“Virginia must have an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes developing our state’s offshore resources including natural gas, wind, and oil. Unlike my opponent, I firmly believe offshore energy production, in addition to coal and other natural resources, must be a key component of our efforts to responsibly capitalize on the Commonwealth’s vast energy resources. I look forward to working together, in a bipartisan way, with Senators Warner and Kaine, as well as Representative Rigell and the rest of our congressional delegation, to amend the Obama Administration’s inadequate lease plan that excluded our state.” – Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli

Read more about Ken Cuccinelli’s Energy Plan For Virginia Jobs & Families here.

BACKGROUND

Terry McAuliffe Does Not Support Drilling Off Virginia’s Coast

McAuliffe: “I Do Not Support Drilling For Oil Off Our Coast.” (Terry McAuliffe, “Race To Richmond: Terry McAuliffe,” The Washington Post, 5/20/09)

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Just today, ABC News is reporting that Virginia officials “continued to entertain the company’s pitch because then-Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and former president Bill Clinton, whom McAuliffe approached about the firm, supported it.” Despite “great doubts that [GreenTech was] a legitimate project,” officials were responsive “because of the players involved.”

Virginia officials made a prescient observation when they stated GreenTech’s visa program could give the state a “black eye.”

The news report also reminds Virginians that Terry McAuliffe has made a living profiting on politics and playing the role of the consummate insider.

In the end, and even after special consideration from Virginia officials and taxpayer assistance from Mississippi, McAuliffe’s GreenTech has neither created the cars nor jobs McAuliffe promised.

BACKGROUND

Terry McAuliffe’s “Black Eye”

VEDP: Agency Worried About Terry McAuliffe’s GreenTech Giving The Commonwealth A “Black Eye.” The visa program, however, is a federal policy designed to incentivize foreign investment, as laid out online by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services. At one point, a Virginia Economic Development Partnership (EDP) official wrote that if GreenTech established the visa program in Virginia, it could give a ‘black eye’ to the state. ‘If all, or any significant portion, of the investors were to not ultimately receive the visas, that would give the Commonwealth a black eye, in the view of other companies or investors looking for possible business connections with the Commonwealth,’ the official wrote in an email.” (Chris Good, “GOP Super PAC Takes Aim At McAuliffe, Car Company,” ABC News, 5/22/13)

Despite Grave Doubts McAuliffe’s GreenTech Received Additional Consideration Because Of The Involvement Of Former President Bill Clinton & Terry McAuliffe

VEDP: “We Have Great Doubts That [GreenTech] Is A Legitimate Project, But Because Of The Players Involved Are Being Responsive.” “According to the emails, Virginia officials continued to entertain the company’s pitch because then-Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and former president Bill Clinton, whom McAuliffe had approached about the firm, supported it. ‘In short, it involves Terry McAuliffe, Bill Clinton, and of course Gov. Kaine,’ Economic Development Partnership vice president Paul Grossman wrote in an email dated Sept. 11, 2009. ‘We have great doubts that it is a legitimate project, but because of the players involved are being responsive.’” (Chris Good, “GOP Super PAC Takes Aim At McAuliffe, Car Company,” ABC News, 5/22/13)

McAuliffe’s GreenTech “Has Quickly Become” One Of His “Biggest Problems”

“Greentech Automotive (GTA), The Company Designed To Show Terry McAuliffe’s Ability To Create Jobs, Has Quickly Become One Of The Democratic Nominee’s Biggest Problems.” (Ryan Nobles, “McAuliffe’s GreenTech Forced To Pay Tax Due To A Lack Of Production,” Decision Virginia, 4/10/13)

NYT: “Electric Car Company Could Backfire in Virginia Governor’s Race” (Trip Gabriel, “Electric Car Company Could Backfire in Virginia Governor’s Race,” New York Times, 4/25/13)

• “…[T]he Company, GreenTech Automotive, Has Become A Potential Embarrassment As Mr. McAuliffe Campaigns On The Slogan ‘Putting Jobs First…’” (Trip Gabriel, “Electric Car Company Could Backfire in Virginia Governor’s Race,” New York Times, 4/25/13)

“McAuliffe’s Dream, And What Was Once Considered To Be A Strong Asset In His Campaign, Has Become A Liability.” “McAuliffe is selling himself to the people of Virginia as a businessman and job creator. He has spent the last four years investing and promoting a green car company that he promised would revolutionize the car industry and bring thousands of manufacturing jobs to America. But McAuliffe’s dream, and what was once considered to be a strong asset in his campaign, has become a liability.” (Ryan Nobels, ‘McAuliffe’s GreenTech promise doesn’t match early results,’ NBC12-Richmond, 4/29/13)

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“Terry McAuliffe’s self-congratulatory advertisement today omits important details about his record on transportation issues, including his recent stint as the chairman of GreenTech Automotive – a company that has not produced the promised cars or jobs and that McAuliffe finally admitted to secretly leaving only after it became a known tax delinquent. The fact is, the high point of McAuliffe’s transportation career was his leadership at the helm of New York-based paving business as a 14-year old. Today’s ad is vintage Terry McAuliffe: spinning the truth and taking credit where none is due, while completely ignoring the facts. Virginians know better.” – Dave Rexrode, Cuccinelli for Governor Campaign Manager

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“Terry McAuliffe is the missing candidate. He refuses to release his tax returns, he dodges questions about his businesses, and now he won’t engage in a discussion about holding debates all across the Commonwealth,” said Cuccinelli for Governor campaign strategist Chris LaCivita. “Virginians face a stark choice this November and they’re looking for leadership. If Terry McAuliffe can’t stand up for himself in a series of debates about Virginia’s future, how can he be expected to stand up for the Commonwealth?”

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Cuccinelli said: “Voters deserve more than scripted sound bites to make an informed decision; they need real debates in every corner of the Commonwealth on topics that matter to their communities and their lives. I want to debate my opponent throughout Virginia and lay out my plan for growing the economy, creating jobs and easing burdens on middle class families.”

Rather than accept the challenge, or even take a moment to consider it, Terry McAuliffe’s campaign immediately dismissed it.

Virginia voters all across the state deserve to hear full and vigorous debates so that they can make an informed choice this November.

Background:

McAuliffe’s Campaign “Brushed Aside” Ken Cuccinelli’s “Challenge As An ‘Unserious Political Stunt.’”“ McAuliffe spokesman Brennan Bilberry brushed aside the challenge as an unserious ‘political stunt designed to distract from coverage of the Republican ticket’s divisive remarks[.]’” (Julian Walker, “Cuccinelli Wants 15 Debates With McAuliffe,” The Virginian-Pilot, 5/20/13)

Cuccinelli Monday clarified the call he made over the weekend in his speech to the Virginia GOP nominating convention during which he first suggested the series of debates.

“Virginians face an important decision in November about the future of our Commonwealth and they deserve nothing less than frequent and robust debates,” Cuccinelli said.

“Voters deserve more than scripted sound bites to make an informed decision; they need real debates in every corner of the Commonwealth on topics that matter to their communities and their lives,” he added. “I want to debate my opponent throughout Virginia and lay out my plan for growing the economy, creating jobs and easing burdens on middle class families.”

To read the rest of the story click here.

This article first appeared in the The Virginian-Pilot on May 20, 2013.

“Folks, here’s the deal,” said Jack Morgan, 9th District committee chairman when introducing the trio, who were officially nominated at the statewide party convention this past weekend. “We’re at a time in which the most critical issue in the states is standing up to the federal government. What a [great] time for the rest of the nation to look to Virginia. We’ve got a team that can do it.”

Cuccinelli, who rolled out his campaign’s energy plan last Thursday in Bristol, said people in Southwest Virginia will tire of seeing him before the election. He spent most of his time Monday talking about fighting government regulations, like those blamed for the decline of the coal industry.

To read the rest of the story click here.

This article first appeared in the Bristol Herald Courier on May 20, 2013.

You can find the script for “Garbarino” below:

ANCHOR: Officer Michael Garbarino. Killed in the line of duty.

ANCHOR: Mike Garbarino was severely injured. He died nine days later.

SUE GARBARINO: I was married to him for 27 years – the best years of my life. I honestly don’t know how I survived it; I just needed to be there for my girls. Every time I was in the hospital I would see Ken Cuccinelli. I will never forget that.

NATALIE GARBARINO: He was a figure that I came to expect to be there every day at the hospital. Ken Cuccinelli really cared about us and that meant a lot to me.

KEN CUCCINELLI: Mike capped a distinguished twenty-three year career as a police officer with one of the most noble acts of courage Fairfax has ever seen. Katie and Natalie, your dad was a great man. He is a father you can be proud of forever.

SUE GARBARINO: He’s a very genuine guy who has a deep commitment to helping other people. I think Ken would make a great Governor.

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The 60-second spot will air statewide, campaign officials confirmed on Sunday. The campaign would not say how much the ad buy cost.

Officer Michael Garbarino was mortally wounded in May 2006 when an 18-year-old mentally ill man drove to the Sully District police station and fired 70 rounds. Michael W. Kennedy was shot to death by several officers in a gun battle that also killed Detective Vicky O. Armel.

To read the rest of the story click here.

This article first appeared in the Washington Post on May 20, 2013.

“Virginians face an important decision in November about the future of our Commonwealth and they deserve nothing less than frequent and robust debates,” said Ken Cuccinelli. “Voters deserve more than scripted sound bites to make an informed decision; they need real debates in every corner of the Commonwealth on topics that matter to their communities and their lives. I want to debate my opponent throughout Virginia and lay out my plan for growing the economy, creating jobs and easing burdens on middle class families.”

Cuccinelli is challenging Terry McAuliffe to debates in the following cities:

Bristol
Danville
Fairfax
Fredericksburg
Harrisonburg
Leesburg
Lynchburg
Manassas
Martinsville
Newport News
Richmond
Roanoke
Virginia Beach
Winchester
Wytheville

NOTE: The Cuccinelli campaign will be reaching out to the McAuliffe campaign today to formally request the 15 debates. Both campaigns should be able to agree on nonpartisan and civic-minded organizations to host the discussions in each city.

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