The American Spectator : No Good Deeds

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No Good Deeds

By G. Tracy Mehan, III on 8.12.09 @ 6:08AM

Virginia Democrats put all their chips on abortion.

The Democratic candidate for governor in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a supposed "moderate," is betting on abortion as the key to victory against his Republican opponent.

Given the population explosion in its Washington suburbs, an area which has contributed significantly to the election of a Democratic president, governor, and two senators in recent years, Virginia is no longer a Southern state; but it isn't quite New York either. Are its voters likely to choose a governor based on this issue alone? We are going to find out this fall.

R. Creigh Deeds, a Democratic legislator from rural Virginia, hopes to pile up a big margin in the northern suburbs, while staying competitive with his Republican opponent, Robert F. McDonnell, the Attorney General, in the rest of the state. After his victory in a three-way gubernatorial primary, Deeds jumped ahead in the polls but has recently fallen behind McDonnell with various polls putting him back 8-15 percent. This may have been due in part to a lackluster performance in a recent debate and the slight deflation of President Obama's performance ratings in recent weeks.

On Tuesday Mr. Deeds kicked off his first of three press events, under the rubric of Women for Deeds, thereby launching what Rosalind S. Helderman of the Washington Post called "an assault on his opponent's record of working to restrict abortions," calling it evidence that the Republican has the wrong priorities for the state. This contrasts, sharply, with Deeds's prior claim that "I've never made social policy a huge part of my campaigns or a huge part of my agenda." He said this at last month's gubernatorial debate. The state GOP has distributed a video of his remarks since repudiated by his actions.

Deeds defends himself against charges of being desperate by comparing himself to…Helen Keller [sic]. "Everything in life is risky," he said. "Helen Keller once wrote that life is either a daring adventure or nothing. So this is my daring adventure…" Are you following this? I'm not.

As a former member of the General Assembly, McDonnell seems to have had the temerity to offer legislation banning late-term abortions, requiring a 24-hour waiting periods before an abortion is performed and requiring that minors receive parental permission for the procedure. Deeds seems to believe this amounts to extremism that will shock northern Virginians.

Mr. Deeds might want to look at the recent polling by Gallup on voters' attitudes on abortion.

I recently described these results on this website as follows: "Amidst the political setbacks for the right-to-life movement, maybe the worst since the 1970s, the Gallup Poll reports that 51 percent of Americans call themselves 'pro-life' on the issue of abortion; 42 percent are pro-choice." This was the first time a majority of adults have identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup asked the question in 1995 which it does annually. The growth in the pro-life numbers came from Republicans and Republican-leaning independents-and women. Women used to call themselves pro-choice over pro-life a year ago (50 versus 43 percent). Today women as well as men are likely to be pro-life.

In this context "pro-life" is a kind of middle ground with 53 percent saying abortion should be legal only under certain circumstances. In other words, most people reject the status quo, i.e., abortion on demand, for any reason, for all nine months of pregnancy.

While the Gallup data are national and not Virginia specific, Mr. Deeds seems to be a bit retro in his assessment of current attitudes on the issue of life. He and his party are putting all their chips on abortion and letting it ride. Moreover, raising the visibility of this issue will fire up the troops in Baptist churches and Catholic parishes throughout the state. Even President Obama tries to fudge the abortion issue, attempting to avoid embracing the culture of death, visiting a Catholic college in Indiana, etc. He has even backed off pushing for a Freedom of Choice Act with its categorical mandates for unlimited abortion and violation of various and sundry conscience clauses in law.

It appears that Mr. Deeds did not get the memo. He and his party are putting all their chips on abortion and letting it ride. They may be riding their electoral hopes right into the ground. Or at least one can hope.

topics:
Democratic Party, R. Creigh Deeds, Virginia

About the Author

G. Tracy Mehan, III served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the administrations of both Presidents Bush. He is a consultant in Arlington, Virginia, and an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (13) | Leave a comment

Mattled| 8.12.09 @ 8:13AM

The Chicago Trib has an article that there was in fact no Obama "baby boom" since the election.

Back in November reprots came out that EVERYONE was so happy to have Barack as president that they immediately went out and procreated.

My question back then was how many of those that were supposedly going to get pregnant going to exercise their right to "choose"?

It would be interesting to see if there was an uptick in people exercising their Roe v Wade rights.

What actually happened is a record number of people started naming their babies "barack" (the ones that were having babies and not "choosing").

What will actually happen is we'll have an over-abundance of people changing their names to "Barry"----not wanting to be named after one of the worst presidents in history----even Carter.

Tony in Central PA| 8.12.09 @ 9:30AM

There are some who would argue that the " Freedom of Choice Act " isn't dead, its just hidden within the proposed health care legislation.

Michael L. Hauschild| 8.12.09 @ 10:15AM

“Creigh Deeds voted for the two largest tax increases in Virginia history. He opposed elimination of the death tax (HB2490, 2003). He opposed a bill requiring an economic impact analysis before new government regulations on business take effect (HB1073, 1994; SB558, 1994).”

See above for the real reason Deeds is in trouble. But by all means let us not lose sight of the real issue, “Quinn”esential enragement syndrome. (said Mike sarcastically)

Pay attention people, if we do not get this health care debacle stopped you are going to be paying for those abortions you detest.

Richard Baker| 8.12.09 @ 12:17PM

As a Virginian, I say that we are stubborn yes, stupid no. The Old Dominion outside Northern Virginia is mad as Hell and disgusted with the present state of affairs.

DougN| 8.12.09 @ 1:07PM

Michael L. Hauschild-
"Pay attention people, if we do not get this health care debacle stopped you are going to be paying for those abortions you detest. "

So, may I assume that you enjoy abortions?

Michael L. Hauschild| 8.12.09 @ 1:36PM

DougN,
What an incredibly stupid question.
I believe abortions are an abomination.
I believe that homosexual behavior is by definition deviant.
However, the only people that should have any say over terminating a fetus are the pregnant women and her doctor and the only people to determine the nature of personal relationships are the consenting adults involved.
Now unless you are gay, pregnant, or carry a medical degree I suggest you get back to the issue of saving the country from socialism.

anthony sutton| 8.12.09 @ 3:40PM

I will not vote for anyone whom tries to will bring down our state or country by lowering standards, morally or ethically. Death of innocent children is murder what is next old people disabled hearing vision immpaired etc.

DougN| 8.12.09 @ 4:54PM

Michael L. Hauschild,

What an incredibly stupid response to my question.
You believe abortions are an abomination, yet you turn a blind eye to this practice, washing your hands of the problem by trotting out the tired cliche that "the only people that should have any say over terminating a fetus are the pregnant women and her doctor." That is absurd, and it demonstrates that maybe you see abortion as something less than an "abomination." An abomination cannot be dismissed so easily, I think.
Your last sentence was a complete non sequitur that I shall refrain from addressing, Mike.

Who the hell brought up homosexuality, anyway?

Michael L. Hauschild| 8.12.09 @ 7:03PM

DougN,
You assumed I enjoyed abortions, I just assumed you were gay.

jordan 6 rings| 8.12.09 @ 8:30PM

I will not vote for anyone whom tries to will bring down our state or country by lowering standards, morally or ethically.

DougN| 8.12.09 @ 10:31PM

Michael:
Interesting. I assume you were for abortions because of the phrasing of your final sentence, and you assume that I am gay because of...well...what, exactly??

You're not really the brightest bulb, are you?

American Hero| 8.12.09 @ 11:08PM

What will actually happen is we'll have an over-abundance of people changing their names to "Barry"----not wanting to be named after one of the worst presidents in history----even Carter.

Barry is a nickname, numbnuts. I cant even sit here and explain it to you, I know youre too fucking stupid to get it.