Deeds’ recent campaign ads counter his own philosophy on politics and government

State Sen. Creigh Deeds, Democratic candidate for Virginia governor, once cautioned bloggers about not correcting the record on their web sites, so I wonder what he will do about his recent spate of campaign ads that very much distort Bob McDonnell’s record?

Deeds three times this week – on regulation, taxes, and abortion – inaccurately portrayed McDonnell’s positions and inadequately detailed his own.

Regarding regulation of Virginia’s electric utilities, Deeds is claiming that the Office of the Attorney General under McDonnell approved rate increases.

First, Deeds voted for the very legislation that he’s criticizing in this ad.

Second, and what’s most troubling, is that Deeds knows that the OAG does not set the rates; he’s deliberately distorting McDonnell’s role. It’s the State Corporation Commission that approves rate increases; the OAG advocates on behalf of Virginia consumers before the SCC. And, under McDonnell, the OAG advocated for a savings of $3.3 billion to consumers.

Regarding abortion and contraception, Deeds is claiming that McDonnell introduced 35 pieces of legislation that affect a woman’s right to choose and that McDonnell wants to outlaw abortion even in cases of rape or incest. Deeds also says McDonnell wants to ban contraception.

Of the 386 pieces of legislation McDonnell introduced, a mere eight deal with the issue of abortion. And, of those bills, they are consistent with mainstream positions on parental and informed consent and the banning of the practice of partial birth abortions. McDonnell has repeatedly said he will “uphold the laws of the land” when it comes to abortion. And the law of the land permits abortion in the case of rape or incest. Additionally, McDonnell has repeatedly said during this campaign that it is not the role of government to ban contraception.

Finally, and the most laughable of all, is that Deeds is claiming McDonnell is the one who believes in higher taxes!

“This ad demonstrates the utter contempt Creigh Deeds’ has for the intelligence of Virginia’s voters,” said Tucker Martin, McDonnell’s Director of Communications. “Creigh Deeds has voted for over $3.5 billion in tax increases in just the last five years. He boasts of his support for the biggest tax increase in Virginia history, and attacks Bob McDonnell for opposing it. He voted for 19 separate tax hikes on just one day last year, and to dramatically increase the gas tax…at a time when gas was already over $4 a gallon. And Creigh has made clear he will raise taxes if elected governor. Creigh’s entire career in public service is based on an unrelenting commitment to hiking taxes. With this ad, Creigh clearly wants to have his tax hikes and eat them too.”

You gotta admit, it’s pretty gutsy move by Deeds to run against his own record.

All this being said, Deeds claimed to bloggers that:

“We have to change the tone of the debate and put a stop to the endless bickering and gamesmanship that’s come to define politics,” said Deeds (7:00 mark of the video).

Do as I say, not as I do, senator?

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About the author

JR Hoeft

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.