Terry McAuliffe Forms 'Common Good VA' PAC

I received an e-mail greeting from Terry McAuliffe's team yesterday with a "Happy St. Patrick's Day" greeting and the announcement that McAuliffe is launching a PAC to continue pushing Virginia into the 21st century despite the efforts of the Christofascists and their political whores in the Republican Party of Virginia who view the embrace of ignorance and mistreatment of others as - the "those people" crowd - as badges of honor.  Needless to say, the Virginia GOP is not happy and are accusing McAulliffe of playing politics when they themselves are even more guilty of that activity.  A piece in the Virginian Pilot summarizes the development.  Here are highlights:

Monday wasn't just any old St. Patrick's Day for Irish Catholic Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

It was a chance for the Democrat to announce the launch of his new political action committee -- Common Good VA.

In an e-mail to supporters with a "Happy St. Patrick's Day" salutation, McAuliffe heralded the fundraising committee as a way to "support like-minded candidates who are dedicated to bringing progressive values to their communities."

McAuliffe tells recipients they "helped bring common sense back to Virginia last year by electing me as your Governor" and urges them not to rest on their laurels.

"I formed Common Good VA to make sure that the ideas that led us to victory in November don't get lost in the partisan battles being waged in Washington and to ensure that those of you who have been with me every step of the way continue to have your voices heard across the Commonwealth," his e-mail reads.

McAuliffe has called lawmakers back to Richmond for a special session starting March 24 focused on adopting a state budget and debate on Medicaid expansion.

Republican leaders in the House of Delegates opposed to Medicaid expansion said the governor's announcement Monday confirms that he "seems more interested in playing politics than governing."

The House GOP called for the session to continue rather than adjourn, arguing that would have prevented state elected leaders from political fundraising until finishing their legislative duties.

"Governor McAuliffe called the good-faith effort of House Republican leaders a gimmick, but with today's announcement of his new political action committee, it's clear why he wanted a special session," the GOP statement reads.

"While local government leaders grapple with the uncertainty caused by his budget impasse, the Governor has been attending swanky, white-tail Washington D.C. dinner parties, taking a campaign-style tour of Virginia hospitals and focusing on raising money for the next step in his political career," it adds.

The statement was jointly issued by Virginia House Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford County; Majority Leader Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights; Caucus Chairman Tim Hugo, R-Fairfax County; and Majority Whip Jackson Miller, R-Manassas.

As always, the Virginia GOP mantra is that others are to do as they say, not as they do.  In the process, of course, they conveniently ignore the vast amounts of money being poured into Virginia by far right wing PAC's.  Good faith and the Virginia GOP are mutually exclusive.