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Speaking of television ads, it wasn’t that long ago when the abortion-on-demand crowd was howling at the pro-life Super Bowl ad from Focus On The Family that featured star college football quarterback Tim Tebow and his mom. The fact that they tried to block it gave up the lie (if we needed any proof) that they are not “pro-choice” (having a baby, of course, being a choice), but rather pro-abortion at all costs.

So, what was the outcome of it all? If this was an ad promoting a secular progressive cause, the mainstream media would have produced all sorts of follow-ups, documentaries, blog posts, etc., detailing how successful it was, whether or not it really was. That it was a pro-life campaign, we didn’t expect any subsequent media, positive or otherwise. But new Focus President Jim Daly issued a letter the other day with some interesting notes about the ad’s success:

. . . the network would not permit the word “abortion” to even be mentioned. So, if we didn’t want to play by their rules, we couldn’t run the spot. … there had always been a two-part strategy surrounding the ad campaign. Our main goal was to drive viewers to FocusOnTheFamily.comwhere the full story of Mr. and Mrs. Tebow was featured. Over 1.5 million people have viewed the online movie.

. . . new research data that indicated the Super Bowl ad caused over 5 million viewers to reconsider their view of the legality/morality of abortion.

Those impressive numbers spell success. Congratulations to Focus for a good strategy and a well played hand.

The Senate Education and Health Committee richly deserves its “Committee of Death” moniker — it has been the graveyard for pro-life legislation for most of the decade. No pro-life bill has survived this committee regardless of its simplicity or common sense. As usual, a valuable bill that would have improved the safety regulations of the Commonwealth’s abortion centers was defeated there yesterday on a vote of 11-4 — a party line vote, with the exception of Senator Fred Quayle (R-13, Suffolk), who voted against the bill as he did last year. Patroned by Delegate Matt Lohr (R-26, Harrisonburg), HB 393 would require that these unregulated surgical facilities that perform abortions to be inspected, have emergency life-saving equipment, and be overseen by a state regulatory agency just as any other outpatient surgical center. This legislation has long been a pro-life priority.

Delegate Lohr eloquently pointed out to the committee the disparity between how these unregulated surgical abortion centers are treated compared to other medical facilities. As inexplicable as it is, 11 members of the committee believe that incredibly less invasive procedures such as lasik surgery, blood donation, face lifts, colonoscopies and oral surgery should be held to higher standards than abortion procedures.

Perhaps most alarming was Dr. Wendy Klein, from the VCU School of Medicine, who claimed, “Abortion is the safest medical procedure you can have!” The opposition to HB 393 cited the National Abortion Federation, an association that oversees seven abortion centers in Virginia, as a reliable self-regulatory organization. However, as I clarified in my testimony, this is far from reassuring. For example, NAF requires only a midlevel clinician (not necessarily a physician) to perform an abortion procedure. Fortunately, Virginia Code protects against this, but clearly NAF guidelines, as exemplified in this one standard, cannot be assumed sufficient!

Countering these arguments, in addition to Delegate Lohr and The Family Foundation, were a number of organizations that clearly outnumbered the pro-abortion forces, including representatives from the Governor’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, Virginia Society For Human Life and the Virginia Catholic Conference.

Dr. Klein was at it again on HB 334, patroned by Delegate Bob Marshall (R-13, Manassas). This bill, also defeated yesterday on the exact same 11-4 vote, would bolster Virginia’s informed consent law by making available to women seeking abortions statistics that show the difficulties of future pregnancies and births to women who previously had abortions (as much as eight times higher). She said that bill presumes women can’t figure out things for themselves. So, she admits there are risks!

Even more shocking was Senator Dick Saslaw’s (D-35, Springfield) response to the citation of the House of Delegates vote on this bill (95-2). He said a member told him it got that many votes because many who voted for it knew “we’d kill it over here.” Aside from the crass cynicism and joy he seemed to take in those seemingly vindictive words, if Senator Saslaw is correct, it shows that an overwhelmingly large amount of Virginians favor this type of legislation and that their representatives are afraid to vote against their constituents’ interests. The pro-abortion crowd can’t have it both ways.

While it is difficult to stand before this committee year in and year out with such reasonable legislation only to see it killed, we appreciate the legislators who are willing to continue to force lawmakers to go on record opposing this legislation. The Family Foundation remains committed to fighting for pro-life and pro-family issues.

Monday afternoon was an interesting day on the floor of the House of Delegates. It involved some tactical maneuvering as members debated Delegate Robert Brink’s (D-48, Arlington) Planned Parenthood license plate bill (HB 1108). It’s a bill that would create a specialty license plate that reads “Trust Women, Respect Choice.” For each plate sold, the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood would receive $15 of the $25 plate fee.

But something happened on the way to the bank — or, rather, the abortion center. Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-15, Woodstock) offered a floor amendment to change the specialty plate’s recipient from Planned Parenthood to the Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund. The amendment passed by a healthy margin (56-39) over the objections of Delegate Brink and other pro-abortion lawmakers — and much to their chagrin. Then the bill passed, as amended, 77-22. Let’s just call it “Brink’s holdup.”

The Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund was created in 2007 to “support women and families who are facing unplanned pregnancy” and is managed by the Virginia Board of Health. A brainchild of Senator Phil Puckett (D-38, Tazewell) and Delegate Ward Armstrong (D-10, Martinsville), the overarching goals of the fund are to provide funding for ultrasound machines, parenting programs, domestic violence/sexual assault education, vocational/academic support, and free home visits by nurses. Sounds worthy. After all, Planned Parenthood is for “choice,” right? But Planned Parenthood considers the amendment a devastating blow.

Delegate Brink told the House that Delegate Gilbert’s amendment was unfriendly in nature and urged its defeat. Delegate David Englin (D-45, Alexandria) argued that the change of the fund was unconstitutional, saying that it specifically targeted Planned Parenthood, a misreading of court precedent. Court rulings have said if one viewpoint is allowed on a license plate another viewpoint must also be allowed, but it does not address the funding aspects of the license plates.

Delegate Gilbert responded by saying that the Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund was a better fit for the language of the plate (”Trust Women, Respect Choice”). Citing Planned Parenthood’s opposition to pro-woman legislation, including informed consent requirements that do exactly that — trust women — the stated that plate funds, if directed to Planned Parenthood, would not go to an organization in conformity with the plate’s message. Tuesday, when the vote on final passage was up, Delegate Brink made a long pronouncement on the floor that sounded as if he would conclude by asking for the bill to be struck. Instead, he urged its passage, as unfavorable as he was to the amendment, in hopes he can get a better deal in the Senate. So, as it turns out, it really is all about the money for this money making machine.

Ironically, in its initial passage, the Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund was backed by both Planned Parenthood and The Family Foundation due to the Fund’s focus on striving to assist pregnant women. So, the moral of this story is, if you’re Planned Parenthood, and you want specialty license plate funding, come clean with your message. Because trusting women is the last thing you really mean.

Although the Super Bowl and all of its ads have come and gone, it’s still instructive to review the “controversy” regarding the ad bought by Focus On The Family which featured All-American quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow (Tim Tebow Zone) and his mom, Pam. Several hysterical cries from the pro-abortion left echoed to CBS that the ad should be pulled. Never mind that their reasons were specious. Some, such as Jehmu Greene, president of something called the Women’s Media Center, wanted the ad pulled although she admitted she had seen neither the ad nor the script! Can you say “prior restraint”? What about plain ol’ leftist bullying and censorship?

Just as startling is her assertion that a positive ad that highlights Pam Tebow’s  ”choice,” which worked out well for all involved, “clearly” is “trying to take away” abortion rights. Ms. Greene also wants a “meaningful dialogue” on abortion but will tolerate only a monologue — from her side. Here’s Ms. Greene in her own words:

Jehmu Greene of the Women’s Media Center: I haven’t seen it, but I want it banned!

Now, here’s a much younger individual, Mr. Tebow himself, showing much more poise and reason in about 50 seconds than Ms. Greene was in five minutes:

All-American boy: Tim Tebow has no apologies, nor should he.

Finally, here’s the ad itself, which still has the pro-abortion left knashing its teeth. Where is the controversy? Where’s the intolerance (aside from the left)? By the way, see the rest of the Tebow story, here, at FocusOnTheFamily.com.

Tim and Pam Tebow: Just telling their story. Only to the left is a heartwarming story a nightmare.

Tomorrow is The Family Foundation’s Annual Virtual Lobby Day and we have a great way for you to participate! You may have heard of “Money Bombs,” the latest technique for candidates to raise money quickly — they send an e-mail solicitation asking for a small donation from thousands of people to raise a substantial amount of cash to make a difference in their campaigns. We saw how Senator Scott Brown did this to counter all of the big liberal money raised against him in the special U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts a few weeks ago. What a difference that made — it put the brakes on government-run health care!

We’re not asking your for money. But we are asking you to make a difference by e-mailing your senators and delegates tomorrow (Thursday) with a simple message:

DE-FUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD in the Commonwealth’s new budget!

Tomorrow also happens to be Planned Parenthood’s lobby day. Imagine the difference we can make if thousands of values voters e-mailed their legislators tomorrow with the same message about de-funding Planned Parenthood before the pro-abortion lobbyists even stepped foot in the lawmakers’ offices!

If you attended Family Foundation Day At The Capitol in January, following up with an e-mail tomorrow with your delegates and senators is a great way to leverage the relationship you established with them. If you did not attend, now you have the opportunity, simultaneously, with likeminded, concerned citizens across Virginia, to have an impact with the ease of a few keystrokes.

Planned Parenthood is a billion dollar partisan behemoth that masquerades as a health organization. Inside its abortion center doors over a quarter of all abortions in the United States take place. Over the years it has received tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars from Virginia. Virginia’s taxpayers should never be forced to bail out this radical organization, especially while the Commonwealth faces a spending surplus of billions of dollars. It is time for this funding to stop!

In addition to the “De-funding Bomb,” tomorrow Lt. Governor Bill Bolling will conduct a live interview on our blog starting at 9:00 a.m. Click here to leave a question.

In addition, look for several other very special features we have lined up in the next several days, including interviews with noted political commentator Dr. Bob Holsworth and House Republican Caucus Chairman, Delegate Sam Nixon (R-27, Chesterfield).

Remember, tomorrow, Thursday, February 11, please e-mail your senators (click here for contact list) and delegates (click here for contact list) and urge them to end the taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood! If you don’t know your delegate and senator, click here.

Annotations & Elucidations

Who’s Controversial Now?

Our top story’s headline is misleading and is an excellent example of media bias. The abstinence-only speaker invited to a Henrico County high school is not causing controversy. She was invited and people may or may not attend. No student or parent said a word. It is 10 teachers and two outside groups — radical pro-abortion and homosexual advocacy organizations — who got wind of it and raised a stink. So, who’s being controversial?

On another front, Governor Tim Kaine now is staking his legacy to pre-K. It will be anything but that, but what’s amazing is that even as he shuns the liberal tag, he takes credit for a large expansion of government in the face of a backlash to that philosophy. Accordingly, Delegate Kirk Cox (R-66, Colonial Heights), the majority whip and senior member of the Appropriations Committee, broached eliminating it today on a Richmond radio station. Good for him.

Nationally, James Pethokoukis of Reuters uncovers a backdoor method Congressional Democrats and President Obama hope to raise taxes by three trillion dollars! It’s a very short, but revealing, read. Also of note, the Washington Post published a lengthy feature on Family Foundation friend Bishop Harry Jackson, who has become, perhaps, the nation’s leading defender of traditional marriage. Very much worth the read.

Finally, in news that must horrify liberals (other than an abstinence-only speaker at a high school) a CNN poll has found that 61 percent of Americans oppose taxpayer funded abortion, 51 percent oppose allowing insurance policies to cover abortions, and — sit down for this liberals — between 63 and 73 percent oppose legal abortions under any circumstance except for the 2 percent of abortions done each year in the cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is endangered. No wonder they’re reduced to protesting abstinence speakers.

News:

Abstinence-only speaker stirs controversy (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Virginia budget outlook poor; shortfall could grow (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Va. might have to cut $2.9 billion more by ‘12 (Washington Post)

Kaine cites pre-K success during his term (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Hamilton case ignites calls to overhaul ethics rules (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Allen tax plan backed by Crusade (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Analysis:

Is Obama planning a $3 trillion income tax increase? (James Pethokoukis/Political Risk Blog Reuters.com)

National:

CNN Poll: 61% Oppose Tax-Funded Abortions, 63%  Oppose All or Most Abortions (LifeNews.com)

Internal Results of CNN/Opinion Research Poll on Abortion, Health Care (CNN/Opinion Research)

Seeking to put asunder (Washington Post)

D.C. vote on gay marriage denied (Washington Times)

AP Turns Heads for Devoting 11 Reporters to Palin Book ‘Fact Check’ (FoxNews.com)

Annotations & Elucidations 

Dirty Deeds, Dems In Disarray

If you want state campaign news, scroll to National News. Of course, we have a comprehensive list of articles from Virginia-based papers, but as most anticipated, the national media has taken a great interest in our beloved commonwealth. So, see USA Today, Wall Street Journal, ABCNews.com and Politico.com for the national perspective. When you do, you will see what we and the state press corps has come to see: That even Democrats don’t like Creigh Deeds’ gubernatorial campaign, from the White House down to Governor Kaine and other liberal electeds at all levels and regions of Virginia. (Deeds isn’t cozy with Governor Kaine, now, anyway, so one wonders if his comments aren’t a tit-for-tat.)

All this internal Democrat commotion brings us to a time of reminiscence, that first Deeds bumper sticker. What did it say? “Not Words. Deeds”? Or something to that effect. Yes, we have seen his deeds — not just in his big spending, anti-marriage and pro-abortion policies and flip-flops, but also in his terribly negative campaign. So bad, the inevitable has happened — an AC/DC knock-off video. (See it here.) One note of interest on another subject: According to The Daily Press, there are 100,000 fewer voters on Virginia’s books this year than last. Hmmm. Why do you think that happened?

News:

Kaine says it’s time for Deeds to make case to voters (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Moran Advises Deeds: Give People a Reason to Vote for You (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

McCain, Holtz to rally for McDonnell (Washington Times)

McDonnell talks business during Charlottesville stop (Charlottesville Daily Progress)

BET co-founder apologizes after mocking Deeds’ stammer (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Words about Deeds stir a new controversy (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Deeds uses video to swipe at McDonnell (Roanoke Times)

BET co-founder apologizes for mocking Deeds (Washington Times)

State will have fewer voters this November (The Daily Press)

Road Plans Differ in Details, Not Chances (Washington Post)

Term Limits Proposed (Harrisonburg Daily News-Record)

Bouchard, Stolle in a rematch for 83rd House District (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Bell, Curren Talk Jobs, Spending (Harrisonburg Daily News-Record)

Valentine, Garrett debate voting records (Lynchburg News & Advance)

Longtime incumbent faces familiar foes in 82nd District (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

State senator wants GOP nod for 5th District; Hurt aims to unseat Perriello (Charlottesville Daily Progress)

National News:

White House Steps Back in Virginia Race (Wall Street Journal Online)

Deeds points finger at Washington (Politico.com)

Virginia race seen as referendum on Obama (USA Today)

National Parties Battle in VA and NJ to Set Stage for 2010 (ABCNews.com)

High Court Takes Up Case of Cross on Public Land (FoxNews.com)

Annotations & Elucidations 

Dems Abandoning Deeds? Surprisingly Close House Race?

Articles of note in today’s large News Stand: At the top of the News section, as well as at the top of the National News section, are articles in which leading national Democrats  sound as if Democrat gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds is in the bottom of the ninth, with at least one out. New Jersey is the name of the game, now, they say (see this QOD if you haven’t yet).

Meanwhile, Republican attorney general candidate, Senator Ken Cuccinelli (R-37, Fairfax), was the only one of the six statewide candidates to speak at the traditional Jefferson Assembly at Poplar Forest. (Virginia pols turning down a chance to appear Jeffersonian?) The Richmond Times-Dispatch looks at 10 House of Delegates races that may decide its control. Most interesting, it includes the 69th district race. The 69th is a majority-minority district and is overwhelmingly Democrat. But Republican Ernesto Sampson is giving Democrat Betsy Carr more than she wants.

Aside from campaigns, the Life issue continues to confound liberals, who don’t seem to understand that people have a natural instinct to preserve it. First, a new Pew Research poll confirms a Gallup survey earlier this year — support for Life continues to rise. Those supporting abortion are stagnant or falling. See the Analysis section. Then, for all the stereotype of college students being pro-abortion, there are Students for Life groups springing up all over Virginia campuses and around the country. The James Madison University Dukes for Life are profiled in the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record. 

News:

Schweitzer: Dems Have Better Shot in New Jersey (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Deeds: From Patching Fence to Straddling It (Washington Post)

McDonnell Tops Deeds On TV Ad Spending (Washington Post)

In cash race, businesses back Va. governor candidate McDonnell (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

RPV Blasts Deeds for GOP-Backed Bill (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Deeds, McDonnell each claim endorsements (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

DNC giving Deeds additional $1 million (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Politicians stump at Poplar Forest event (Lynchburg News & Advance)

TV ad wars heat up in governor’s race (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

House of Delegates control up for grabs (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Gilbert Boosts War Chest With $19K Fundraiser (Harrisonburg Daily News-Record)

Newcomers compete for Del. Kenneth Melvin’s seat in 80th House district (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

JMU Group Joins Abortion Protest (Harrisonburg Daily News-Record)

High court rejects ‘Choose Life’ plates case (Washington Times)

National News:

Democrats see rise in New Jersey, fade in Va. governors’ races (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot/Politico.com)

Same-sex marriage close to D.C. approval (Washington Times)

Analysis:

Support for abortion slips (Pew Research Center for the People & the Press) 

Poll Check: A Shift on Abortion? (Jon Cohen/Washington Post Behind The Numbers Blog)

On September 24, Family Foundation of Virginia President Victoria Cobb e-mailed an alert to our thousands of grassroots activists informing them of the harsh measures Planned Parenthood and NARAL-Virginia have undertaken to weaken Pregnancy Resource Centers — clinics that offer choices to pregnant women other than abortion. (Right, I know you got the irony there.)

Below is the alert, but what I haven’t had time to report was the hysterical response from NARAL and PP. Within a few hours of sending the e-mail, NARAL was up with this out-of-breath-huff (click here or not). I noticed it when I saw a pingback to the blog (NARAL linked to one of our posts, here). It accused us of “fundraising” at their expense. We did ask for money, but asked that people give it to the PRCs! These helping-hand, non-political clinics, which threaten no one and try to foster life, apparently send shivers up the spine of pro-abortion, uhhh, “pro-choice” radicals.

NARAL’s response was headlined, “Family Foundation using us as a fundraising tool,” with the words, “Read this solicitation. Get angry. And get involved in the upcoming election cycle!”

What exactly is in the alert that would make someone angry? Perhaps the part about women choosingan alternative to abortion? Or the fact that PRCs take paying clients away from Planned Parenthood? No one’s been able to tell us, but it reveals a bit of the pro-abortion movement’s mentality. Here’s the text of the alert:

Information Alert: Pro-abortion advocates attack pregnancy centers

It should come as no surprise that Planned Parenthood and NARAL-Virginia are attacking Pregnancy Resource Centers in Virginia. The fact that women now have a real choice of where to go when they face a crisis pregnancy must send shivers down the spine of the pro-abortion movement. Imagine women hearing that there are better alternatives to abortion in a warm, non-judgmental, and safe medical environment.

That, my friends, is Planned Parenthood and NARAL’s worst nightmare.

So before the paint was dry on the first “Choose Life” license plates that were made available this year, with revenue going to PRCs, our “choice” advocates immediately sought to eliminate that choice. Pro-abortion special interests set up an online petition to urge the General Assembly to cut off the funding stream from the license plates to PRCs. This is part of an overarching national strategy to shut down PRCs, ensuring that women have no place to go but abortion centers. In other states they’ve gone so far as to push legislation to simply outlaw PRCs!

Unfortunately, too few people understand the incredible role that PRCs are playing in the lives of women across America, and many fall for the lies of the abortion movement. The fact is, that PRCs are far safer and more woman-friendly than any abortion center.

According to a recent report entitled “A Passion to Serve, A Vision for Life,” there are approximately 2,300 PRCs serving women in the United States, with most regulated by one of three organizations — Care Net, Heartbeat International and the National Institutes of Family and Life Advocates. The report states, “Every day in the United States PRCs assist an average of 5,500 Americans, female and male, young and old, with sexuality-and-pregnancy related concerns.” Services include assisting women, counseling couples, providing goods and services, and offering free and confidential pregnancy care. Approximately 660 of these facilities are medical clinics, offering pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and more.

The medical clinics meet local, state and federal guidelines and where ultrasounds are offered they follow the strict guidelines issued by the American Institute in Ultrasound Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Radiology.

Most interesting is the fact that the annual income at these clinics is estimated at $200 million, with less than ten percent of that coming from government sources. Compare that to the $350 million in taxpayer subsidies that Planned Parenthood clinics received last year alone; that translates to more than one-third of their billion-dollar income.

The Family Foundation will fight with all of our energy and resources to protect the incredible services being provided by PRCs. From ensuring that the revenue from Choose Life plates continues going to these well-regulated and effective organizations, to educating Virginians on their positive impact, to exposing the lies of Planned Parenthood and NARAL, we won’t stop.

But we can all help in other ways as well. Purchase a Choose Life license plate. Click here to visit the DMV Web site where you can order your personal Choose Life license plate. Once 1,000 Choose Life license plate registrations are received, $15 of the $25 plate fees will be given to Virginia’s qualifying Pregnancy Resource Centers.

Additionally, find the PRC in your community and volunteer your time and treasure to them. They are on the frontlines, giving women in crisis a positive alternative to the detestation of abortion. They need your help.

On the heels of what surely was a shocking setback to his campaign Monday — Democrat activist billionaire Sheila Johnson’s endorsement of Republican Bob McDonnell for governor — Democrat gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds announced his own predictable list of former-Republican-legislator supporters. The lone somewhat surprise is former Senator Brandon Bell, but considering his record of voting for tax increases, perhaps not.

The leader of the group is John Chichester, the former-Democrat-turned- Republican-who-endorses-Democrats. His lackey, independent Russ “2-percent” Potts, also is among Deeds’ supporters. (Is Deeds’ that desperate?)

But the news here is that the endorsement and Deeds’ embrace is more twisted, more convoluted, more hypocritical and more disingenuous than anything politic in Virginia since Mark Warner promised not to raise taxes (or since Governor Tim Kaine said he wouldn’t, or since he said his DNC work wouldn’t interfere with his gubernatorial duties — take your pick):

From today’s Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star:

The legislators will help form “Virginians for Deeds” and according to a press release, support “Deeds’ efforts to carry on the tradition of keeping Virginia a low-tax state and the ‘best state for business’.”

Then . . .

Chichester, who retired in 2007 after nearly 30 years in office, said in a telephone interview that he’s backing Deeds over his own party’s candidate, Republican Bob McDonnell, because of Deeds’ support for Chichester’s budget plans during tough fiscal times earlier this decade.

Those “budget plans” were? . . .

In 2003 and 2004, Chichester — the powerful leader of the Senate Finance Committee — was a key player in the passage of a package of tax increases. …

Not just any tax increases. They were the largest in Virginia history and during a time when the budget was in robust surplus! So, Deeds wants to keep Virginia a “low tax state” but embraces Chichester, Potts and a host of the largest taxers and spenders in Virginia history? Huh????????????

Now, let’s not forget the second part of that equation. It’s not only the tax increase. It was the spending of it! Virginia was in a surplus, then raked in $1.4 billion more in taxes. Then those same men — Chichester, Potts, Bell, Marty Williams and others in this disgruntled group, as well as Deeds — spent it all and then some, raiding the Rainy Day fund to its lowest level ever!

Others in the group include pro-abortion, pro-homosexual ”marriage,” and tax-and-spend liberal Republicans such as Warren Barry, Panny Rhodes, and Jim Dillard, and liberal independent Katherine Waddell.

These former office holders are discontented former Republicans who lost primaries to conservatives or retired when they saw primary defeat coming, and haven’t supported Republicans in years. They call themselves “Republicans” to give their predictable endorsements of liberals a lame attempt at relevance. But the only people they are relevent to are the liberal Mainstream Media who play up the ideological lovefest as if it’s extraordinary. It will be interesting to compare the media coverage this gets as compared to the media coverage Sheila Johnson’s endorsement of McDonnell received.