That was then, this is now   

Raise your hand if you hold the exact same views on all social issues that you held twenty years ago.

Not me. Probably not you. Definitely not Bob McDonnell.

Is it a surprise that Bob McDonnell, Republican candidate for Governor, is a conservative? No. He has consistently advocated for public safety, fiscal prudence, 2nd amendment rights, and personal responsibility.

He has been a decent, dedicated, articulate, persuasive public servant all of his adult life, including 21 years as an Army officer and, more recently, as an elected official for the Commonwealth.

His conservative views are not news. The topics in his masters degree thesis, written twenty years ago for conservative Regent University, are not news either. But please visit www.bobmcdonnell.com to read his current position on all issues. You may be surprised at what you see.

What is noteworthy here is a comparison of the answers given by both gubernatorial candidates this week when queried about changes.
When asked how his views had changed, Creigh Deeds said he didn’t know because he doesn’t have a thesis.

I take that to mean he lacks not just self-awareness but any interest in self-awareness.

When asked if his views had changed, McDonnell gave clear answers in specific terms, indicating he had thought it through, analyzed the data and came to a conclusion that most of us with an ounce of self-understanding would come to: Yes, and here’s how.

In his salad days, he focused on social issues, some of which are no longer relevant. Today, McDonnell promotes solutions for our energy and transportation needs, for transparent and accountable government agencies, for jobs, jobs, jobs that keep Virginians full of self-respect and dignity.

People change. More specifically, people grow. I expect my governor to be able to articulate how and when his views have evolved over twenty years.

I expect all elected officials to work diligently on current issues; for the Commonwealth, that means the economy, budgets, and jobs.

I expect fiscal responsibility, especially in an era where politicians are behaving like teenagers who nabbed daddy’s credit card with no limit and no repercussions. McDonnell understands how innovation and cooperation will secure America’s freedom through free markets and fiscal responsibility.

Bob McDonnell knows leadership, he knows who he is, and he knows how he got here. Social issues that may or may not hold true today are back-burner pot boilers and irrelevant to our needs now.

Our future rests undeniably on the economy which is undeniably shaky and in need of full-time resuscitation by our next Governor. Everything else pales in comparison.

The Daily Press got it right yesterday: context is nice, but this election is about so much more than social issues. When our lives are stable because the economy is stable, then we can go three rounds on other topics.

First things first, and Virginia has a huge helping of economic challenges to digest first. A candidate who understands fiscal conservatism and the free-market system is the right choice at the right time for Virginia.

Those of you who raised your hands earlier can line up with Deeds.
I’ll back McDonnell as he continues to grow with the Commonwealth.

Published in The Virginia Gazette September 9, 2009