[1]
It really doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum you’re on — Virginia’s gubernatorial contest is quickly turning into a referendum on Terry McAuliffe.
Cuccinelli’s latest ad emphasizes this point in a big way:
Boom.
Now there are going to be a handful of folks — left leaning journalists and wallflowers, mostly — bewailing about how the gubernatorial contest has lacked any serious policy initiatives from any of the candidates.
You know, policy initiatives on job creation [2]:
Virginia Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Ken Cuccinelli’s Economic Growth & Virginia Jobs Planis designed to unleash the spirit and ingenuity of Virginia’s innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators; empower middle class families by allowing them to keep more of the paychecks they’ve earned; and reduce government barriers that crowd out economic opportunity in the private sector.
…or workforce investment [3]:
In order to secure Virginia’s economic future, it will be imperative for Virginia’s next Governor and future legislatures to make significant advances in the area of workforce training and job readiness. Leaders from both parties have long agreed on the critical importance of preparing emerging and transitioning workers to make immediate contributions in the professional world. This is especially true for our veterans, including the thousands of Virginians who have recently returned home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
…or small businesses [4]:
Starting a business in Virginia is not as easy as one might think. There are a number of rules, regulations, fees and licensing requirements that govern the process. Businesses often engage in research to find out how many steps need to be taken and what the costs of licensing or other fees are required in local jurisdictions to create and operate a business. Ken Cuccinelli’s Small Business Advocate Plan would make it easier for Virginians looking to start a business to navigate that process.
…or unleashing Virginia’s energy resources [5]:
While newer sources of energy— such as natural gas, nuclear and renewables—are core components of the plan, the Attorney General continues to believe that coal and other more traditional resources are essential to a sound energy policy for Virginia businesses and consumers. Cuccinelli’s decision to unveil his plan in Southwest Virginia reflects his consistent belief that Virginia’s coal industry is not just a key part of Virginia’s history, but also its future.
…or protecting veterans [6]:
In the course of American political history, every single candidate for statewide office talks about the importance of veterans and the critical role they play in our communities. Too often, of course, when it comes to veterans’ issues—candidates and elected officials say all the right things and check all of the right boxes, but rarely do they take aggressive action…Leaders at every level of government have a solemn responsibility to look after the men and women who have put their lives on the line for our country. No one disagrees with that. But I think leaders in Richmond need to be committed to our veterans for another reason that applies to our entire Commonwealth: our economic future.
But the media hasn’t talked about any of those policy objectives. They don’t want to… it doesn’t fit within the narrative.
What’s worse, we all know that Terry McAuliffe can’t talk about policy objectives, because by doing so he will either shatter the brittle coalition of supporters he is so desperately trying to collect and salvage or expose himself as the extreme leftist that Washington insiders know him to be. McAuliffe has already been rejected by the members of his own party once before in 2009 — and it’s no secret that many Democratic observers are questioning whether or not McAuliffe is going to be able to win in November, despite his financial advantage.
So before we buy into the “everyone’s running a negative campaign and not on the issues” tripe, let’s remember that Cuccinelli has put out a number of policy positions in great detail.
McAuliffe has not. Or cannot. And now you know why.