Cuccinelli is Playing Dirty

By: Mark Lotwis
Published On: 10/12/2007 4:03:48 PM

Ken Cuccinelli certainly is not a politician known for his moderation (as anyone who has heard him speak or has read his "Cuccinelli Compass" emails can attest), but his recent attacks on Janet Oleszek and other Democrats make one wonder if he has any self-control at all.

First he claimed that Janet had repeatedly raised taxes as a member of the Fairfax County School Board - ignoring the fact that the School Board doesn't have that authority.  Then Cuccinelli called Democrats like Oleszek "socialists on steroids," because they believe in radical ideas like affordable housing and minimum-wage laws.  Next he accused Democrat Dick Saslaw (Fairfax) of having Tourette syndrome.  And recently, in perhaps his most despicable display of dirty tricks, Cuccinelli sent voters a manila envelope that read: "Notice: Your new Fairfax County income tax payment is due," with the sender identified in bold letters as the "Fairfax County Income Tax Authority" (which does not exist).  Of course, voters who opened the letter expecting to receive a notice from the government instead found a Cuccinelli campaign flyer attacking Janet.

When asked about the deceptive mailer, Cuccinelli tried to say that it was a "gimmick" and part of his "marketing campaign."  Well, Cuccinelli may think that it's OK to play games with Virginia voters, but this type of deception is unacceptable - especially when it is used to mislead people like the elderly.

Unfortunately, Ken Cuccinelli isn't the only Republican trying to hoodwink voters.  For example, in the race for Virginia's 28th Senate district Republican Richard Stuart is telling Virginians that his Democratic opponent for the State Senate, Albert Pollard, voted to tax farmers and small businesses.  The truth is, Pollard introduced a bill in the Virginia House of Delegates to exempt farmers and small businesses from having to pay the estate tax.


It is critical that we do not allow Republicans to steal any more elections with this type of duplicitous behavior.  We at 21st Century Democrats are committed to helping candidates like Janet and Albert combat Republican misinformation campaigns.  We have launched a 'Virginia - Red to Blue - Action Plan' to replace dishonest Republicans with dynamic, forward-thinking Democrats committed to effecting positive change. 

Everyone in Virginia knows that this is a critical election.  The State Senate we elect in 2007 will vote on the creation of new congressional districts following the next census - affecting state and national politics for the next decade.  We simply cannot allow the Republicans to continue to win by distorting Democrats positions and playing on voters fears. Please donate some time or money and let's make sure that Virginia voters get the Democrats' REAL records -- not misleading Republican rhetoric.

Comments



Devolites-Davis plays dirty, too (Teddy - 10/14/2007 4:47:28 PM)
Mrs. D-D, who must be running scared spitless from Chap Petersen in the 34th Senatorial District, is likewise pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into negative mailouts. I have been receiving at least one a day for about two weeks, large, slick-paper four-colored mailouts, each with a lot of photos and graphics, and every one of them loaded with NEGATIVE words about Peteresen, printed in red or otherwise outlined to be sure the distortions, lies, and mis-information is imprinted on the minds of voters. I understand she will soon begin a series of three flights of ads on television, also mainly negative, and that has got to cost her around $250K per flight, or three-quarters of a million dollars. 

Added to the cost of printing and the postage for all-voter mailouts of the out-sized negative postcards, it looks as though Devolites-Davis will be spending maybe 2 million dollars to win a job that pays $18,000 a year. One wonders what sort of return is expected by donors from her in exchange for such largesse.