Chap Hits Back at "False" and "Misleading" Davis Ad

By: Lowell
Published On: 10/15/2007 12:21:43 PM

Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis:
False on Taxes, Misleading on Guns,
Unfit to Represent Fairfax County

Today in Fairfax, Democratic State Senate candidates Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) struck back at the allegations made in the television advertisement put out by State Senator Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis currently running on network stations.  The advertisement has been airing on network since last week and is now in regular circulation. 

The ad alleges Petersen "Supports Increasing the Estate Tax," "Supports a 38 cent gas tax increase," and "Voted for Concealed Weapons on School Property."  The text is mirrored with an imaginary gun shooting at a screen image with Petersen's face.  The ad concludes with the words:  "Chap Petersen:  Wrong on Taxes, Wrong on Guns, Wrong for Northern Virginia." 

Today, Petersen specifically condemned the allegations from the Devolites-Davis campaign, which has grown increasingly desperate in the closing weeks of the State Senate campaign.

On the issue of estate tax, Petersen stated that allegation is completely false.  Petersen did vote against the proposed abolition in 2003 - a bill vetoed by Mark Warner (D).  At that time, he co-sponsored bills, including SB 1309, to eliminate farms and small businesses from estate tax, while preserving the tax for the wealthiest Virginians.  He never voted to raise the tax. 


On the issue of gas tax, Petersen stated that the "38 cent increase" allegation is completely fabricated.  There is no attribution in the advertisement. 

On guns, Petersen noted that it is a Class 6 felony in Virginia to possess a gun on school grounds, whether open or concealed.  He supports that law.  He voted for HB 2535 which gave a limited exception to parents with licensed concealed carry permits who pick up their children at school.  That bill, limited in scope to vehicles in school driveways, passed the House of Delegates by an 85-9 margin and was signed into law by Governor Warner (D) on March 26th, 2005. 

Other Fairfax County Delegates who voted for final passage of the bill included Kris Amundson (D), Vince Callahan ( R),  Jim Dillard ( R), Tim Hugo (R), Brian Moran (D), Gary Reese (R), Jim Scott (D), Mark Sickles (D) and Vivian Watts (D). 

"My opponent's misleading charges on guns intentionally ignores the facts and the bipartisan nature of the legislation.  To use this vote as a basis for an ad firing gunshots at my face is a desperate and embarrassing act by an elected official.  That type of desperation breeds misrepresentation." 

Today, Petersen announced endorsements by the Fairfax County Coalition of Police, the Fairfax County Coalition of Deputy Sheriffs, Fairfax County Sheriff Stan Barry and Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Bob Horan.  In doing so, Petersen noted his historic support of law enforcement and his sponsorship of crime-fighting bills such as his anti-gang legislation passed in 2005. 

"Folks in the Fairfax County law enforcement community know the record and they're backing me."

Comments



Guns firing at a rival's face? (Teddy - 10/15/2007 2:42:40 PM)
That's some ad--- not having a television I have not had the pleasure of observing the vicarious attempt at murdering a rival. Law and Order, by gum! Gunsmoke! Miami Vice! Is Fred Thompson running for State Senator? Bang! Bang! You're dead!

The whole Devolites-Davis ad campaign sounds as if it's a product of the moist little adolescent minds of the Swift Boat crew that barbecued John Kerry.  This kind of production doesn't come cheap, so JMDD must have a deep gold mine bankrolling her. Disgusting and pathetic, and I really do believe Fairfax voters are too smart to fall for such tactics--- they did not once before, when Webb was the object of similar ugly smear campaigns.



Law enforcement endorsement a big coup (Craig - 10/15/2007 3:58:07 PM)
Seriously, that pretty much silences JMDDs only real argument in her favor at this point.  And as usual, the only way to attack him is to make it look like an overwhelmingly popular bill was more extreme and less popular than it actually was.

JMDD must be getting kind of desperate.



Facts get in the way of negative GOP attacks (Doug in Mount Vernon - 10/15/2007 5:29:47 PM)
It never ceases to amaze me, when push comes to shove, just how far outside the bounds of truth, decency, and fairness, Republicans will stoop to attack their political opponents.

Democrats will attack their opponents as well, but it's never with the same outlandishness or the same fervor and intensity.  Even the recent blowback to DPVA for their ad about Hugo on behalf of Rex Simmons--despite being somewhat of a stretch and guilt-by-association--still at least pointed to ACTUAL associations.

The attack on Chap and the estate tax is a complete lie.

The attack against Janet Oleszek and the accusation of "lack of substance" that was echoed by the Post today (for which they should be eminently embarassed) was a lie and smear originally perpetrated by Cuccinelli goons who are looking to discredit Janet's prowess on issues because of her difficulty articulating it well sometimes, largely based on her sexist notions.

The attack on David Poisson and his sexuality and the immigrant in his house thing--all lies.

The MULTIPLE slanderous lies in PWC against just about every Democrat who has publicly identified as such down there.  Jeff Dion, Hilda Barg, Jeanette Rishell, and Sharon Pandak can all tell you some stories about the negative campaign ads and unsubstantiated attacks based on incorrect assumptions or other nonfactual blather.

Where does it end!!???



Oops (Doug in Mount Vernon - 10/15/2007 5:31:03 PM)
That should read, "based on sexist notions"---obviously they are not hers!


Jeannemarie and the Washington Post think we're stupid. (jsrutstein - 10/15/2007 5:39:19 PM)
The only thing that could prevent Chap from winning three weeks from tomorrow is if we stay home thinking that our fellow Senate district voters will do the right thing for us.  I have to think that Jeannemarie's purely negative ad full of lies and the Washington Post's inexplicably out of touch endorsement of Jeannemarie will only serve to motivate us that much more to

GET OUT AND VOTE FOR CHAP THREE WEEKS FROM TOMORROW!!!!!!



I think you've touched on the key difference between modern parties (snolan - 10/17/2007 6:04:58 AM)
Republicans have an elitist, cynical, assume the voters are stupid view.

Democrats have a teamwork, community-driven, assume the other guy will help out in a pinch view.

It's been a huge shift since the 1950s - but that is apparently part of the core values of the parties these days, and the only thing linking fiscal conservatives to the neo-cons and theocrats is that shared view that most people are stupid and easy to exploit.