RPV got us WiFi and we’re live at the Attorney General Debate. Check below the fold for updates:
Pregame: 10:01AM: Sitting in room, first to arrive with Kenney the Elder. No table, had to find an outlet, nothing for bloggers or media, though this was supposed to be a “blogger friendly” event.
Brownlee flyer in every chair cites blogs that love him, quotes Spank That Donkey, Spark It Up, and Too Conservative.
500+ attendees for the event, but that number also reflects people being bussed in for the straw poll. (UPDATE: It ends up no one was bussed in for the event. The offer was made and a handful of individuals were vanned in, but no busloads of Brownlee supporters filled the Advance.) This year, straw poll voters had too pay full admission to the event in order to vote. Brownlee campaign is bussing people in, no word on if either other campaign is.
Coming in there were only Brownlee signs but since the morning breakfast let out tons of Cuccinelli signs have sprung up.
Shaun is hammering out his thoughts of the Advance, will also be “live blogging” the debate and posting the full thing once we can find wifi.
The debate will be moderated by Jerry Kilgore and I believe other individuals, though whether they went with the three moderator format or just Kilgore I don’t know yet. Seems the initial concept of three bloggers was agreed upon by two of three candidates but the one convinced another and it was killed. Was going to be two reporters and one blogger but reporters didn’t want to do it – if they were at the Advance they were covering the event, not moderating. Also, bloggers weren’t reached out to until Tuesday and had other plans. Kilgore it is!
SWAC Girl has joined us at the “blogger table” – right next to the water.
10:23AM: Jim Gilmore’s about to give the opening address.
10:27AM: Mention of Sarah Palin gets the most applause. Room is only about 1/3 to 1/2 full right now.
10:31AM: Handicapping the election. Tough environment, Obama good candidate, media didn’t cover issues, would have called VA for Republicans three weeks out.
10:33AM: Issues shifted from energy to economy and we went for bailouts.
11:35AM: Money and technology. Dems had the money and are utilizing the technologies to take advantage of the law. Massive number of new donors, years to build that kind of new technology and new innovation.
10:37AM: No Car Tax pulled independents and Democrats and dominated the coverage. Putting more teachers in the schools pulled them in. This is the party that can win big elections.
Fundamental message: We don’t have to be liberals… offer the conservative solutions to the nation’s and the state’s problems. We are offering positive futuristic solutions.
10:41AM: Cuccinelli stopped by to say hello.
10:42AM: Gilmore: “I’m not going anywhere.” Create a PAC. Collected 10,000 new donors to tap. 18,000 emails. “Electorate has been changed by the other side” not that it has changed. Closes with a strong charge to elect McDonnell and Bolling, standing ovation.
11:45AM: Introducing moderator Kilgore and candidates. Good applause for each, sounded lounder for Cuccinelli. Kilgore is giving his welcome.
11:47AM: Brownlee gives opening remarks first. The Attorney General is our state’s top law enforcement official and their mission is to make sure children are safe, families are safe in their homes, and we need to have an AG that makes sure justice is done. Conservative on life, taxes, marriage, second amendment, but is also one that seeks justice.
11:50AM: Cuccinelli next. Thanks everyone, happy to be here, run and won many elections. Been in the state senate for three terms, has run and won on issues like life, low taxes, only senator to propose more budget cuts than spending (crowd is clapping for him more). Protected 2nd amendment from annual onslaughts, advanced a lot of good legislation to expand rights or law abiding citizens. Fought to establish property rights. Campaigned for Marriage Amendment and involved in every improvement in the criminal justice system as a member of the court committee in the senate. McDonnell and Bolling didn’t win in his district, he’s carried it three times running on strong grassroots campaigns and issues and that is what the party must get back to to win a winning majority for the future. Build on a foundation of principle and this party will be winning for years to come.
Crowd’s clapping for him an awful lot.
10:55AM: Foster’s up. Won School Board in “People’s Republic of Arlington”, did so then and will win again sticking to core Republican principles. Worked for John Warner in 96, was chair of GOPAC last year. Kept bonds down for schools. Had the Pledge said before every meeting once again. Want AG to have power to investigate voter fraud, wasting tax dollars, fight for educations and against No Child Left Behind bureaucracy.
11:00AM: First question: All of your websites say alot about your spouse. What would your spouses say about you?
Brownlee: I hope she would say she married someone who was committed to public service. Married in 1997 after Army service. Became a prosecuter in DC so he could use his law degree to give back. DC gun control: “Gun control doesn’t enhance public safety.” Family is best thing in life.
Cuccinelli: Speaks of wife, they have six kids, seventh due in April. Ability to run wouldn’t be there without her help, has veto power. Would say Ken is stubborn and more than willing to argue (with anyone other than the veto carrier). Plus and a minus: blunt – what you see is what you get. Not the past most chosen in politics, but he presents what he believes and will fight for it.
Foster: Wife might say his worst characteristic is that he keeps running for office (laugh). Best thing, devotion to family. Keep family first.
11:10AM: What is the proper role of the Attorney General?
Cuccinelli: Working together with other state attorney general, draw the line between not being a plaintiff’s lawyer for Virginia and issues that cross stateline and determine if there is a joint interest in persuing but also keep office from becoming a fundraising platform through frivolous suits. Reason shouldn’t be revenue, it should be obeying the law.
Foster: 25 years at firm have given him the experience to run the third largest lawfirm in Virginia (next to Hutton Williams and McGwire Woods). We need people experienced in those courts and able to run staffs to work in those courts.
Brownlee: Job is to protect the Constitution and people of Virginia. Previous AGs have set the tone, has worked with Kilgore and McDonnell. OcyCotton case, took money from companies for violating laws that went back to State Police and Medicaid. – not taxpayer’s dollars. Has conduct violated constituion or people of Virginia? Has fought against partial birth abortion, need someone who has fought time and time again.
11:16AM: Was HB3202 unconstitutional?
Foster: Don’t want to open by arguing with the Supreme Court (laugh – Kilgore: “we do it all the time”). It was Kaine that changed the bill to make it unconstitutional. Can fix bill to get out of state fines as well, authority locally with elected officials, public/private partnership. Articulate way forward in the future.
Brownlee: Structural flaws. Abuser fee horrible inception. Somewhat flawed structure from the start to transfer authority for taxing to local government or regional authority. If you’re going to raise taxes stand up and say that’s what you are doing. We have tax raisers going around saying they signed the “no new tax” pledge. Need people who will stand by their decisions, not those that ship responsibility elsewhere. We need strong, Conservative, proven leaders Virginians can trust.
Cuccinelli: Advantage is you don’t have to listen to me, you can just look at my votes and see my record. Kaine changed it and he voted against it, even said it was unconstitutional at the time. Constitution comes first (applause). Opportunity for AGs office on transportation is helping VDOT process public/private proposals. We need an attorney general that is interetsed in doing and has encouraged such relationships in the past. HOT lanes: I don’t like tolls but I like taxes less, if you’re paying a toll then you’re paying for the services you use.
11:25AM: What role will the death penalty play and how will you expand its use?
Brownlee: I find not joy in using it. But I do it because it saves lives, it saves innocent lives. VA should havve a death penalty that only executes the most heinous of crimes. We need to eliminate the triggerman rule.
Cuccinelli: Death penalty comes up regularly in courts committee. Supported setting a timeline for appeals that does not deny any opportunity for justice but does not make it last forever. Fought for capital elegibility for shooting witness or judges, which is important in gang areas. Exception for triggerman rule for gang purposes. Will back death penalty as Attorney General. Using it but also reigning in Government power when it comes to taking life.
Foster: Served on school board during Beltway Sniper shootings, decided to keep schools open, staff was strong to help. Triggerman rule makes no sense to him: how can you distinguish shooter from man who drove the car and positioned them. Death penalty should be an option. Kilgore or McDonnell never personally prosecuted a death penalty case while AG, but you need someone who understands it. Don’t let justice be delayed, justice delayed is justice denied.
11:31AM: What role do you see Virginia’s AG paying in policies to come from Obama administration?
Cuccinelli: AG is first line between Federal and State conflict. Expects right to work and energy fights. Already gearing up for right to work fight. It is a bedrock of our economic strength. Unions are coming after it already. Need legal basis to go to court, can’t grandstand, but he expects legitimate ones to come and an AG can help reassert the state’s role in our soviergn nation. We have a lousy history of state rights: Byrd Machine to deny Af. Am. rights to vote. But there is a legitimate role for state rights and we need to reassert that. Ready to fight. “I look Italian, I act Irish.”
Foster: We will need to be on guard. Elimination of secret ballot in unions is going to be a fight. Right and responsibility to fight for 10th Amendment.
Brownlee: I will fight for Virginia constitution. They will try to assault protections on life. They will target second amendment. We need an AG ready to protect our second amendment rights. Right to work – we need to challenge the federal gov’t and say their laws are unconstitutional. Need experienced fighter for these. Ran office identital to AG’s office as US Attorney. Assaults on our values are coming and AG is positioned to fight for them.
11:40AM: What is the appropriate balance between the public’s right to know and doing your job as Attorney General?
Foster: Public has a right to know where it’s money is going, basis for gov’t decisions, and for decisions on why not to act.
Brownlee: Open and transparant government is vital. There are some things you can’t reveal by law: grand jury, etc. Commends Cuccinelli for keeping and fighting for open government, will follow that path.
Cuccinelli: AG’s bully pulpit is a good place to keep pushing open government. Balance is almost a case by case situation. AG gives legal advice to every arm of government. That advice to client is privelege unless client says otherwise. More committed to openness in government than anyone else in the senate. But my ultimate client is the citizens of Virginia.
11:50AM: What is one major area you will focus on as AG (other than public safety)?
Brownlee: Consumer rights, 2nd amendment, protect life.
Cuccinellli: Voted against Price Gouging bill as it is against his understanding of free market principles. The free market will punish violators. Would rather push further in the area of property rights. We need to protect property rights and get them protected in our Constitution.
Foster: Let’s do more to combat online fraud.
11:55AM: What is a proper balance between federal government cooperation and policing (based on 20,000 troops deployed domestically)?
Cuccinelli: Concenring, we need to stand up against these things. What’s an internal security force and a Real ID mean? We should stands against Real ID. We should let the police do the policing. Military does a wonderful service for our community but they have enough work to do outside our borders.
Foster: The key is collaboration. There are places for federal and state governments to work together but it’s collaboration. One area, immigration. Federal and state authorities cooperate to prosecute illegal activities, if they’re illegal aliens get them out.
Brownlee: Wants to make a point about Cuccinelli’s price gouging stance. It’s not as simple as going somewhere else. When there is limited supply and the one guy who has it jacks it up, that’s price gouging and against the law. We should enforce the law and stand up for consumers trying to flee a hurricane (some applause, not as much as Cuccinelli when saying we need free market). Saw 20,000 troops report, we need to study it more, we need someone with experience and someone who also was a veteran and knows how to work with military and federal authorities. Troubled as well, but uniquely suited to deal with those issues.
12:00pm: Final question: Immigration – party criticized nationally for its strong stand against illegal immigration. Do you agree or disagree with party’s stances?
Foster: We are a nation of immigrants and have to be open but we have to be clear we are against violations of the law. We should look at ways to empower local governments to be able to fight back as well.
Brownlee: Huge issue. Remember: we are a party that believes in the rule of law. We are the party of family values. These are human beings we are talking about. Has worked with McDonnell to rid communities of criminal aliens. Rule of law and compassion. There is only one candidate on this stage who has ever charged and deported any illegal alien.
Cuccinelli: Wide variety of ethnic constituents in his district. Entrepeneurs and strong families – these are Republicans. Fought to stop state contractors from hiring illegal aliens. Rule of law, but should also protect those who are trafficed. Respect human dignity even of illegal people in Virginia. We aren’t going to win statewide unless we make a regular, active effot to continually reach out to and create a coaltiion that includes ethnic minorities.
12:05PM: Closing statements
Brownlee: Must have someone with experience. Prosecutors have always been picked by the voters. Honored to be on stage with good men, but he is the only prosecutor and has been in courtrooms for his entire professional life seeking justice. Who has fought for them? Select the former prosecutor, select the former military officer, and he’d like everyone’s vote
Cuccinelli: Only 100% pro-life candidate in this race. Only one on the front lines fighting tax fights in our party and then defending his position at home. Has fought for 2nd Amendment. Has won on the issues where no one else has done it. Is the only Republican Senator among the 2 million people in Northern Virginia because of his commitment to those core principles. Those are just something to put on your brochure, they’re something to stand by and fight for.
Foster: Has best combination of proven electability, deep legal qualifications, and best solutions on how to get things done.
Everyone is clearing out, straw poll time.
