Democrats Demand Bob McDonnell Condemn Tom Davis for Anti-Rural Remarks

I just got off a conference call with House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong (D-Martinsville), Susan Swecker (Former Chair, Southern Caucus Democratic National Committee) and Mudcat Saunders (D-Rural Virginia) responding to the following comments made by Bob McDonnell surrogate Tom Davis about Creigh Deeds:

"He doesn't speak the language," said former Republican congressman Tom Davis, who works at Deloitte Consulting. "He doesn't understand it. That's just not the mold he comes from. He comes from a different world. It's okay. But it doesn't qualify him."

Ward Armstrong says that these comments are part of a pattern exhibited by Bob McDonnell (towards women) and by McDonnell surrogates towards "a segment of the state" (rural Virginia). In fact, Armstrong says, he can't think of any comments that could be "more insulting" than to say that Creigh Deeds comes from a "different world," as if people in rural Virginia are all "barefoot and stupid." Armstrong pointed out that "we're not from another world, we're from rural Virginia," that "this is one Virginia," and that he doesn't go around "bash[ing] NOVA, Hampton Roads or Richmond." The bottom line, according to Ward Armstrong, is that Tom Davis' comments were "way out of bounds." The question is, does Bob McDonnell agree with his surrogate's "prejudice against people in rural Virginia" or will he repudiate the remarks?

Susan Swecker said she was "saddened and shocked" by Tom Davis' "divisive" statement. She also feels that it's part of a pattern, including RPV chair Pat Mullins' comments that people in southwestern Virginia "preferred to be on welfare." Swecker asserted proudly, "where I come from is a good thing" not a bad one as Tom Davis seems to imply. Swecker argued that in a Creigh Deeds administration, "noone will be left out or degraded because of their zip code" and that Creigh will "bring people together" - unlike what Bob McDonnell would do.

Mudcat Saunders incorrectly thought this was a private strategy call, which led to some characteristically "colorful" (and hilarious, IMHO) language by him, but the gist of his message was that "rural" is not just a matter of geography, it's "in your soul" (Mudcat noted, "affectionately" he said, that "there are more rednecks on Rt. 1 in Alexandria than in the 6th [Congressional District]"). In addition, Mudcat added that Bob McDonnell is a "hypocrite" with "no compassion" and no "affection for working people" who has "never done anything to create a job or build a road."

Anyway, that's pretty much what happened on the call. It will be interesting to see if Bob McDonnell repudiates Tom Davis' remarks and also whether they get people in rural Virginia riled up against McDonnell. On the latter question, I'm a bit skeptical, but time will tell...

Mudcat Saunders: Bob McDonnell "nailed" [UPDATE: "screwed"] to Pat Robertson

UPDATE 8:29 am Wednesday: Mudcat just called me to say he got a good laugh at the absurdity of people claiming he was referring to "crucifixion" when he talked about Bob McDonnell being "nailed" (e.g., tied extremely tightly) to Pat Robertson. Mudcat asked me to change his quote to the following: "Bob McDonnell's not only tied to Pat Robertson, he's screwed to him." And, Mudcat asks me to add, "Hopefully that doesn't violate Bob McDonnell's beloved Virginia 'crimes against nature' law." (the one McDonnell "couldn't recall" if he ever violated)

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to talk to my old friend Dave "Mudcat" Saunders (author and former strategist for Mark Warner, Jim Webb, John Edwards, etc.), and as usual he had a number of interesting insights and quotable quotes. Here are the highlights.

*"Rural is not so much geographic as something you've got down in your soul."

*"Who would have thought in 2007 that by 2008, Hillary Clinton could have redefined herself as pro-gun and anti-trade? All of a sudden, she was drinking shots. She did a helluva job redefining herself."

*"I would never allow Bob McDonnell to redefine himself as any kind of moderate. He's not only tied to Pat Robertson, he's nailed to him."

*"I am NOT attacking Bob McDonnell's religion, I'm attacking his intolerance."

*"Nobody loves God more than me, and I would never attack Him. What I don't tolerate is intolerance."

*"Bob McDonnell doesn't give a damn about a road, a job, a school...he's all about social issues. He's on a mission from God, just like the Blue Brothers."

*"Bob McDonnell's a damn nice guy, but he doesn't believe like regular people do. He's way out of the mainstream."

*"The idea that [Bob McDonnell's] been this big advocate for the working man is laughable."

*"I love Creigh Deeds and I hope he wins because I think he'll make an outstanding governor."

*"I don't know what the Deeds' campaign plan is and I'm not telling them what to do."

*"I'm a populist. There's never been a better environment for economic populism than now, at least since Teddy Roosevelt got elected. If we're not going to do [economic populism] now, when ARE we going to do it?"

*"This is a 'frustration' election. People are not only frustrated, they're confused and afraid. They've never been through anything like this economy."

*"The candidate who calms their fears the most will win."

Exclusive Interview: Mudcat Saunders on the Virginia Governor's Race

I just interviewed Dave "Mudcat" Saunders - formerly senior strategist to Mark Warner, Jim Webb and John Edwards - about the Virginia governor's race. Here are the highlights of what Mudcat had to say, including some most definitely "quotable quotes!"

Regarding Brian Moran's "fighter not a fundraiser" speech at the Democratic Party of Virginia's Jefferson-Jackson dinner on February 7, Mudcat commented:

I’ve been to JJ [Jefferson-Jackson] dinners all over the country, and I’ve never seen a Democrat hit another Democrat at one of them. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen another Democrat body slam another Democrat at a Democratic unity dinner. I understand that Terry McAuliffe is like a moving train and you’ve got to slow down the train, but that was not the right political venue for Brian Moran to try to slow him down.

As to Brian Moran's campaign in general, Mudcat was apparently not impressed, remarking, "I can’t figure out what Brian Moran’s strategy is. It appears his strategy is just to slow down McAuliffe."

Mudcat had some interesting quotes about Terry McAuliffe, including:

*"Terry is a positive guy, and positive begets positive...no matter if its baseball or politics."

*"I’m not sure I’ve ever met anybody more positive thinking than Terry McAuliffe. That’s not just a positive attitude but a positive lifestyle as well."

*"Right now, the whole country – not just Virginia – needs a positive attitude."

*"This primary’s not about tearing down the party, it’s about lifting up the party."

On Creigh Deeds, who Mudcat obviously likes a great deal, Mudcat analyzed his campaign this way:

Creigh is not going to beat Terry and Brian in NOVA. If Creigh wins big in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th and 9th and doesn't get creamed in the 8th, 10th and 11th, he can win. Creigh’s a moderate and has a definite path to victory both in June and in November.

Finally, on the issue of connecting to rural Virginia culture, Mudcat - who, by the way, is currently writing what he calls "a Jesus book" - says:

Mark Warner got through to our culture, rural culture. He looked at our culture and said, "this is good, this is fun!" He liked us, so we liked him. It’s not that complicated. Mark did an outstanding job, he worked at it, he spent a lot of time over several years at it.

Terry McAuliffe can get through to the [rural] culture. Like I said, he’s got a positive attitude. Terry's also got high name recognition amongst Democrats who will vote in the primary. And McAuliffe is a good name to have out here where I live.

I don’t think that Brian’s been out here enough to make a connection with the rural culture in the primary. He’s not well known. He was House Caucus Chair but hardly anybody knows who that is. Brian’s also going up against a lot of money.

I also asked Mudcat about Bill Clinton possibly coming in and campaigning for Terry McAuliffe. In Mudcat's opinion, Clinton remains highly popular among Democrats in rural Virginia and would certainly be an asset to McAuliffe if he campaigns for him.

Other than his thoughts on the governor's race, Mudcat sounds good and is enjoying working on his "Jesus book." Mudcat read me several passages over the phone, including a few that had me "LOL," and I think he could have a big hit with this one. I'm certainly looking forward to reading it!