Creigh Deeds: High Stakes Hide-and-Seek

Democrat Candidate Dodges Debates, Ducks Stances on Issues

Contact: Tim Murtaugh 804-780-0111

RICHMOND – Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins today called on Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds to come out of hiding and answer important policy questions and agree to an aggressive schedule of face-to-face debates with Republican candidate Bob McDonnell. To this point, Deeds has refused to discuss major issues facing the voters and has appeared to be reluctant to appear on stage with McDonnell in a sufficient number of meetings to satisfy voters’ interests.

“I don’t know what the guy is afraid of,” said Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins. “I guess I understand his trepidation, but you know, sooner or later you have to say that you’re for or against something.”

Debates: Who, Me?

Bob McDonnell has challenged Creigh Deeds to a series of ten debates, but Deeds appears to be shy about the idea. Through a spokesman, Deeds gave a non-committal answer.

“If past precedent is an indication, McDonnell shouldn't hold his breath while awaiting a response,” reported the Virginian-Pilot (http://hamptonroads.com/2009/07/mcdonnell-deeds-lets-have-10-debates).

“The modern logistics of scheduling these things are tough, because you're trying to get two campaigns together," Deeds told the Washington Post. (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/07/post_263.html)

Cap-and-Trade: Deeds Absent

The leadership of Creigh Deeds’ party shoved the boondoggle of “Cap and Trade” through the House of Representatives, imposing perhaps the largest energy tax increase on Americans that has ever been. Governor Kaine spoke glowingly of the action and five Virginia Democrats voted for its passage. Deeds’ response has been barely conscious.

“[Deeds] hopes Congress will focus on legislation to address the very serious problem of global warming,” the candidate for governor said through a spokesman (http://hamptonroads.com/2009/06/cap-and-trade-cavalcade).

Card Check: Deeds Incoherent

On the similarly job-killing legislation known as Card Check, Creigh Deeds has been characteristically confusing.

“From my perspective, this is not something that we have to be engaged in,” Deeds stammered. “We’re gonna have to deal with whatever the federal government does. But we don’t know. Terry [McAuliffe] to a certain extent is exactly right. We don’t know what that legislation is gonna look like right now. It doesn’t look like it’s gonna pass. We don’t know what form it will take if it does pass. I think this is just a bridge we have to cross when we get to it.”

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUSxJQKJdMo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvoices%2Ewashingtonpost%2Ecom%2Fvirginiapolitics%2F2009%2F05%2Fpost%5F225%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded)

Kaine Travel: Deeds Pretty Much Mum

Under tremendous fire for his stealthy travel schedule on behalf of the Democratic National Committee, Governor Tim Kaine still refuses to release the details of his whereabouts. Deeds throws his mentor under the bus.

“I think one job will probably be enough for me,” Deeds said (http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=10603552&nav=S6aK).

The venerable Washington Post was frustrated as well.

“We tried to get Deeds directly on this topic, but he would not make himself available. His spokesman Jared Leopold said: ‘Creigh Deeds is committed to transparency in government.’” (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/07/post_262.html#more).

“Creigh Deeds may be committed to something, but it sure isn’t to being transparent with the voters,” said Chairman Mullins.

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