Cuccinelli clings to Tea Party extremism in final debate
At tonight's debate, Ken Cuccinelli returned to his roots by embracing the extreme agenda of the Tea Party at every turn. Virginians are seeking a mainstream leader to boost the Commonwealth's economy and create jobs, so it's no surprise that voters are rejecting a candidate who made a name for himself by waging unpopular fights to further his extreme agenda. After three debates, voters know who Cuccinelli is and what he stands for:
- Banning abortions, even in cases of rape and incest
- Refusing to support the Violence Against Women Act
- Believes birth control is a form of abortion
- Believing homosexuality "brings nothing but self-destruction, not only physically but of their soul."
- Make it harder for people to escape bad marriages by eliminating no-fault divorce
- Directed public universities to remove discrimination protections for the LGBT community
MEMO: Cuccinelli’s “All In” Debate Strategy Backfires
To: Interested Parties From: Chris Harris, American Bridge Communications Director Date: October 24, 2013 Re: Cuccinelli’s “All In” Debate Strategy Backfires
Earlier this year, Ken Cuccinelli issued forth a challenge: wherever two or more Virginians gathered, there he would debate Terry McAuliffe. It was exactly the strategy one would expect from a campaign bold enough to release fake polls and featuring a day-to-day messaging strategy with the focus of that dog from Up.
From the beginning of the campaign, Cuccinelli’s strategy hinged on definitive debate victories. Debates are where they would win the hearts and minds of Virginians. They went “all in,” so to speak.
Cuccinelli's campaign has reassured supporters and the press that debates would be where he would turn it all around. In their minds, the debates would serve as the Republican's big moment, where millions of Virginians would instantly fawn over the once-in-a-lifetime leader that is Ken Cuccinelli.
Unfortunately, the campaign forgot one little detail: the more voters learn about Cuccinelli, the less they like him.
We told you: Steve Lonegan is the face of the "new" GOP
Just over two months ago, on the night Steve Lonegan won the Republican nomination, American Bridge sent the memo below arguing that Lonegan's brand of extremism was perfectly in line with the "new" & "rebranded" Republican Party. If Washington Republicans' reckless and embarrassing behavior over the past three weeks weren't proof enough, take a look at what RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said at a Lonegan campaign rally just last night (VIDEO HERE). "I'll tell you what. Steve's been able to do something that we need a lot more of in this party. And that's unify our party, bring our party together. The Tea Party, the Republican Party, all in this together." -- Reince Priebus, RNC Chairman What Mr. Priebus doesn't seem to understand is that the Republicans' problem isn't a lack of unity with the Tea Party. This month's shutdown fiasco proves the GOP's problem is, in fact, its obedience to the Tea Party.
Tell the RNC to take a stand: Anti-Hillary groups are going too far.
The Hillary Haters are at it again... and the Republican National Committee has nothing to say about it. The rabid right wing is so scared of a potential Hillary Clinton candidacy in 2016 that they’re already doing everything they can to sink her sky high popularity. That, we expected. What didn’t we expect? Slapping. Last week The Hillary Project, a leading conservative group determined to smear the former Secretary of State, promoted an online video game prompting people to violently slap Hillary Clinton. And Republican leaders at the RNC haven’t said a word about it. If leading GOP groups are going to stoop this low, the RNC needs to speak out. Click here to sign our petition demanding Republican leaders at the RNC condemn their allies’ vicious attacks.
STUDY: Republicans vote with Steve King on immigration 90% of the time
Recently, while speaking about DREAM Act-eligible young Americans, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) claimed, "For everyone who's a valedictorian, there's another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds--and they've got calves the size of cantaloupes because they're hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.” Offensive on just about every level, the statement drew the excoriations from his colleagues that did not accompany his comparison of immigrants to dogs during the 2012 election. Said Speaker John Boehner, King’s comment “does not reflect the values of the American people or the Republican Party.” Unfortunately, Boehner is only half-correct. While the American people are deeply opposed to the bigotry espoused by King, the Republican caucus is solidly aligned with King’s worldview. Since Rep. King first took office as a member of the House in 2003, Congressional Quarterly has identified 110 votes in the House as pertaining to immigration. On 98 of those votes, the majority of Republicans in the House followed King’s lead. Excluding one vote that King missed, that means that the Republican caucus sided with the virulently anti-immigrant King 89.9% of the time when asked to vote on immigration issues.
Cuccinelli requested gifts from Star Scientific CEO
Remember those gifts from Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams that Ken Cuccinelli failed to disclose? It turns out Cuccinelli actually *ASKED* for them.
Bridge Briefs for tomorrow's VA-Gov debate
In preparation for tomorrow's Gubernatorial debate between Terry McAuliffe and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, American Bridge released the following Bridge Briefs:
Cuccinelli’s Anti-Woman Record Cuccinelli, Personhood & Birth Control Cuccinelli’s Anti-Gay Views & Statements Cuccinelli’s Disastrous Tax Plan Cuccinelli’s Opposition to Bipartisan Transportation Plan
BRIDGE BRIEF: Cuccinelli's Anti-Woman Record
Cuccinelli Withheld Support From Bipartisan Letter From 47 Attorneys General Urging Reauthorization Of The Violence Against Women Act. According to the Washington Times, “Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II was one of just three state attorneys general who did not sign onto a letter urging Congress to reauthorize the federal Violence Against Women Act - a decision that is now placing Virginia’s top prosecutor squarely in the middle of another politically charged debate. The letter drew widespread bipartisan support from members of the National Association of Attorneys General when it was issued in January, and with debate over the act heating up in Congress, Mr. Cuccinelli has been urged to reconsider withholding his support.” [Washington Times, 4/1/13] Cuccinelli Opposed Abortion In Cases Of Rape And Incest. According to the Washington Post, “Where Cuccinelli opposes abortion -- without exception in the case of rape or incest -- Belter supports abortion rights.” [Washington Post, 8/05/02]
Infographic: The Curious Timing of Cuccinelli's Investments
Here's a new infographic/timeline illustrating the curious timing of Ken Cuccinelli's stock transactions in Star Scientific paired with his vacations/gifts from the company's scandal-ridden CEO, Jonnie Williams.
Cuccinelli & EW Jackson See Eye-To-Eye On Planned Parenthood Attacks
Another day, another offensive video showing just how extreme the Cuccinelli-Jackson ticket really is. As we learned last week, EW Jackson made his infamous Planned Parenthood-KKK comments in an effort to defend Ken Cuccinelli from attacks about his comment comparing abortion to slavery. Today, POLITICO unearthed video from 2011 showing Cuccinelli using a similar argument to attack Planned Parenthood and its founder Margaret Sanger (an attack that was debunked by FactCheck.org that year).