| Shannon is no ideologue, says the Roanoke Times and I concur. Indeed, if anything, Dems have noted that Shannon has steered a centrist course, sometimes even leaving "Democrat" off his campaign materials. Although that irks we partisans, it's worth noting that the AG must adhere to strict non-partisanship while conducting the business of his office. Ken Cuccinelli is incapable of that.
I disagree with the RT about one thing it wrote. It implies that at least Cuccinelli is being candid about his ideas. While that may be true for some of his ideas, it's not so for some of his most extreme statements, such as those in the video above. Because Cuccinelli makes some of his most outrageous statements at partisan events, most Virginians have no idea where he stands.
Its' true that Ken Cuccinelli is not as slick about hoodwinking voters as McDonnell is. Still, Cuccinelli does engage in subterfuge. For all the above, Cuccinelli has the audacity to label himself bipartisan, when there is nothing bi-partisan about him.
Steve Shannon walks the walk. As the only AG candidate who has actually worked across the aisle, rather than just talk about doing so, Steve is the only one qualified to be involved in redistricting, as the Virginia Pilot notes. That reason alone should compel voters to support Steve Shannon.
Steve Shannon would enforce environmental regulations, including those for clean air and water. Ken Cuccinelli would not. Steve Shannon would take on computer crimes and predatory lenders. And he'd enforce consumer protections.
It also helps if the AG knows what his job really is. It is not pugnacious fighter with the federal government. It is not to carve out some radical states' rights agenda. It is not to decide which federal and state laws he will enforce. It is not to refuse to enforce any law he thinks too progressive. The AG swears an oath to uphold all the laws. It is ironic that Ken Cuccinelli runs for the state's top lawyer while claiming he doesn't even have to follow the law.
The Roanoke Times did not mention Cuccinelli's adherence to the ideas of the extremist "Tenther" movement, which relies on a radical interpretation of the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution and, ultimately, seeks the elimination of most of the federal government (except the Defense Dept).
Among the other out-there proposals, that Cuccinelli has advanced, the Roanoke Times notes the call to deny divorce to those with minor children (if one spouse objects) and online training for conceal-carry permits. Unbelievably, the latter became law, so conceal carry permit holders don't ever have to handle a real gun. So when he says he wants wants Virginia Tech students to carry concealed weapons, this could translate into tens of thousands of those trained online online and with no hands-on practice at all. Some recommendation for safety! One wonders whether Cuccinelli has the capacity to even conceive how that idea could backfire.
The Roanoke Times also refers to Cuccinelli as a "crusader." Failing to respect precedent, Cuccinelli rips women's rights, LGBT rights, reproductive rights (including availability of birth control), and even climate change.
If Virginians don't get their heads in the game, they will wake up Nov 4th and ask, "What have we done?" They'll also ask just "what has been pulled on Virginians while we were sleeping?" |
