the board will be numbered). McDonnell, as a delegate from Virginia Beach to the state legislature, voted to limit a state wetlands-protection program. He consistently preaches "business-first" approaches, and recently described cap-and-trade programs as a "horrible new energy tax."
In terms of education, McDonnell also has a bleak record. He has voted against increasing teachers' salaries throughout his career, and aired ads that attacked Deeds for proposing legislation that would raise teachers' salaries to the national average. His transportation plan will drain huge sums of money from education resources. As a veteran of the Virginia public schools, I can attest to the fact that even the best schools need more, not less, funding. McDonnell has even voted against the most logical of bills - lowering class sizes. He has also voted against investing in higher education, despite the fact that Virginia's excellent public universities (the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary are two of the best public schools in the nation) may have tuition hikes halfway through the year because their funding has been so heavily slashed.
There is less than 24 hours before the polls open in Virginia. Tomorrow will be a crucial day for Virginia voters - and I urge everyone who is feeling the slightest bit ambivalent about their choice to read up about Bob McDonnell. Any problems that you have with Creigh Deeds will immediately be eclipsed by the massive problems that McDonnell would present for the state. Let's work to energize progressive voters, get out the vote, and save Virginia from four years of disastrous governance.
Read more: politics, education, environment, womens rights, virginia governor, bob mcdonnell, creigh deeds
comments
The elections yesterday proved one thing. Voters are unhappy with incumbant officeholders, no matter which party. Incumbants lost in New Jersey and Virginia, even with the extensive support President Obama tried to give them. Incumbants in both parties should be extremely worried about the 2010 and 2012 elections. President Obama should also be concerned because his popularity is decreasing across the country especially since the Health Care Reform bill is getting so watered down by both parties in both houses of Congress and now may not pass at all.
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you poor sorry ,disolusioned fools!1
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Hmmmm.....Rubywhanini B.....you are engaging in lots of assuming(ex:Obama and unconditional love" ?????)and being judgemental....these 2 behaviors are not based in "reality".If Iraq doesn't interest you,Iran is another possibility.
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Rene...there's a difference between being a naysayer and offering up the facts. If you feel better calling me a naysayer because you are experiencing "buyer's remorse" then go there. I'm a realist first and a republican second. If you choose not to check your unconditional love for Obama at the realism door then it's going to be a long and bumpy ride for you over the next three years. Nothing Obama has tried to implement thus far has worked. The only thing that has worked for him is pushing massive government control on the good citizens of America. They are answering him in many ways....even his own democrats do not want to be associated with a president who will not see a second term. When you elect a community organizer to the highest office in our country you get what you voted for....
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Rubywahiini B....such a negative naysayer....like I suggested to other negative naysayers....Iraq is nice this time of year and one way tickets are selling at bargain prices....oh,hey maybe you all could get a group rate!
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"In his victory speech Tuesday night, Virginia's conservative Republican Governor-elect Bob McDonnell spoke of the Founding Fathers, the American dream, free enterprise, faith, liberty, hard work and opportunity -- familiar conservative values."
Heidi, the ABOVE is what republicans look for in a leader.
I believe he can deliver his promises. Obviously the state of Virginia believes it, too. McDonnell is one state. Let's see how the 2010 election goes.
Checked Obama's ratings in the polls lately? Why do you think his rating is plummeting? The heartbeat of America is being measured in the polls. I hate to say it, but goodbye Healthcare bill.....goodbye Cap and Trade......goodbye Stimulus II and III and goodbye to the myth of Global Warming.
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Well Virginians have now elected a Liberty University Christian Domionist. I hope you get what you deserve. Back to the Dark ages with the American Taliban. One of the consequences of Hating others is that the cudgel you use to beat them over the head can then be used on yourself after those have been destroyed. Google Christian Dominionists and see what they believe in. Is that what you really want? I am amazed at the ignorance of most people.
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Looks like an overwhelming majority of Virginians didn't read Amelia's argument. I can't believe they wouldn't have been persuaded by her buzz words and hollow talking points.
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Barbara V, I'm firing up the barbeque!
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Deeds never stood a chance to win. Even Obama abandoned him! LOL!
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