Democrats pull no punches in Danville debate
Danville Register & Bee
Candidates for the Democratic Party’s nomination for governor debate in Danvile, Tuesday.
Published: April 29, 2009
DANVILLE -- The three Democrats running for governor aggressively challenged one another last night to reconcile their records with their rhetoric ahead of the June 9 primary.
Former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria confronted millionaire businessman and former Democratic national chairman Terry McAuliffe of McLean about his lucrative involvement with bankrupt telecommunications giant Global Crossing.
McAuliffe retaliated by confronting Moran over his votes for bills supporting a coal-burning power plant and offshore oil and gas exploration. He also targeted Moran over his staunch opposition to offshore drilling and a coal-fired power plant as a gubernatorial candidate.
And state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County asked McAuliffe why he backed the North American Free Trade Agreement -- promoted and signed into law by President Bill Clinton, his political patron. NAFTA has been blamed for ruining the once-thriving fabric mills of Danville, a city with high jobless rates.
Last night's debate, sponsored by The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia and the Danville Register & Bee, produced the sharpest clashes yet between the three. It was particularly critical for Deeds and Moran, who are struggling to keep up with the $5 million-plus that McAuliffe has raised nationally.
It was the second straight encounter in which Moran brought up Global Crossing, linking it to the corporate failures of Enron and AIG. He asked McAuliffe why he didn't follow the lead of a Florida bank executive who returned millions of bonus dollars from the sale of a bank to employees who lost their jobs.
"You made $18 million from Global Crossing, one of the largest corporate failures in American history, and thousands -- thousands! -- of people lost their jobs," Moran said. "Why didn't you give the money back?"
McAuliffe disputes the $18 million figure that has been widely reported for 10 years, saying he actually realized only about half as much profit. Most of McAuliffe's shares were sold, and profits realized, by the end of 1999. Global Crossing collapsed in 2002.
"Well, if you'd have your facts correct," he shot back. "I was a venture capitalist investor. I was never in their headquarters. I never worked for them."
McAuliffe claims that he has created thousands of jobs in ventures that include homebuilding companies and hotels.
Moran opposes all drilling off Virginia's Atlantic Coast, and he opposes a proposed coal-fired plant near Surry.
McAuliffe says he supports drilling for natural gas only, not oil. He said he wants to see environmental reports on the proposed plant before making up his mind.
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Reader Reactions
So, what values are so unique that they can only be passed down genetically within the borders of the Commonwealth? List some, and then tell me who’s putting you down for them, and why they can’t exist or be adopted?
Even though West of the Fall Line was largely settled by Scotch-Irish and Germans, and the east was settled by English loyalists, what unique ties bind everyone together?
Is Michael Vick (from Newport News) a better Virginian than John Warner or George Allen?
What about Kentucky and West Virginians? Do they get half-credit since they were once part of Virginia? What about the part of Virginia retroceded back?
What if a native born was only native born past 1985? What if they were born in Loudoun County before it was NoVa? What if a family has lived in Fairfax since the 18th century?
Natives living on the Eastern shore have more in Common with Danville than with other Delmarva people? People living in Richmond have more in common with Winchester than with other east coast urban centers? You know flatlander is a pretty popular term up North, as in, Maine and Vermont.
Please. Your attitude is extremely xenophobic.
Reverend,
Birth only means something to people like you. I know Americans who were born on military bases in other countries. That certainly doesn’t make them German or French. I’ve lived in Virginia all my adult life and most of my teens. I am a Virginian, whether you like it or not. Now can we stick to the issues at hand, like whether or not the candidates are considering the Commonwealth of Virginia’s best interest and whether or not we agree with their positions.
VCUAlum, Allow a born, bred, and proud Virginian explain.
Those of us who were born, and raised in the Commonwealth to parents who were born and raised here, and have our ire raised when people come from other states, and complain about our lifestyle and culture.
We tire of being called names, and put down by those who come from some where else. We do NOT share the same values as other states,with “NoVa” as the buffer unfortunately, and thereby the contempt you sense about NoVa is because of this situation.
Most of the state is NOW being populated by “transplants”, and the rustling of feathers by the locals are becoming apparent.
And? It doesn’t matter if you have moved here, and lived 2 months, 2 years, or 20 years, you will always be considered from “Some place else”.
It also places from what section of the state unto from which you originated. I’m still considered a “Flatlander” when I go to visit them in SWVa. So don’t feel as if it’s the whole state, different regions have different reactions.
So back to the political scene. You can tell a “local” from a “transplant” specifically during election years. Most of the “local” Democrats running are “blue dawgs”, and reject the radical far-left nanny-state attitudes.
As a Local of the Commonwealth, it’s my duty to educate those who have questions about my culture, without besmirching their person, due to lack of knowledge. If you don’t know, how do you know you’re offending us. So I never take the offense personally.
However, there are those transplants who are rude, pretentious, and without good manners, and those of us locally do not appreciate such behaviors, and thereby reject their ideals in full.
There ya’ go. The answers to your quesitons.
Like Moran, McCaullife and McDonnell I too am a transplant, and I think that the argument that someone needs to be born in the state is absurd.
However, I do support the only candidate born in the state, Creigh Deeds. He’s the most moderate democrat, and he’ll be able to fend off the people who cry “NoVA ISNT REAL VA”, unlike Moran.
Unlike McCaullife, he’s got experience in the state.
And unlike McDonnell, he’s a moderate. Until the Republican party changes, I wanna stick with moderate dems.
Independents and Democrats alike I think would benefit from looking closer and Creigh Deeds. Don’t fall for that out of state carpet baggery from McCaullife.
McAuliffe says he supports drilling for natural gas only, not oil.
And just how does this protect the environment. Drilling is drilling. Tha is as bad as saying I supported the troops in Iraq by not voting for funds to support the war so I can later vote to approve them. double talk and pandering. McAuliffe should go back to the Clintons and DC where he belongs.
How does one embrace our heritage and history?
Are you honestly suggesting that your main - your only? - criteria is that your candidate be born in VA?
I’ll be paying more attention to a candidate who is actually a Virginian, and not some ‘Johnny-come-lately’ transplant. We need someone in office who understands and embraces our heritage and history.
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