It's always interesting when Daniel goes into the Lion's Den and comes out not only unscathed, but stronger than ever. Yesterday's version of the popular Bible story was Tim Kaine's appearance on NRA News Radio. If nothing else, I think most Virginians would have to admit that Kaine's appearance showed cojones. I mean, seriously, can you just imagine Jerry Kilgore agreeing to appear on Al Franken's or Jon Stewart's show? Of course not. But fortunately, Tim Kaine is not afraid - unlike Jerry Kilgore, apparently -- of his political rivals, of discussing tough issues, or of Virginia voters.With that, here are a few highlights from the Kaine interview on NRA News Radio.
*First, as mentioned above, huge props to Tim Kaine for agreeing to appear at all on NRA News Radio. As the saying goes, 90% of life is just showing up, and Tim Kaine did a lot more than
"just show up" yesterday.
*Second, Kaine totally slammed the door on Jerry Kilgore's claim that there's an "ideological divide, and a pretty clear one" between the two of them on the gun issue. Of course, Jerry Kilgore's trying desperately to paint Tim Kaine as an anti-gun fanatic, even though this is patently ridiculous. Here's what Kaine had to say on this subject to NRA News Radio:
I really don't [believe that there's an ideological divide]. I mean, both Jerry and I support gun owners rights very significantly. I'd never do anything that would go after the rights of law-abiding gun owners. And I'm a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. I know that in campaigns you often try to puff up this as a big difference, but I think that it's a non-issue.
*Third, Kaine emphasized his support for (and work on) a state constitutional amendment to guarantee the right of Virginians to hunt and fish. According to the Virginia Lt. Governor's website, "In 2000 Tim Kaine served as a lead counsel for legislators and the Virginia Heritage Foundation, a citizens group created to campaign for the successful passage of the constitutional amendment that preserved the rights of Virginians to hunt and fish." Boy, that Tim Kaine's really an anti-gun extremist, huh?
*Fourth, Kaine touted his record as mayor of Richmond, where he put into place the much-praised "Project Exile" -- one of the best law enforcement programs in the nation according to none other than the NRA. As Charlton Heston said at the time, in praise of "Project Exile," ?Believe me, not many felons carry firearms in Richmond anymore.?
Simply stated, "Project Exile" means that if someone is caught committing a crime in Richmond with a gun, the criminal forfeits his right to remain in the community and instead is "exiled" to federal prison for 5-10 years. In other words, no more criminals, no more gun problem. Just law-abiding, gun-owning citizens who Tim Kaine fully supports. To emphasize this point, Kaine strongly declared, "I don't support any gun restrictions on law abiding citizens on the state level."
*Fifth, although Kaine pointed out that "Project Exile" was a success, he didn't mention, perhaps out of modesty, just how great a success it was. Let's look at the numbers: in 1994, when Kaine joined the Richmond City Council, a record 160 people were murdered in Richmond, making Virginia's capital city the the "murder capital" of the country. By 1999, two years after Project Exile began, the number of homicides in Richmond had fallen to just 74, the lowest figure in 15 years. In 2002, there were 77 murders in the city, about the same as in 1999. Still not perfect, but a great improvement nonetheless. And, although many factors go into determing how many murders are committed, Tim Kaine's "Project Exile" is widely believed to have played an important part in Richmond's success story.
*Sixth, and most importantly, the successful enactment of "Project Exile" demonstrated Tim Kaine's willingness and ability to bring people together -- to be a true "uniter, not a divider," in other words. And "Project Exile" certainly did that, drawing praise from both Jim Brady of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and Wayne LaPierre of the NRA. Now, how many politicians do you know who can accomplish that?
To empahisize this point, Kaine said that he's "always been a guy who looks for common ground," with Project Exile representing a prime example. As Mayor, Lt. Governor, and throughout his life, Kaine has "always considered myself a bridge builder." Which is exactly what we need here in Virginia.
*Seventh, with regard to the Million Mom March in 2000, Kaine was asked why he proposed using $6,000 of city money to help bus crime victims' families to Washington, DC. In response, Kaine talked about how he had been to "too many funerals, too many crime scenes, too many memorial services." Kaine added that when the homicide victims' families came to him and asked for his help in getting to the march, "my heart worked quicker than my head" and he said "sure, I'll support you." In other words, Kaine has a good heart. Which is not a bad thing in a governor, I'd say.
*Eighth, asked about his support for the "Clinton gun ban" (aka, the bipartisan "Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994"), Kaine responded, "I thought at the time when that passed it was a good bill, but I would never support doing one of those at the state level." Kaine added that he doesn't see how the Clinton "gun ban" -- which covered 19 types of military-style weapons -- did any real harm.
Finally, Kaine expressed his belief that the Federal law did not do any damage to the Second Amendment, and that he doesn't regret his support for it. In other words, Kaine has thought long and hard on the gun issue, and has come down right in the middle -- not an extremist on either side of the debate.
*Ninth, Kaine said he felt that Virginia's one-handgun-a-month law was working fine and didn't need to be changed. Kaine pointed out that this was an issue where he and Jerry Kilgore disagreed. Again, a moderate position which doesn't interfere with any law-abiding citizen's Second Amendment right to bear arms.
*Tenth, Kaine also said he thought that prohibiting people from carrying concealed weapons into a Chuck-E-Cheese, a Pizza Hut or a bar that serves alcohol was a good idea as well, and "should stay in place." Again, a moderate, centrist viewpoint and one on which "Jerry Kilgore and I disagree."
*Tenth, just so that there could be no doubt on the subject, Kaine stated point blank towards the end of the interview: "I don't support any new gun laws in Virginia."
In sum, Kaine isn't afraid to go into "hostile" territory, as evidenced by his appearance on NRA News Radio. In addition, Kaine is a strong believer in the Second Amendment for law-abiding citizens. As Mayor of Richmond, he implemented an innovative program that reduced gun crime and brought people of both sides together. And as a leader, Kaine is one who comes down firmly against dividing the state. As governor, he would simply prefer not to waste his time and energy changing existing gun laws, but instead would rather focus on pressing issues that affect all of us, like education, transportation and health care.
Finally, the "Project Exile" example strongly demonstrates Kaine's uncanny ability to bring people together, even if they disagree strongly on an issue. This is exactly the kind of leadership we need here in Virginia, and one I'm willing to bet most undecided voters would prefer in this election.