McDonnell and Bolling seeking unity in GOP
By JR Hoeft | Friday, April 10th, 2009 | Politics“If we lose this race, Virginia will be blue…it will be hard to argue it any other way,” said Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling to a group of bloggers in the LG’s conference room on Wednesday before the veto session convened.
Lt. Gov. Bolling hosted conservative bloggers from around the state to discuss policy and politics with his special guest – gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell. Both candidates focused primarily on one theme – unity.
“We are stronger working together than either of us working individually,” Bolling said. “It is the best ticket we’ve offered up as a party in a long time.”
Both McDonnell and Bolling were eager to point out that the issues they are campaigning on not only resonate well with conservative voters, but also with independents.
The message the McDonnell and Bolling team is taking across Virginia is to get the economy moving again by dealing with taxes and regulation and keeping Virginia as a right to work state; investing in all forms of energy, including green jobs and being first on the east coast to drill for natural gas and oil off-shore; investing in education – by getting more money in classroom vice the administration, introducing more accountability, and offering up alternatives for school choice; and strongly protecting the sanctity of life, the second amendment, and private property.
“If you read my speech and his speech, and you’re a conservative, there’s nothing in there you ought to have any concern about. You ought to look at that and say, ‘Man, I’ve been waiting for guys to come out and talk about this stuff,’” said Bolling. “We are determined to get our party back to issues and ideas and offering up a positive vision for the future that focuses on the things families and businesses care about — and we are determined to do that consistent with a conservative philosophy, principles, and values.”
That sentiment was echoed by McDonnell, who feels as long as the ticket communicates in a unified manner, it has the best message for voters.
“It’s a competitive state, but it is certainly not a blue state. I think the kind of issues Bill and I are talking about are going to be able to energize and motivate our conservative base, but it is also going to get those independents who might have left us,” said McDonnell. “We have to get independents back, particularly if we are going to win — and particularly in Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads.”
By discussing core issues like the economy, education, transportation and jobs, McDonnell and Bolling are confident they can attract independent voters.
In polling on a generic ballot, Republicans are currently supported 33% of the time, while Democrats are supported 38% of the time. This leaves 29% undecided. Within that category of independents are not only voters who do not share a particular right or left ideology, but also those who are deeply ideological and have splintered with the Republican brand recently.
“We can handle disagreements in this party, but we cannot handle divisions in this party,” stated Bolling. “Anybody who is promoting division within this party is putting their own personal interest ahead of the party’s interest — and I have no time for that.”
But Bolling added that “we’re smart enough to know that to win elections you have to build consensus and coalitions.”
Bolling went on defense regarding how his record is currently being portrayed by his convention opponent, Patrick Muldoon.
“They’re lying about my record and I take real exception to it.”
Bolling discussed what he called the Muldoon campaign’s lies about his preference for an AG candidate, support for mandatory vaccines for girls and HB 3202, and his taking of contributions from Barr Labs. He corrected the record by stating that he would be happy to run with any of the AG candidates, believes vaccines are between a patient and their doctor, was one of the few in Richmond to criticize HB 3202, and that he always voted against Barr’s position on the morning after pill.
“The government affairs division of my opponent’s law firm has Barr labs as a client,” said Bolling. “If my opponent were Pinocchio, his nose would be about three-feet long.”
McDonnell also stood by Bolling by stating that “I couldn’t have any better partner on policy and politics and carrying the message than Bill Bolling.”
Regarding the future of the party, McDonnell wants to have a strong, close working relationship with the RPV to help build the grassroots movement using the latest technology. He sees the next chairman as someone who should be more managerial.
“I think the grassroots of the party ought to decide who they think the next chairman will be,” said McDonnell. “But I think it’s got to be a strong conservative. Somebody who has a good proven record of being able to manage well. Bill and I have been saying this since we got elected – we want a good, positive, strong working relationship with the party; we want to be able to work closely together on building the grassroots.”
“Nuts and bolts stuff of party building is what we need,” McDonnell added.
Once again, unity was the name of the day.
“We can’t spend another two months fighting about [the RPV chairman],” said Bolling. “If we’re working hard and we’re working together, I think we have the best chance of winning in November in a really long time.”
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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Comments
14 Responses to "McDonnell and Bolling seeking unity in GOP"
Whew! Sure is quiet here. Is this a case of “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all?” Bet that’s a unity they didn’t count on.
I think Virginia republicans are lucky to have two great conservatives like bolling and mcdonnel running together. They really present our best chance of putting virginia back on track to being red. I for one can’t wait until the convention so we can stop hearing about that lying fool Muldoon.
The fact that Bob McDonnell and Bill Bolling have totally put their past rivalry aside and are working in such a synergistic manner is a testament to their commitment to our party and rebuilding the conservative movement in Virginia.
I am really excited about McDonnell and Bolling being on a ticket. This is the team that will lead us to victory.
Another great article with a great message…unity and hope. With Bob and Bill we, as proud Republicans, can prove that the message of hope for the future does not rest solely with the Democrats! When we decide in late May who our AG Candidate will be, we will have the strongest united ticket in decades!! You both have my full support and prayers as we work to “right the ship” and lead our Commonwealth back to common-sense politics!
The problem with Mr. Bolling’s attack on Patrick Muldoon is that he openly admits some of the issues as to why he has an opponent in this years republican nomination, however, he fails to address them. Mr. Bolling confuses debate with division and competition with factionalism in his lack of understanding of the process.
You couldn’t tell that this ticket wants unity in a party that is clearly divided by their actions and statements. Surely everyone in our party should desire unity but not at the sacrifice of our principles.
Steve, it looks like there are responses to the charges in the post. Having heard you speak on behalf of your candidate at a recent meeting, I can tell you that, while there’s all sorts of room for debate within our party, you seem to be more interested in tearing down and spewing vitriol and hate than engaging in any sort of meaningful discussion.
It’s very obvious that this campaign you’re waging against Bolling has much more to do with you and your cronies than it does with the future of our party and winning elections.
Beware of conservatives who criticize Republicans more than they criticize Democrats. They’re the true RINOs.
The Democrats would love for us to waste this time we have prior to their primaries. John McCain did that last year and look where it got us on a national level. If we are to be the Party of Choice we have to learn our lessons NOW! We need to unify now and show strong support for our GOP Candidates! No one on the left can offer what we can with our ticket and when the Convention is over we will be set to win in November! I can see all three of our candidates sweeping the election in less than 5 short months…so what can we do today? Donate your time, walk for Bob and Bill, and reach out to those independents who have left our “tent” with our renewed message of Faith, Family and Freedom! We can do this together!!!
Bill Bolling is a model conservative. I really don’t get the attacks on him.
Not that it matters. He’ll win the nomination and also retain his position as Lt. Governor.
Brian,
Insinuating I am a RINO is like announcing Hell just froze over.
Has it?
Brian – please explain to me why there is more outrage at a candidate for office that points out where the supposed conservative incumbent has acted contrary to conservative principles than there is for the incumbent who has acted contrary to principle.
Your comments epitomize what is wrong with RPV and GOP — too many have put the party ahead of principle. Unforturnately the party ends up with candidates who tout themselves as conservatives in order to appeal to conservative voters, but are quick to abandon conservative principles to avoid losing a vote. RPV now has McDonnell announcing that he will be the moderate running in the gubenatorial election. I do not want a candidate who shys away from conservative issues to avoid some perceived alienation of the moderates.
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