I just received an email from the Brian Moran campaign. Like a broken record, they once again...wait for it...ATTACK...wait for it...Terry...wait for it...on MONEY! Shocker, ain't it? Here's the key 'graf.We can choose the old kind of politics or we can choose Brian Moran. For 20 years, Brian Moran has fought hard for the people of Virginia, and that is what he will do as Governor. He's building this campaign from the bottom up, not the top down.So, what is this new kind of politics Brian Moran claims to practice? Well, let's see, there's...
*This press release by the Moran campaign from July 2008, bragging about Moran's fundraising prowess, how Brian had "outraised both Senator Creigh Deeds and sitting Attorney General Bob McDonnell during the first half of 2008," and how the Moran campaign has what it takes to "meet the long-term needs of financing a successful gubernatorial campaign."
*Contributions of $46,000 from Dominion Power to Moran, and a vote by Moran for Dominion's Wise County coal-fired power plant. Ka-ching!
*A traditional, top-down campaign based heavily on endorsements by elected officials and a payroll stocked with high-priced consultants (which explains why the Moran campaign spends almost as much money as it takes in).
*Two Washington Post articles this weekend detailing Brian Moran's role in a highly lucrative (translation: $$$$) Dulles Airport taxi cab contract. The "money line," so to speak, in the main Post story was, "Money talks. It's big money. That's how it goes, I guess." And from Marc Fisher's story, there's this gem: "...to lose because I didn't hire Brian Moran or that caliber of lobbyist, because I thought merit would stand for itself -- that's what hurts."
Wait a minute, isn't that the exact kind of politics Brian Moran claims to be fighting against? Isn't Brian Moran supposed to be the knight in shining armor here, the pure-as-driven-snow, progressive grassroots hero in this race? My god, it's so confusing! Heh.
