Phil Kellam introduced Peter Schmidt as pragmatic with the ability to solve problems, saying there is a point where leaders have to stop talking about fixing problems and actually make it happen. He stressed that he believed that Schmidt would be the kind of leader who would take action against the problems the commonwealth faces, finding sensible solutions.

Meyera Oberndorf delivered an unexpected and impromptu introduction of Peter Schmidt, reminiscing on the first time they met while working on environmental issues in Virginia Beach and expressing how wonderful it was to later serve on the Virginia Beach City Council with Schmidt. Oberndorf described Peter Schmidt as being a man with conscious, intellect, commitment, and the right man at the right time to be elected to the House of Delegates.

In addressing the gathered crowed, Peter Schmidt described his vision for helping lead Virginia forward. He described it as a business model where leaders needed to raise revenue, control costs, and make necessary investments. He stressed that Virginia’s roads, bridges, tunnel, and rails are important assets to the commonwealth, and need to be managed much better than they have been. He talked about the need to train Virginia’s workforce through improving opportunities in education. He also talked about placing Virginia in the position to be a national, and even global, leader in alternative energy.

Schmidt explained that for the last decade, the House of Delegates has been a major roadblock to progress in Virginia with a great deal of responsibility for that lack of progress resting on the shoulders of Delegate Bob Purkey, who currently represents the 82nd. Elected in 1986, Purkey has had ample time and opportunity to take on important issues, but far too often allows progressive legislation to die in the finance committee, which he chairs. Issues, such as transporation, have little hope of being adaquately addressed as long as Purkey remains in the House of Delegates. As long as transportation isn’t addressed, Virginia cannot move forward as a commonwealth.

Also important to the progress of Virginia is the training of a skilled workforce. Without this training, businesses will have little reason to locate to Virginia. Without these business, we cannot strengthen our economy. A major area of agreement between Peter Schmidt and myself is the very realitic objective of expanding vocation and technical education to public school students to enable them to gain good employment after graduating high school. This is a nessesary investment that will open doors for so many students throughout the commonwealth who are in desperate need of such opportunities, and will bring businesses to the commonwealth.

On Peter Schmidt’s campaign banner is the motto, “No politics, just public service”. That seems to be an adaquate description of Schmidt’s style and perhaps is the reason he’s about to associate with and gain the support of Democrats and Republicans alike. Make no doubt about it, Schmidt is looking to be a responsible voice in Richmond when it comes to government spending; however, he’s looking for progressive solutions to the major issues we face in Virginia. He wants to move Virginia forward in a reasonable way, and I think that’s something everyone can agree with. Peter Schmidt may well be the kind of bipartisan progressive who can win in the business minded, typically conservative, 82nd district.

Related posts:

1. Peter Schmidt announces candidacy for 82nd House district
2. Peter Schmidt launches campaign in Virginia Beach
3. Del. Purkey asleep at the wheel

Related posts:

1. Working toward the primary, and Unity Rally after
2. LaCombe & Wagner make their case at VBDC breakfast
3. DPVA Grassroots Training on Sat, May 23rd.

While the election of Mir-Hossein Mousavi might accelerate the healing of diplomatic relations between Iran and western nations due to his distaste for extremist rhetoric, the actual differences between him and incumbent, and supposed President-elect, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seem to be slight. While we grow tired and weary over Ahmadinejad’s constant attacks on the United States and its allies, between these two candidates, we don’t truly have a horse in this race.

The overwhelming expression of support for the people of Iran taking to the streets in outrage over what they feel was a fraudulent election, handing victory to Ahmadinejad, is not about supporting Mousavi. It’s about supporting democracy and virtually standing with the people of Iran who don’t believe their voices were heard in this election.

Perhaps it’s also about exposing a system of government where democracy is only a facade with the true governing authority beyond the voice and will of the people. I wonder if this is the real clash in Iran right now, between a people who demand to be heard and authorities who have no need for their voices. Are the protests only about this election, or are we seeing a revolution that has been bubbling for quite some time? After all, who else but revolutionaries would stand in opposition to the supreme power in their nation and fight for change.

I think Americans also hope that those who are taking to the streets represent the moderates that we so often hear about and are hopeful for. If so, and the voices of moderates are being drowned out and silenced, we stand even firmer in our support for these people and hope that progress is coming to Iran.

We don’t know how the protests and crackdowns will play out. Surely Iran can’t keep this up throughout Ahmadinejad’s new term. One thing we do know is this, and it’s a lesson solidified by our actions in Iraq; we must let the people of Iran dictate their destiny. We may support them in their fight to break the chains of tyranny, but they must do the breaking. They must blaze their own path to freedom. They must continue to make the sacrifice.

For now we watch, wait, support, and pray; not for the victory of a candidate, but the triumph of democracy.

Updates from and about Iran from Twitter
Latest YouTube videos from and about Iran

Related posts:

1. Special election in the 81st district today
2. American Stories, American Solutions
3. Center for American Progress: How the recovery works

The President also commented on the current limitations of his administration to extend broader benefits to same-sex partners.

Unfortunately, my Administration is not authorized by existing Federal law to provide same-sex couples with the full range of benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. That’s why I stand by my long-standing commitment to work with Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. It’s discriminatory, it interferes with States’ rights, and it’s time we overturned it.

Yes, President Obama is continuing to say that he will work toward the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, even though his Department of Justice fervently argued the case for the legitimacy of the legislation and the illegitimacy of same-sex relationships in the eyes of the US Constitution.

 Here’s what it seems to come down to. If Obama is going to work toward equality for the GLBT community, he’s going to do it in his own time, and in his own way. In addition to arguing for the dismissal of the court challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, the administration also asked that the US Supreme Court not take a case challenging Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, which Obama has also pledged to eliminate.

President Obama also seems to desperately want to protect the word “marriage” from being legally used universally in referring to same-sex couples; however, his language seems to indicate that he’s willing to work toward providing rights and privileges associated with marriage to same-sex couples. In other words, he’s making steps on the way to ensuring that civil unions can be attained throughout the country in one form or another. This strategy is a piecemeal process requiring the President to limit outside influences while working, bit by bit, to form the solution he envisions for the GLBT community.

I disagree with the President’s strategy on GLBT issues and feel that he’s setting up policy and laws which continue to segregate heterosexual relationships from same-sex relationships. I also believe that the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution should be applied when reviewing whether or not the withholding of marriage licenses based on gender/sexuality is constitutional. I also believe the US Supreme Court’s opinion from Loving v. Virginia where marriage was determined to be a fundamental right is also applicable to same-sex relationships. Overall, and perhaps this is most applicable in my opinion of Obama’s efforts to extend rights to same-sex couples, I believe that separate is never equal. Whether that separation exists on buses, in the form of water fountains, within the classroom, or in the definition of a committed and loving relationship — in a society built upon the foundation of freedom and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal; that separation cannot stand.

So, I applaud President Obama’s efforts to improve the lives of same-sex couples. Any such steps are greatly appreciated and should be celebrated. However, the GLBT community has a long way to go before they can celebrate real and lasting equality. I hope the President will consider this sort of equality and begin to lay the groundwork to accomplish this goal.

Related posts:

1. Obama Administration slams gay community in legal brief
2. Obama is making a mistake in considering taxing benefits
3. California upholds their unconstitutional constitution

We knew that we were not electing an activist for gay marriage when we cast our votes for Barack Obama last November. His answers to questions on the issue have been consistent. He’s not for gay marriage, but understands the need for civil unions which allow same-sex couples the opportunity to benefit from the same legal status permanent heterosexual couples enjoy. Because we knew this, we haven’t been surprised to see non-action by the Obama Administration on gay marriage. However, we voted for progress. We voted for change. We voted for a man who we thought would open doors, and not keep them shut tight.

What we didn’t vote for what was the same rhetoric used as pathetic arguments against the gay marriage and the gay community as a whole. Unfortunately, this seems to be exactly what we got with President Obama. In a brief filed by the Obama Administration’s Department of Justice, the administration argued the following:

• As far as civil rights go, gay rights are not on the same level of importance as the rights African Americans and women have fought for in the past, and goes so far as to argue that the US Supreme Court precedent of Loving v. Virginia, where it was ruled that marriage is a fundamental right, should not be applied to the question of gay marriage.
• States may deny same-sex couples the right of marriage just as they can deny marriage involving minors and first cousins.
• Extension of marriage rights to same-sex couples would be a burden to the state due to social security benefits being extended to these couples, including survivor benefits, etc.
• The Defense of Marriage act is constitutional because it doesn’t explicitly deny a right to a class of people, but preserves the rights of states to do so on their own.
• Same-sex couples who are able to marry within their states have no right to federal recognition and benefits of their marriage, and because they’ve not lost any rights they had before marriage, there should be no resource for these couples.
• The Defense of Marriage act is rational. reasonable, and really doesn’t infringe on the rights of anyone.

There are additional points, but the shocking part of the brief is that it went beyond it’s purpose in arguing for the dismissal of the case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act and compared gay marriage to rape, incest, and made arguments diminishing the status of homosexuals in the nation, essentially saying that being gay is merely a choice.

The justice department’s brief is only rational if your looking for widely accepting arguments against homosexuality and gay marriage. It has the feel of being ripped right out of the Bush Administration’s playbook, and reeks of bigotry born from ignorance.

The Obama Administration must be held accountable for allowing the release of this brief. While I’ve often expressed that the gay community should give the Obama Administration time to come through for gay rights, the arguments made in this brief are far from non-action. They harm the gay community. While President Obama is hoping to place a bandage over the wounds he has now caused among these people by announcing tomorrow the extension of health care and other benefits to gay and lesbian partners of federal employees, the gay community should not be appeased by this. We need to speak out, and we need to be forceful.

UPDATE: As it turns out, the Defense of Marriage Act allows states and the federal government to prohibit same-sex couples from having health care benefits. The step Obama is taking is apparent restitution is menial, limited, and largely insignificant.

UPDATE: Read the brief below

Obama’s Motion to Dismiss Marriage case

Related posts:

1. Obama opens way for expansion of benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees
2. California upholds their unconstitutional constitution
3. California votes to make their constitution unconstitutional

Last Tuesday, Creigh Deeds won the Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia. In a hard-fought race, Creigh ran a terrific campaign and beat two fierce competitors by winning votes in every corner of the Commonwealth.

I know a thing or two about tough primaries, and I know a thing or two about running tough races in Virginia. Creigh Deeds’ victory once again shows the power of people at the grassroots to win elections and bring about lasting change — and he will be a better candidate this fall because of his hard work to win the nomination.

Creigh has been a dedicated public servant his entire life. As a county prosecutor and state legislator, he’s been a strong advocate for economic development, high-quality education, and affordable health care — and he’s gone to great lengths to protect the environment and institute smart public transportation.

Now he needs your help to make sure Democrats retain the Virginia governorship. Please visit his website and get involved today.

Creigh has an ability to bring people together, build consensus and deliver results. He will bring the same bipartisan, pragmatic approach to politics that former Governor and now Senator Mark Warner and my friend Governor Tim Kaine used to help Virginia move forward over the past eight years.

I know that approach works because I’ve spent some time in your great Commonwealth. In my experience, Democratic candidates with a pragmatic approach to solving problems can be successful. That’s the approach my campaign took last November to put Virginia in the Democratic column for the first time since 1964. And that’s how Creigh Deeds will win this fall.

Learn more about Creigh, and get involved today:

http://www.deedsforvirginia.com

I look forward to working with Creigh to keep the Commonwealth strong and to bring about the economic recovery and renewed prosperity Virginians demand and deserve.

Sincerely,

President Barack Obama

Related posts:

1. It’s Creigh Deeds
2. Creigh Deeds endorses John LaCombe in the 81st
3. Creigh Deeds, his campaign, and the Washington Post

Tuesday at 7:00 PM the polls closed in Virginia for the 2009 Democratic Primary. Within minutes the results started showing something no one anticipated, a 2-1 lead by Creigh Deeds over both Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe for the Democratic nomination for governor. The candidate with the least money, and least time campaigning this year, dramatically won the nomination.

First, I want to congratulate Creigh Deeds on his victory last night. His campaign was able to catch the attention and hearts of voters around the commonwealth of Virginia. He and his campaign should be commended for unwavering in their path to victory.

That path to victory was not blazed singularly by the Deeds campaign. The two people who made last night’s win possible for Deeds were Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe. If McAuliffe had not entered the primary race, and Brian Moran not focused his resources in slowing down McAuliffe’s multi-million dollar campaign, we might have seen very different results.

Yes, Democrats are going to be unified in the gubernatorial race heading into the November election; perhaps more so with Deeds as the nominee than if Moran and McAuliffe had won. This is certainly the upside of Deeds winning the nomination. However, Democrats can’t rest on the perceived success of Tuesdays results. The overwhelming support of Deeds wasn’t necessarily about Deeds’ record or proposed policies. Watching the polls, we saw voters running to Deeds to get away from McAuliffe and Moran. In a head to head match between Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell, there are many areas where the lines of blurred where I can see the vote split in the conservative to moderate part of the spectrum. I’m also somewhat concerned that progressives are less enthusiastic about supporting Deeds, who doesn’t exactly have progressive credentials.

It comes down to three words: Beat Bob McDonnell. Regardless of who we supported prior to Tuesday night, those three words should be the sole motivation of Democrats throughout the commonwealth. From this point to November, we have to frame the discussion in terms of why Virginians need Creigh Deeds and would hurt under Bob McDonnell. This race has got to be about kitchen table issues.

Let’s start now in supporting Creigh Deeds, the Democratic unity. Join me and others from around the commonwealth at the Unity Rally of the Democratic Party of Virginia in Williamsburg this Saturday. Let’s get  fired up and ready to help Creigh Deeds become the next Governor of Virginia.

Related posts:

1. Creigh Deeds, his campaign, and the Washington Post
2. Deeds can win by dropping out
3. Barack Obama to Virginia: Support Creigh Deeds for Governor

For Governor

The race for the top spot on the ticket has been twisted, brutal, and often difficult to watch. In mid-2008, the race for the nomination included two men who had both dedicated many years of service to Virginia. Creigh Deeds, the State Senator from Bath, and Brian Moran, the State Delegate from Alexandria and Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Many assumed that Moran would likely be the nominee for Governor due to his large base of support in Northern Virginia, and a slight edge with progressives throughout the commonwealth.

Later-2008 brought something new to the race for the nomination, as Terry McAuliffe, former chair of Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the presidency, announced that he was looking into possibly running for Governor of Virginia. Democrats knew immediately that McAuliffe’s candidacy would change the race significantly, bringing millions of dollars and national attention. More than anyone, the person most affected by McAuliffe entering the race would have been Brian Moran, as McAuliffe would cut into Moran’s progressive supporters. Brian Moran resigned from the House of Delegates in December 2008 to run for Governor full-time. Some say that he did so in order to combat a possible McAuliffe candidacy.

When McAuliffe announced that he would indeed run in Virginia, the dynamic of the race for the nomination changed significantly, and it wouldn’t be long until the race was framed as being between Moran and McAuliffe, with Deeds outside of the spotlight, especially while the General Assembly was in session. Unlike Brian Moran, Creigh Deeds did not resign from his seat in the Senate in order to campaign.

When it was clear that McAuliffe was raising millions, with over 75% of those funds coming from out of state, and that he was blitzing Virginia with television and radio ads, the Moran campaign looked to slow McAuliffe’s advance by focusing their resources on informing voters of McAuliffe’s past business and political dealings, including showing how his claims of business success and job creation were seriously exaggerated. While much of this needed to be said, I’m not sure if the campaign should have spent so much time and money in getting it out there. Ever since targeting McAuliffe like this, Brian Moran has been labeled the negative candidate by many. Many Democratic activists who started out supporting Moran switched to either Deeds of McAuliffe because of this.

In March, after following all three candidates for a while, I announced my support of Brian Moran. I still think he’s the best choice for progress in Virginia; however, the management of his campaign has disturbed me. I think not electing Moran as our nominee, and the next Governor of Virginia, will stagnate the commonwealth, or worse, hand the election to the Republicans who will set us back a decade.

In the last month, we’ve seen another dramatic shift in the race as Creigh Deeds has used his resources to launch excellent ads, gained big endorsements like that of the Washington Post, and has surged in the polls. He’s gone from being 16 points behind to being 14 points ahead in Public Policy Polling results. All indicators show that he has the most traction than both Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe combined. Of course, voter turnout is the main barrier for his winning the nomination, but I don’t think anyone can really argue that his campaign hasn’t been brilliant and perhaps the best run in the race for the nomination.

Interestingly enough, we’ve also seen that McAuliffe’s millions and media blitz seems to have given him only a slight advantage over Brian Moran. According to the PPP, they are statistically tied. I’m not able to say whether the Moran campaign has succeeded in their mission to slow down McAuliffe, or whether the media and voters have figured out that he’s as shallow as his resume of service in Virginia on their own; but McAuliffe seems to be stalled.

Lt. Governor

According to PPP, 42% remain undecided in the race for Lt. Governor. Jody Wagner has a significant lead over progressive Mike Signer. I think Democrats are well on their way to losing this race to Bill Bolling in November if we nominate Wagner. There is nothing about Wagner that will catch people in the general election, and this will give Bolling a significant advantage as the incumbent. Wagner has enjoyed positive name recognition among Democrats, and this has lead to candidate like Signer having to fight hard for every supporter they have.  As Lt. Governor, Mike Signer will be a progressive voice who will push for policies that will move Virginia forward. I just don’t see Wagner doing much at all.

Attoney General

Steve Shannon seems to have the nomination locked up. He’ll be running against Ken Cuccinelli, who apparently went to law school on Sesame Street.

47th House

I don’t live anywhere near this district, and it’s the only one I’m going to comment on. Miles Grant has my support in this race. He’s obviously the most progressive and best grassroots candidate in that race, and we need leaders like him in the House of Delegates who will push to make Virginia a leader in green energy and innovation.

Related posts:

1. Moran and Wagner lead in latest polling
2. Latest primary polling showing Moran’s precarious position
3. Latest PPP: Deeds leads, McAuliffe and Moran stagnant

I’m not sure of all the specifics, but whether the taxes are to the employer or to the employee, this is a bad idea. This might be a transitional problem for Americans until they can buy into the affordable policy touted by Obama during the campaign, but people like me would likely go without health coverage to avoid the taxes. For me, and many others, it would be the same as being taxed on income earned where there was no income, which could be a major tax hike.

Related posts:

1. Dishonesty or honest mistakes?
2. Obama opens way for expansion of benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees
3. Obama Administration slams gay community in legal brief

Creigh Deeds: I noticed in April that Deeds was building his favorables, but the votes didn’t seem to be following. I made the argument that he didn’t have enough time to swing voters his way for the primary. With 45% of those polled being undecided at that time, my argument that Deeds drop out and endorse was presumptuous, erroneous, and just plain stupid. Deeds has more than proven that his campaign could be challenge to both Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe. In fact, since polling began, Deeds has pulled 59% of the undecideds into his column and manages to have an impressive 93% of those unsure about Deeds become those with a favorable opinion of the candidate. This combined with a great endorsement from the Washington Post, and television ads that are a cut above those of his opponents, is obviously leading to the current surge of support that we are seeing reported in the polls.

Terry McAuliffe: The $4 million candidate has made a splash in Virginia, but his buying power mainly comes from out of state (the exact opposite of both Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran). His ads have been consistent, but his background and personality are divisive. I think people tend to either love or hate Terry McAuliffe’s being in this race. A win for Terry McAuliffe is a win for big money politics, showing that elections can indeed be bought.

Brian Moran: Love the candidate, hate the campaign. This basically sums up how many have viewed Brian Moran and his campaign. I get the feeling that Moran’s campaign has stalled out with a core group of supporters, mainly in Northern Virginia. With Deeds surging, it may be difficult for Moran to pick up the votes needed for a win.

Related posts:

1. Deeds gaining ground, Moran and McAuliffe stalled
2. Latest primary polling showing Moran’s precarious position
3. Moran and Wagner lead in latest polling