John Brownlee, candidate for Virginia Attorney General, called me this morning to question the assertion that Shaun Kenney, co-host of Bearing Drift’s podcast – “Virginia Politics On-Demand”, made on yesterday’s show about Brownlee’s pro-life bona fides.
“Brownlee, who has never won a public office, …is not as strong on the pro-life issue as Cuccinelli has proven to be,” stated Kenney.
Brownlee commented that he feels the statement is inaccurate in that both Cuccinelli and Brownlee share core beliefs on the life issue.
“We both believe that life begins at conception and that abortion should be illegal unless it is to protect the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest,” said Brownlee.
However, Brownlee went on to differentiate himself from Cuccinelli by saying that Cuccinelli’s lone Republican vote against the “triggerman rule”, choosing instead to side with Gov. Tim Kaine and the Democrats, constitutes an anti-life position. Brownlee said that Cuccinelli’s position doesn’t protect the life of the innocent.
The “triggerman rule” would extend the death penalty to certain accessories to murder.
Brownlee also stated that in the six years Cuccinelli has served as a state Senator that abortion is still legal and he has done little to advance the cause of making it illegal.
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Here is the entire text of what was said regarding the race…
Jim: Shaun, what about the attorney general’s race?
Shaun: You know, Cooch versus Brownlee versus, ah, I think there’s another other gentleman up in Fairfax County, ah, whose name I can’t immediately recall — which should show you his chances.
You know, Cooch plays well in Northern Virginia, he’s known in the Richmond area. I would like to think that he appeals more to the Hampton Roads area than does Brownlee, who has never won a public office, and actually is not as strong on the pro-life issue as Cuccinelli has proven himself to be.
This is a lock. All the talk about primary versus convention and all of that… Cuccinelli is the man. It’s his to lose. I’m supporting Cuccinelli. He’s a great guy, he’s a great conservative, and he’ll be an excellent compliment to McDonnell and Bolling.
Jim: It is probably Cuccinelli’s to lose, I’ll give you that. But you know, I wouldn’t discount Brownlee just yet. I’ve met both of them, they’re both well spoken, they’re both excellent people, and Brownlee does have that prosecutorial background and it’s a long way off. It’s still almost a year before a convention or a primary, so it’s going to be interesting to watch. And I’m going to hold my cards right now, however I will say that I am probably leaning Cuccinelli.
