New: Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) is running for a second term against three Black candidates.
I did a deep dive on his record as governor on questions of racial justice, civil rights, civil liberties and criminal justice reform: huffpost.com/entry/terry-mc…
I did a deep dive on his record as governor on questions of racial justice, civil rights, civil liberties and criminal justice reform: huffpost.com/entry/terry-mc…
News: @ACLUVA's @changeservant says that after McAuliffe vetoed a bill limiting mass surveillance, “He looked me in the eye and said, ‘Claire, you just need to know, I’m always going to side with the police.’”
McAuliffe denies it. (They're at odds over blame for C'ville in '17.)
McAuliffe denies it. (They're at odds over blame for C'ville in '17.)
The debate over McAuliffe versus @jcarrollfoy or @JennMcClellanVA is a fight over the future for Dems in Va.
Are Dem gains so tenuous they need a guy who's shown he can win? Or do they want to make history -- first Black woman Gov in the country -- with someone more progressive?
Are Dem gains so tenuous they need a guy who's shown he can win? Or do they want to make history -- first Black woman Gov in the country -- with someone more progressive?
“The question for a lot of Virginians needs to be: Given the changing nature of where we are, is gubernatorial leadership from Terry McAuliffe going to move us on the pace that we need to? Or will either of the Jennifers be better choices there?” @cd4arlington
McAuliffe's boosters have policy accomplishments they can point to, not least his restoration of voting rights for 173,000 ex-felons. Black leaders consider it a major step forward for civil rights.
Among other things, he also passed mental health and jail oversight reforms.
Among other things, he also passed mental health and jail oversight reforms.
McAuliffe's tenure also elicited major criticism -- for his enforcement of the death penalty (he shepherded a bill protecting anonymity of lethal injection drug makers); and his hands-off approach to local police killings like that of Kionte DeSean Spencer in 2016.
The debate about Black representation that is dogging McAuliffe's candidacy now has a precedent in his 2001 DNC chair bid. Former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson ran against him because Black officials were annoyed by McAuliffe's anointment ...
... Without consideration of Black representation at the body.
During the race, McAuliffe was accused of using the phrase "colored people" (he said he meant "people of color"). He ended up bringing Jackson on as head of the DNC's Voting Rights Institute.
During the race, McAuliffe was accused of using the phrase "colored people" (he said he meant "people of color"). He ended up bringing Jackson on as head of the DNC's Voting Rights Institute.
This quote from Maynard Jackson at the time looks an awful lot like what Black critics of McAuliffe are saying now.
“Almost every Black Democrat that I have ever met has said that they resent being taken for granted by our party.”
“Almost every Black Democrat that I have ever met has said that they resent being taken for granted by our party.”
Regarding local police killings, McAuliffe and his allies rightly point out that, under Va. law, a locality must ask for the state to take over a police killing probe.
But pleas of powerlessness run counter to McAuliffe's brand as a guy who just gets things done regardless ...
But pleas of powerlessness run counter to McAuliffe's brand as a guy who just gets things done regardless ...
... And the bully pulpit matters. @JCarrollFoy joined calls for a state investigation of a recent police killing in Virginia Beach. The police department invited the state in shortly after.
What McAuliffe's critics are saying: “If he really cared about Black people, he could have just endorsed one of them,” @TillyBlanding
“McAuliffe ― he did a good job when he was in office, but it’s time for the new guard to take over,” @Koran4sterling
“McAuliffe ― he did a good job when he was in office, but it’s time for the new guard to take over,” @Koran4sterling
More criticism:
He's a "police sympathizer," Alisa Middleton, Stafford BLM.
“I just don’t want to have the same expectation with Terry McAuliffe: making promises now because he’s in a tough primary, then when he actually becomes governor, he forgets about it ...” @JoshuaCole.
He's a "police sympathizer," Alisa Middleton, Stafford BLM.
“I just don’t want to have the same expectation with Terry McAuliffe: making promises now because he’s in a tough primary, then when he actually becomes governor, he forgets about it ...” @JoshuaCole.
Praise for McAuliffe:
“Representation is important, and I also think a person who can get the job done is more important,” @SenLouiseLucas.
"He has some soul in him," J.J. Minor, @NAACP_RVA.
“If he tells you he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it,” @joedillard
“Representation is important, and I also think a person who can get the job done is more important,” @SenLouiseLucas.
"He has some soul in him," J.J. Minor, @NAACP_RVA.
“If he tells you he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it,” @joedillard
“Who can embrace those people who are considered to be outsiders, who are considered to be untouchables?” @DonScott757 said. “Terry has done that for me personally and for thousands of other people.”
The parallels to the 2020 presidential primary are striking: A core of older, often more moderate and conservative Black voters are sticking with the moderate white candidate, as younger Black leaders object ...
“The nerve comes from a lot of the Black leadership across the state joining up with McAuliffe instead of somebody who can represent the Black community from a younger standpoint and from an actual experience standpoint," @deandrebarnes, vice mayor of Portsmouth.
And like in the presidential primary, right now it looks like McAuliffe is way ahead in the polls, though there are a lot of undecided voters. cnu.edu/wasoncenter/su…
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