Governor candidates attack each other’s credentials and agendas
 |
| Terry McAuliffe (left) and Ken Cuccinelli attack one another during a debate. [Photo by NBC4.] |
At a lively debate Sept. 25, the Democratic candidate for Virginia governor, Terry McAuliffe emphasized his business background and mainstream
agenda, while Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli focused on his experience as attorney general and
downplayed his ties to Gov. McDonnell’s troubles with Star Scientific.
agenda, while Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli focused on his experience as attorney general and
downplayed his ties to Gov. McDonnell’s troubles with Star Scientific.
There were plenty of personal attacks from both sides during
the debate, which was sponsored by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and moderated by NBC
News Political Director Chuck Tod.
McAuliffe stressed his experience
in business and said he would work in a bipartisan way to create jobs, while accusing
his opponent of “dividing people and promoting an ideological agenda”
and for airing personal attack ads that are “deceitful and false.”
McAuliffe pointed to his “common-sense solutions
on issues of education, transportation, and workforce development,” noting
that he’s been endorsed by “many prominent Republicans, many of
whom have never supported a Democrat before.”
on issues of education, transportation, and workforce development,” noting
that he’s been endorsed by “many prominent Republicans, many of
whom have never supported a Democrat before.”
Cuccinelli argued, “I’m
the only candidate in this race who won’t need on-the-job training”
if elected governor, referring to McAuliffe’s lack of experience in
elective office. He cited the federal investigation of McAuliffe’s car
company, Greentech, and said “I’ll fight for policies that grow jobs for the
middle class.”
the only candidate in this race who won’t need on-the-job training”
if elected governor, referring to McAuliffe’s lack of experience in
elective office. He cited the federal investigation of McAuliffe’s car
company, Greentech, and said “I’ll fight for policies that grow jobs for the
middle class.”
McAuliffe charged his
opponent with promoting a “social ideological agenda,” including “personhood”
legislation that would outlaw most forms of contraception and policies that
caused many women’s health clinics to shut down. “Women are 50 percent of the
work force of the United States of America. You cannot grow an economy by
putting walls up around Virginia,” he said.
opponent with promoting a “social ideological agenda,” including “personhood”
legislation that would outlaw most forms of contraception and policies that
caused many women’s health clinics to shut down. “Women are 50 percent of the
work force of the United States of America. You cannot grow an economy by
putting walls up around Virginia,” he said.
Cuccinelli cited his endorsements from the Northern Virginia Technology Council’s TechPAC and the Virginia
branch of the National Federation of Independent Business and accused his
opponent of being more interested in politics than the issues.
branch of the National Federation of Independent Business and accused his
opponent of being more interested in politics than the issues.
“I have some basic beliefs that are fundamental to me,”
Cuccinelli said. “But an overwhelming proportion of my time as attorney general
has been spent moving Virginia forward economically and protecting liberty and
our constitution.”
Cuccinelli said. “But an overwhelming proportion of my time as attorney general
has been spent moving Virginia forward economically and protecting liberty and
our constitution.”
McAuliffe criticized Cuccinelli for proposing a $1.4 billion
tax cut—amounting to $6 billion over four years—without saying how he will pay
it.
tax cut—amounting to $6 billion over four years—without saying how he will pay
it.
Cuccinelli said his tax relief plan, if fully implemented,
would grow 58,000 jobs. He also vowed to cut the personal income tax rate by 4
percent and the business income tax by 5 percent.
would grow 58,000 jobs. He also vowed to cut the personal income tax rate by 4
percent and the business income tax by 5 percent.
To pay for those cuts, he would reduce spending and “eliminate
tax loopholes” that don’t have any economic benefits. When asked to identify
the loopholes, he said “there are scores of them,” but didn’t name any.
tax loopholes” that don’t have any economic benefits. When asked to identify
the loopholes, he said “there are scores of them,” but didn’t name any.
If Cuccinelli’s plan is approved, McAuliffe said, “Virginia
will be in financial ruin.”
will be in financial ruin.”
Predictably, the candidates clashed over Medicaid expansion,
with McAuliffe supporting what he called a bipartisan, mainstream plan endorsed
by the both the Fairfax County and Virginia chambers of commerce. Cuccinelli
opposes the expansion, urging the current system be made more efficient instead.
with McAuliffe supporting what he called a bipartisan, mainstream plan endorsed
by the both the Fairfax County and Virginia chambers of commerce. Cuccinelli
opposes the expansion, urging the current system be made more efficient instead.
When asked what he would say to low-income people who
couldn’t get Medicaid in Virginia but could if they lived in Maryland or D.C.,
he said “we need to make the Medicaid system we have now work better for the
people in it.”
couldn’t get Medicaid in Virginia but could if they lived in Maryland or D.C.,
he said “we need to make the Medicaid system we have now work better for the
people in it.”
McAuliffe said if Virginia accepts the money to expand
Medicaid, 400,000 people will gain access to life-saving healthcare. That would
free up $800 million in the budget for other uses, and “if we don’t take this money, many of our
rural hospitals will be jeopardized.”
Medicaid, 400,000 people will gain access to life-saving healthcare. That would
free up $800 million in the budget for other uses, and “if we don’t take this money, many of our
rural hospitals will be jeopardized.”
In response to a question about preventing gun violence, McAuliffe
called for “sensible gun ownership” and said he will push for universal
background checks. “There are certain individuals who just should not own a
gun,” he said, referring to people with mental illness. “When we drop our
children off at school and our loved ones off at work, we want to know they
will be safe.”
called for “sensible gun ownership” and said he will push for universal
background checks. “There are certain individuals who just should not own a
gun,” he said, referring to people with mental illness. “When we drop our
children off at school and our loved ones off at work, we want to know they
will be safe.”
“I will support the Second Amendment,” Cuccinelli said,
vowing to focus on “resolving mental health issues.”
vowing to focus on “resolving mental health issues.”
Without the Medicaid expansion, “there’s not a penny to
invest in mental health,” McAuliffe countered.
invest in mental health,” McAuliffe countered.
When asked if he approved of congressional Republicans’
attempt to force a government shutdown unless Obamacare is defunded, Cuccinelli
said he opposes Obamacare but “but this is not the kind of thing you would see
in a Cuccinelli governorship. . . . “This is not an appropriate tactic.”
attempt to force a government shutdown unless Obamacare is defunded, Cuccinelli
said he opposes Obamacare but “but this is not the kind of thing you would see
in a Cuccinelli governorship. . . . “This is not an appropriate tactic.”
Cuccinelli accused his opponent of threatening to not sign a
budget that doesn’t include the Medicaid expansion. “No budget will be shut
down in Virginia over Medicaid expansion,” McAuliffe, said. “I will work in a bipartisan
way to get it done.” He said he’s been endorsed by many Republicans because “they
know we will work together to get things done,” noting that Cuccinelli almost
derailed the Virginia budget when he tried to defund Planned Parenthood.
budget that doesn’t include the Medicaid expansion. “No budget will be shut
down in Virginia over Medicaid expansion,” McAuliffe, said. “I will work in a bipartisan
way to get it done.” He said he’s been endorsed by many Republicans because “they
know we will work together to get things done,” noting that Cuccinelli almost
derailed the Virginia budget when he tried to defund Planned Parenthood.
McAuliffe blasted Cuccinelli for not going after Star
Scientific, which owes Virginia $1.7 million, because of CEO Jonnie R.
Williams Sr.’s ties to the McDonnell administration. “Instead of taking him to
court, Ken was being taken on trips to New York City and got a $1,500 turkey dinner,” McAuliffe said. “That’s a lot
of turkey.”
Scientific, which owes Virginia $1.7 million, because of CEO Jonnie R.
Williams Sr.’s ties to the McDonnell administration. “Instead of taking him to
court, Ken was being taken on trips to New York City and got a $1,500 turkey dinner,” McAuliffe said. “That’s a lot
of turkey.”
Cuccinelli claimed he didn’t know about William’s business
when he accepted $18,000 worth of gifts. He later donated $18,000 to a charity.
During the debate, he said ethics reform “is an area I’ve led on.”
when he accepted $18,000 worth of gifts. He later donated $18,000 to a charity.
During the debate, he said ethics reform “is an area I’ve led on.”
McAuliffe touted his proposals to strengthen
ethics laws, including a measure to prohibit officials from accepted gifts
worth more than $100.
ethics laws, including a measure to prohibit officials from accepted gifts
worth more than $100.
When it comes to letting gays marry, Cuccinelli said, “I believe the institution of marriage should remain between
one man and one woman.”
one man and one woman.”
“I support marriage equality,” McAuliffe asserted, accusing his
opponent of referring to gays as “soulless” human beings. He blamed
Cuccinelli’s anti-gay statements of nearly sinking Northrop Grumman’s plan to
relocate to Northern Virginia.
opponent of referring to gays as “soulless” human beings. He blamed
Cuccinelli’s anti-gay statements of nearly sinking Northrop Grumman’s plan to
relocate to Northern Virginia.
McAuliffe blasted Cuccinelli for being one of just three
attorney generals in the United States who refused to endorse the federal Violence
Against Women Act.
attorney generals in the United States who refused to endorse the federal Violence
Against Women Act.
He also accused his opponent of refusing to defend the
rights of thousands of landowners in southwest Virginia who were owed money for
having methane taken off their lands, because the company involved contributed
to his campaign.
rights of thousands of landowners in southwest Virginia who were owed money for
having methane taken off their lands, because the company involved contributed
to his campaign.
McAuliffe said he opposes allowing schools to open before Labor Day because that would hurt tourism to the tune of $369 million a year. Cuccinelli said “children outrank tourism” and localities
should be able to decide when school should start.
should be able to decide when school should start.
2 responses to “Governor candidates attack each other’s credentials and agendas”
Leave a reply
How about some coverage for Sarvis, he is an Annandale resident.
The only thing I agree with Cuccinelli on, is letting school systems decide on when to start. Everything else he stands for is very alarming.