Why Independent Voters Should Vote for Creigh Deeds as Governor of Virginia

I am an Independent.  And I am voting for Creigh Deeds to be the next Governor of Virginia.

I have been watching intently both Mr. Deeds, the Democratic candidate, and Mr. McDonnell, the Republican candidate.  And the conclusion is undeniable.  Mr. Deeds will be an honest and adult leader in the Governor's office for the Commonwealth.  Mr. McDonnell, on the other hand, clearly will not.

The Washington Post agrees.  Recently they published an endorsement of Mr. Deeds and said:

If the current campaign for governor has clarified anything, it is that state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic nominee, has the good sense and political courage to maintain the forward-looking policies of the past while addressing the looming challenge of fixing the state's dangerously inadequate roads. The Republican candidate, former attorney general Robert F. McDonnell, offers something different: a blizzard of bogus, unworkable, chimerical proposals, repackaged as new ideas, that crumble on contact with reality. They would do little if anything to build a better transportation system.

While Mr. Deeds has seriously and diligently worked to address issues that are important to all Virginians, Mr. McDonnell has seemingly focused more on pursuing an archaic social agenda.  Whereas Mr. Deeds has been forthright in discussing possible solutions, Mr. McDonnell has been disingenuous at best, and even dishonest.  Mr. McDonnell's responses to questions about his Master's thesis are a good example of playing fast with the truth.  He tried to pass the thesis off as "simply doing an academic analysis" and the function of "college student...within an academic environment and completely not restrained by the real policy world."  That is not at all true and it is disheartening that Mr. McDonnell chose to lie rather than respond honestly.  In fact, Mr. McDonnell was in his mid 30s, pursuing a law degree (J.D.) at the same time as the Master's degree, and was interning with the US House Republican Policy Committee and preparing to run for the Virginia House of Delegates.  In his thesis "The Republican Party's Vision for the Family," Mr. McDonnell was actively advocating for social policies that marginalized the role of women and restricted the rights of other members of society.  In fact, he believed that "the government must restrain, punish, and deter" social activities to which he and the Republican party objected.  While Mr. McDonnell claims his social views have moderated, I find it impossible to support anyone who would ever hold such arcane and backward views of the world, and who actively has advocated for restricting the rights of fellow Americans.

Some have suggested that Mr. Deeds is too boring to be Governor.  To them I question whether it is more important to have a slick Ken doll version of Governor with questionable judgment and limited governing accomplishments, or a less slick, down in the trenches, hard working, and serious adult who has shown through his historical and ongoing public service the ability to identify and address real issues.  Is it better to have a Governor who believes that the rights of a few can overrule the rights of all of us, or a Governor that believes all Americans have the same rights?  Is it better to have a man who represents the oppressive national social policy of his party, or one that will represent Virginia?

I vote for the candidate who can serve all Virginians, and serve them intelligently.  Creigh Deeds is that man.  He is an independent and pragmatic man who works hard and works smart.  That is exactly what Virginia needs right now.

So, to all my Independent friends, please join me in supporting and voting for Mr. R. Criegh Deeds for Governor of Virginia on November 3rd.

Go here for information from the Virginia Board of Elections.