Monday, August 31, 2009
Think local, vote for Democrats
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Cabell Brand
Brand, of Salem, is a retired businessman, civic and political activist, founder of Total Action Against Poverty and author of "If Not Me, Then Who?"
The front-page headline on the article in The Roanoke Times on Aug. 25 "Is Deeds planning a Kaine mutiny?" was very misleading. In running for governor, Creigh Deeds is not trying to distance himself from Gov. Tim Kaine.
A cursory glance at Deeds' Web site reveals several images of the candidate with Kaine, and he has campaigned with the governor whenever he has had the opportunity.
Obviously, he also campaigns with Virginia's U.S. senators, Mark Warner and Jim Webb, both of whom are popular throughout the state. Warner is perhaps the most popular politician Virginia has had in recent years.
This election for governor and for the House of Delegates is one of the most important elections we have ever had. The country and the state are in a serious recession. The Obama administration has saved us from a real depression, which George W. Bush and the Republicans caused.
Obama's administration inherited two wars and a trillion-dollar federal deficit, with a bank bailout plan from President Bush and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, that was questionable.
When President Obama and the Democrats took control in January, they enacted substantial stimulus programs -- tax cuts for the middle class, and federal stimulus spending to create jobs, start reform of health care and extend unemployment benefits.
There are signs that the financial markets are stabilizing, but we are a long way from having businesses hire new full-time employees. Virginia, and particularly this region, needs every penny of federal stimulus money and job-creation opportunities possible.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith and other Republicans in the legislature initially turned down $125 million in federal stimulus money for extending unemployment benefits, which would assist Virginians who are out of work, cannot find jobs and will be in dire straits in this recession.
This was money to be distributed to Virginians to be spent mostly in Virginia, which could lead to $1 billion in economic activity -- a critical safeguard against the destructive effects of the current recession.
McDonnell and the Republican-led House of Delegates chose to say "no" to the people of Virginia. Thank goodness, wiser civic and political leadership prevailed.
Especially at this time of national crisis, the federal government has offered hundreds of grants for different purposes, such as community development block grants. The state exercises some discretionary powers as to how to spend the money. The stimulus money was discretionary. Yet, look at the way the money has been doled out to different parts of the state and see how much has come to the Roanoke Valley. At this point, nothing has come to Salem.
We need a Democratic governor because we have a Democratic president for the next four years, like it or not. We need a Democratic legislature because that's the way that this region gets its share of whatever money is available.
Party labels we have always with us. Yet, the resounding rejection of much-needed federal assistance for struggling Virginians by the current state Republican leadership in Richmond speaks volumes about their priorities.
This is the time to think about the local area and what we voters can do to ensure that we have the political support in Richmond to bring every possible dollar to our area. We also should demand that such decisions be made on the basis of economic reason, not political caprice.
The Nov. 3 election is not about the president. He's not on the ticket. This is the election for Virginia and the Roanoke area. Vote Nov. 3 for Creigh Deeds for governor, Carter Turner for delegate from the 8th District and Gwen Mason for delegate from the 17th District.
I urge Virginia voters to affirm the ideals of regional and state progress, and to support those candidates dedicated to helping all our people work through this recession.
