I have been waiting to see how the ultra-conservative Richmond Times Dispatch would handle this year's 2013 gubernatorial contest. Historically, the Times Dispatch almost always endorses Republican candidates no matter how extreme the contortions required to find a means to endorse the GOP candidate. This year, given the obvious extremism/insanity of Ken Cuccinelli, the Times Dispatch chose to endorse no candidate for governor. However, it did manage to trash Ken Cuccinelli in the process of its decision to endorse no gubernatorial candidate. Sadly, the Times Dispatch could not bring itself to endorse a Democrat even though Terry McAuliffe is the far better choice between the two viable candidates. Here are excerpts from the non-endorsement:
During recent months, numerous editorials in The Times-Dispatch have lamented the gubernatorial campaign.
The major-party candidates have earned the citizenry’s derision. The third-party alternative has run a more exemplary race yet does not qualify as a suitable option. We cannot in good conscience endorse a candidate for governor.
This does not gladden us. Circumstance has brought us to this pass. This marks, we believe, the first time in modern Virginia that The Times-Dispatch has not endorsed a gubernatorial nominee.
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli rigged the process for the Republican nomination when his minions changed the system from a primary to a convention, which they considered more likely to produce their desired outcome. The switch mocked Cuccinelli’s advertised fealty to first principles. The expression of raw power would have delighted sachems of Tammany Hall. Virginia does not welcome an in-your-face governor.
On social issues such as abortion and homosexual rights, Cuccinelli not only takes stands we find objectionable but pursues his divisive agenda with a stridency that was unbecoming in an attorney general and would be unbecoming in a governor. We do not support abortion for any reason at any time and have embraced bans on late-term abortions, for instance; we remain troubled by Cuccinelli’s approach to personhood and to regulations on clinics. Questions involving abortion will be resolved not by government policy but by transformation of the human heart.
Cuccinelli’s hostility to marriage equality offends. The rights applying to human beings by definition apply to homosexuals.
We disagree with Cuccinelli’s opposition to Gov. Bob McDonnell’s transportation package. McAuliffe scores points here.
Cuccinelli may have performed the legal tasks of his office with professional competence, but his focus raises questions about his gubernatorial ambitions.As AG, he stressed things he did not have to, and, if he stayed in character, he would do the same as governor.
Ouch!! My money normally would have been on the Times Dispatch holding its nose and endorsing Cuccinelli. However, Cuccinelli has shown himself to be so insanely extreme that even the far right Times Dispatch could not endorse him. That speaks volumes and ought to send a laud and clear messages to Virginians as to just how toxic Cuccinelli and his warmed over agenda dictated to him by The Family Foundation/Tea Party would be for Virginia.
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