Posts Tagged “virginia politics”

Via Talking Points Memo, I see that Joe McCain, John McCain’s brother, referred to two Northern Virginia counties as “communist country” at a campaign stop earlier today.

Joe McCain, speaking at an event in support of his brother, called two Democratic-leaning areas in Northern Virginia “communist country,” according to a report on The Washington Post’s Web site.

“I’ve lived here for at least 10 years and before that about every third duty I was in either Arlington or Alexandria, up in communist country,” Joe McCain said at an event in Loudon County, Va.

Joe McCain then apologized, but the remark drew laughter at the event, according to the report.

As a resident of northern Virginia, I can attest that it is just as Joe McCain says.  We have to be at the Whole Foods at 6 am to be at the front of the seven-grain bread line.  Pictures of Stalin and Trotsky adorn all the corners, and our living rooms.  We have numerous public services, like an excellent library system, an extensive park system, bike paths, and a quality human services office.  Yeah, it’s a pretty hellish, Sovietst style existence.  

I’m actually not at all offended by this; it seems a harmless joke, considering that we often refer to ourselves as the People’s Republics of Arlington/Alexandria/Northern Virginia, depending on the area.  Which just goes to show that humorless liberals have much less sensitive offend-o-meters than the Real Americans in the Heartland who must be treated with deference and respect at all times, lest any critique of their Values send them into a swoon.  

But I do think perhaps John McCain should try to explain his connections to our Commie stronghold.  Unless perhaps he is our Manchurian candidate?  If so, why wasn’t I in the loop, guys?  And if not, I’d like to know if he’ll work to liberate the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery should he become president.  ’Cause those shouldn’t be in the hands of the Red Menace.

According to TPM, Terry McAuliffe will be campaigning for Obama in Virginia.

Terry McAuliffe irked plenty of Obama supporters with his eternally jovial but aggressive advocacy for Hillary during the Dem primary, but now McAuliffe is set to make amends — he’s finalizing plans to put his unique species of garrulousness at Obama’s disposal.

McAuliffe has agreed to campaign extensively for Obama in his longtime home state of Virginia — and he’s in discussions with Obama advisers about the possibility of doing as many as two dozen or more events, according to advisers to both men.

Why Obama? Why would you do such a thing?

“Terry clearly has facility with the issue,” says Kevin Griffis, Obama’s Virginia press rep, adding that the Obama camp is hoping for multiple events from McAuliffe. “People know him from his work with the Clintons, and he’s a passionate supporter. We feel like he’s someone who can talk to people from all walks of life.”

That’s a horrible reason. He cannot, cannot talk to people from all walks of life. When economic issues are the major issue, and Obama is gaining all sorts of traction by hitting McCain for being out of touch on the economy, and he and Biden are sharing their populist message, you’re going to bring in the bestest friend of billionaires? The guy who taught the Democrats to run to the middle and away from their populist credentials? And while we’re in the middle of a nasty campaign, where the Democrats seem to have finally learned how to fight, we’re going to let Terry “Fair and Balanced Fox“  be a main spokesperson?

Look, I know Obama wants to reach out to Hillary Clinton supporters.  But he took Virginia; it’s not a Hillary state.  And for a lot of his supporters (the nerdy ones anyway), part of his appeal is that he wasn’t letting the DLC folks run his campaign.

I just really hope this isn’t some deal wherein Obama is going to be supporting McAuliffe for governor of my fair state, because that is not what I want to see.  I intend to vote for Moran.