Bob's For Jobs

Bob's for Jobs, unless it's a Democratic governor funding those jobs, or a Democratic Congress providing money for people who don't have jobs.

Bob McDonnell is a candidate for Governor who has consistently, throughout his career, stood in the way of government's efforts to help the people it serves. And yet Bob McDonnell is running to be the chief executive of our commonwealth's government.

The Roanoke Times does a great job digging into the facts and background of Bob McDonnell's campaign themes versus his real voting record while in the Assembly in a recent editorial.

Last week, McDonnell and Bolling staged an announcement of their four-point job creation plan that would: double the amount of money in the Governor's Opportunity Fund, appoint Bolling as a job czar, put a deputy commerce secretary in charge of rural job growth and halve the number of new jobs businesses must create to gain a tax credit.

Some of it makes sense.

"The Governor's Opportunity Fund can be a powerful weapon in the fight to attract new employers to the commonwealth," said McDonnell, noting the fund is half what it was in 2002.

Interesting comment coming from a former House member who voted thrice to slash the fund. Surely, he didn't frown on the fund then because a Democrat held the governor's post.

McDonnell really should explain himself.

So, too, should Bolling, who blames the last four years (translation: the Kaine years) for "the highest prolonged rate of unemployment in 20 years." Has he missed the nationwide recession? Better yet, where was Bolling the last four years?

Granted, being in the opposition party minimized his exposure. But what has he done as lieutenant governor to inspire confidence that he'd do any better at job creation if given another four years?

Voters, especially jobless voters, will recall Republicans voted against accepting stimulus money that would have extended their unemployment benefits. - The Roanoke Times

"Bob's For Jobs" is one of those slogans, like "Clear Skies" or "Healthy Forests" which means the very opposite of what it says, and is used to distort the actual impact of a Republican or his policies. Both "Clear Skies" and "Healthy Forests" were initiatives of the Bush Administration aimed at actually removing environmental regulations on skies and forests. Similarly, "Bobs For Jobs" Bob McDonnell has actually opposed measures that would help people find and hold jobs.

The measure of the man is in his actions. Creigh Deeds has fought for the education of our kids, and the prosperity of our hills and valleys for a dozen years, Jody Wagner helped turn a fiscal nightmare into the model of budgetary stewardship. Bob McDonnell? He's stood on the sidelines and said "no." Bill Bolling? He's sat complacently in his office, watching his party crumble around him.

Virginia knows the Democratic party has served her well, and our Democratic candidates will continue her legacy of success.

(With a tip-o-the-hat to Vivian Paige.)