Virginia State Politics

Politically, Virginia tends to be a divided state.  We've even had a Republican Governor with a Democrat Lt. Governor, can't get much more divided than that.  In addition, the population is sometimes rather divided with the metropolitan populations (around D.C., Richmond, Virginia Beach, etc) being rather liberal and Democrat while all the rural populations (most notably the Piedmont Plateau and the Shenandoah Valley) being almost totally conservative and Republican.  I guess you know what the priorities are and where when you're in Virginia.

There's now a major problem in Virginia politics - three extremely liberal Democrats have gained the nomination to State offices: Governor, Lt. Governor & Attorney General. This is serious stuff kids!  Democrat candidates Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and Don McEachin have extreme liberal views on higher taxes, gay marriages, welfare, gun control, the death penalty and gambling. This is what the future of Virginia could be!

Mark Warner - Democrat Nominee for Governor Higher Taxes *    Mark Warner opposed efforts to repeal the Clinton gas tax increase during his failed 1996 campaign for U.S. Senate (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 5/5/96) *    Mark Warner opposed Governor Jim Gilmore's plan to eliminate the car tax and now Warner is willing to make Virginia families pay $354 million more in car taxes next year by refusing to end the car tax as scheduled. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 5/10/97; Washington Times, 7/29/01) *    Mark Warner has refused to rule out raising taxes and has refused to sign the americans for Tax Reform "No Tax Increase Pledge." (Americans for Tax Reform, 2001) Opposed Welfare Reform *    Mark Warner opposed cutting spending for welfare programs and enacting tough work requirements for welfare recipients because it "would have simply penalized the poor." (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 10/27/96) More Gun Control *    Mark Warner supports new gun control laws.  Warner said he was afraid of George Allen and tried to defeat Allen for governor because he would block liberal gun control laws. (The Washington Post, 07/21/01; Richmond Times-Dispatch, 10/14/93) Opposed Ending Parole *    Mark Warner criticized Governor George Allen's abolition of parole as an expensive new spending program and called keeping criminals behind bars "the dumbest business move in the world." (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/30/93; Warren Sentinel, 6/18/96)

Tim Kaine - Democrat Nominee for Lt. Governor                                      "I'm a liberal and proud of it."                                                   (Tim Kaine - Northside Magazine, 1995) Ending the Death Penalty *    Tim Kaine opposed Virginia's death penalty law - even for violent convicted murderers and rapists. (Richmond News Leader, 7/7/87) *    As a lawyer for the liberal ACLU, Tim Kaine fought to get convicted murderers and rapists off death row, even when he knew they were guilty.  Kaine compared Virginia's justice system to that of the Soviet Union and said that the death penalty is "murder". (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7/12/87; Richmond News Leader, 7/7/87) Wasting Taxpayers' Money *    As Mayor of Richmond, Tim Kaine approved a city council member using $1,200 of taxpayers funds for a personal trip to Jamaica. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/2/00) *    Tim Kaine spent $9,000 in taxpayers' monty for a liberal special interest group of 400 gun control supporters to ride buses to a liberal anti-gun rally in WashingTon DC.  When he was caught, Kaine was forced to repay the money.  (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 5/17/00) For Gay Marriages *    Tim Kaine pledged to support homosexual civil unions or gay marriages. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 5/25/01)

Donald McEachin - Democrat Nominee for Attorney General Ending the Death Penalty *    Donald McEachin wants to end Virginia's death penalty because he believes it's unfair - even for the most violent convicted murderers.  McEachin said he "would repeal the death penalty." (Roanoke Times, 5/13/01; Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/8/91) *    Donald McEachin is so opposed to the death penalty he even voted against the death penalty for criminals who commit multiple murders and voted twice against the death penalty for murderers convicted of killing a witness. (SB 513-1996, HB 271-2000 & SB 132-1996) For Casino Gambling *    Donald McEachin strongly supported bringing casino gambling to Virginia. (HB 1132-1996) More Gun Control *    Donald McEachin proudly touts his "F" rating from the National Rifle Association and is a strong proponent of more liberal gun laws to prevent law-abiding citizens from possessing firearms. (Roanoke Times, 5/13/00; Virginian-Pilot, 6/7/01)

What Mark Warner says about his liberal Democrat ticket: "On the vast majority of issues, we do agree." (Mark Warner - Richmond Times-Dispatch, 6/12/01) It's the most liberal ticket in Virginia history. Higher Taxes * Gay Marriages * Casino Gambling * End the Death Penalty Is this what we want?  I don't think so!

Information provided by the Republican Party of Virginia - 8/30/01