In the News: The Richmond Times-Dispatch: “Creigh Deeds: Fear and Loathing”

The Richmond Times Dispatch editorialized today about their concerns with Creigh Deeds’ “overwhelmingly negative campaign,” his lack of specifics on issues and refusal to lay out a transportation plan.  The paper noted:

“The Democratic nominee appears to believe his only hope for victory lies in sliming Republican Bob McDonnell.

.......But [McDonnell] has built a record of pragmatic accomplishment, both in the House of Delegates and as attorney general. He has earned a reputation as being willing and able to work across the aisle to solve problems.

 
All politicians attempt to draw caricatures of their opponents. But Deeds is crossing the line. His overwhelmingly negative campaign leaves an especially sour taste given the lack of specifics in his own platform. We are, for instance, dumbfounded by his refusal to make a clear stand on the intersection between taxes and transportation. Apparently, his leadership on the issue would involve signing whatever the General Assembly sends his way. If it means higher taxes, well, that’s apparently no problem at all. And we are worried about Deeds’ reluctance to take the stage with McDonnell. A governor must be willing to face his constituents and the political opposition. Why is Creigh Deeds so afraid?”

The full column is available at this

link, or below.

 
EDITORIAL

Creigh Deeds: Fear and Loathing

Thursday, September 24, 2009

We’d hoped that this year’s campaign for governor would maintain the reasonably lofty standards Virginia has come to expect from those seeking the commonwealth’s highest office. Politics is a rough business and we understand tough charges from both sides. But the 2009 election is beginning to slide into the sewers—and Creigh Deeds’ campaign is responsible for most of the slippage. The Democratic nominee appears to believe his only hope for victory lies in sliming Republican Bob McDonnell.

Informing voters about McDonnell’s graduate school thesis is fair game, though the Deeds campaign’s obsession with the 20-year-old document raises questions about its ability to find compelling, positive things to say about its own man. Judging by Deeds’ commercials and rhetoric, one would believe Bob McDonnell has spent his entire career attempting to outlaw contraception, fleece electricity consumers, force women from the workplace, and destroy public schools.

McDonnell is clearly a social conservative. But he has built a record of pragmatic accomplishment, both in the House of Delegates and as attorney general. He has earned a reputation as being willing and able to work across the aisle to solve problems.

All politicians attempt to draw caricatures of their opponents. But Deeds is crossing the line. His overwhelmingly negative campaign leaves an especially sour taste given the lack of specifics in his own platform. We are, for instance, dumbfounded by his refusal to make a clear stand on the intersection between taxes and transportation. Apparently, his leadership on the issue would involve signing whatever the General Assembly sends his way. If it means higher taxes, well, that’s apparently no problem at all. And we are worried about Deeds’ reluctance to take the stage with McDonnell. A governor must be willing to face his constituents and the political opposition. Why is Creigh Deeds so afraid?