Good Riddance to Terry McAuliffe

Seldom has a defeat been more richly deserved than Terry McAuliffe's failed bid to win the Democratic nomination to run for Governor of Virginia. State Senator Creigh Deeds pulled off an improbable comeback victory in the state primary on Tuesday, overcoming the millions that McAuliffe poured into his campaign. A term as Governor would surely have been a precursor to seeking a Senate seat. Instead, McAuliffe suffered a devastating defeat that should put a decisive stop to his dreams of political office.

McAuliffe epitomizes an earlier era, when political success translated into quick financial gain. He is redolent of the sleaze that permeated the Clinton presidency without any of its redeeming aspirations. Somehow McAuliffe parlayed a $100,000 investment in Atlantic Crossing, the forerunner to Global Crossing, into $18 million. As chairman of the Democratic National Committee, his only mission was to raise funds rather than devise a new political mission for the party. It has fallen to President Obama to stake out a new course that combines electoral savvy with genuine idealism.

Deeds is a moderate Democrat who symbolizes the new strength of a Democratic party that threatens the hegemony of the GOP in the South. Virginia, once a stronghold of conservatism, has now become a battering ram that is smashing down one of the last strongholds of the GOP, which may well be starting to lose its southern base. McAuliffe's humiliating loss demonstrates that Democrats truly are coming home to Virginia and that Virginia has come home to the Democrats.

 

 

Comments

[VivaZapata]

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now he's free to be what he should have been all along, a republican. adios.

[VivaZapata]

now he's free to be what he should have been all along, a republican. adios.

[SOLERSO68]

great write up. couldnt sum it up any better thant that. And for gods sake yes, good riddance to terry mcaulife and "the new democrats"

[Equality4AllNow]

This article shows that the author does not really know or understand Virginia. Virginia is still a conservative state. One of the reasons why Moran got only 24 percent of the vote is that he was portrayed as too liberal. One of the reasons why McAuliffe got only 26 percent of the vote is that he was also portrayed as too liberal. McAuliffe is also too closely tied to the Clintons. The Clintons are not popular in Virginia. I seriously doubt that the robo-calls from Bill Clinton urging people to vote for McAuliffe were very helpful.

I voted for Deeds because he seemed to be more likely to win than either Moran or McAuliffe (by the way I voted for Bill Clinton twice, Al Gore once, and for Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primary). I also did not like the prospect of McAuliffe "buying" the nomination. McAuliffe seems to take after Bill Clinton in that he is in it for himself. McAuliffe seemed too much of a "carpetbagger" and too much of an insider. They say McAuliffe has lived in Virginia for 20 years, but he never came across as that interested in Virginia. The hubris of running for his first elected office by running for Governor was also a turn off.

I do not think that Virginia is ready to elect a Republican Governor though the outcome will depend on turnout. Blacks and Hispanics will have to turn out for Deeds just as they turned out for Obama.

[emmacop]

The "sleaze that permeated the Clinton presidency".

Is that the first time any Democrat formally admitted it?

[Kram]

NO!

[Vermontah]

No, but it's sure about time for a Republican to admit that under Clinton, the US had a huge and sustained period of prosperity. That his tax policies worked. That the only balanced budget in the last 30 years occurred under his stewardship, that the US was adored and respected worldwide.

Then, sure, I will certainly "admit" that Clinton had a sort-of affair with a staffer.

Personally, I think his accomplishments are a whole hell of a lot more important to our country than his sex life.

[NorthernMan]

I'm not a republican but we did have a sustained period of prosperity and then it fell apart when the tech sector dissolved at the end of his term, then he is responsible for that too, He also encouraged the repeal of regulations that would have prevented the financial collapse we have today. I will give you the fact that Bush Cheney could not have been worse but Clinton sucked. He just phoned it in in the last two years and then blamed the vast conspiracy, which yes THEY were out to get him, that's what DC has become in the last 30 years so that's no surprise. The world OBVIOUSLY did not adore us. I don't care about what he did to his marriage, I care about Rawanda, Bosnia, The Cole, the embassy bombings, he dropped the ball big time and then Bush never picked it up cause he was a tool.

[thnk4selfagain]

"McAuliffe's humiliating loss demonstrates that Democrats truly are coming home to Virginia and that Virginia has come home to the Democrats.­"

Absolutely. McAwful sold the Dem Party to the highest bidder, in my opinion and epitomized the Republican lite of the Clintons. When candidates came along who wanted to return the Dem Party to its values, McAwful did more than his DLC part to make sure his patrons did not have to endure that.

[Herders4Me]

I voted for Terry.

VA is a stodgy, boring, conservative place - and I really *liked* Terry's ideas. Certainly, none of the other candidates would DARE suggest wind energy. And can't possibly support it because it would offend Virginian's sensitive eyes.

The ONLY things that are safe to campaign on in VA are family-values (whatever THEY are. I suspect they mean 'no gay rights') and improved education.

Compare Terry to Eric Cantor. Who do you want?

I fear Deeds will be much more Eric-Cantorish than I want. But he IS better than the repug... I hope. I'll support Deeds in the general election, based on that hope.

[IneptitudePrideB4Fall]

Brian Moran was/is the BEST of the 3 Dems running for Virfinia governor. He is the most progressive. Virginians were disenchanted with McAuliffe, someone who had never shown a lick of interest in our state. Deeds is the most conservative of the 3 Dem candidates. Deeds won because The Washington Post gave him TWO endorsements. In the endorsements, The Post wrote against McAuliffe and his carpet-bagging but ignored Moran altogether. Moran was a GREAT choice for Virginia and for our nation.

.

[Bush-Rolled]

Terry McAuliffe: the Democratic Mitt Romney.

[texgal7]

I am a yellow dog Democrat, I guess, but I think McAuliffe, while he has contributed a lot to public service, needs to go through a process of reinventing himself if he wants to continue in public life. We the people are just tired of the old way of doing things, and McAuliffe needs to try to understand what this means. It's about values, I think. As Joan Kark above implied, we really don't need more polarizing people in office.

As for the Clintons, they were and continue to be high on my list of people I admire. Hillary is a quick learner, and I think she did the right thing by taking Secretary of State.

[Herders4Me]

What 'values'? Seriously, *what* values?

[Changeizgood]

The problem with Terry as I see it,(I'm a VA resident in the southside) Terry, in for the wrong reasons. Power, money, AND PERSONAL GAIN.. He simply wasn't doing it from the heart.

In VA, It's about the rural and urban American familiess!. He didnt' speak to these people, who quadrupled in "TENT CITIES?"

Terry doesn't realize what page (Majority Americans 30 thru 55) are on! Not for profit, but from the heart. Those called to service for "American consumers" facing this recession,(on the front line, neglected for 30 years of broken promises, very pissed off voters,want accountability, HONESTY IN WHO WE PAY IN RETIREMENT, AND HEALTHCARE.

WE're not getting what WE pay for!
Terry still has to do research on the American Pulse isn't. about the money. All of US who voted for Obama, want real change and if the representatives won't do it. WE'LL PUT SOMEONE IN FOR "US," THAT WILL.

Determination, HUH! WE will be damned if ,all the taxes we pay on utilities, insurance for vehicles, healthcare and death, WE can't protect our citizens, elderly, children and our workers slingin over 40 hours a week, from private insurers denying babies and grandma, a doctor.

Americans are STILL AWAKE, AND STILL FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE, OF THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE.
The elections still continues and until the repuppetcants, get the message, they will watch Independents, Greens, and more Dems get in and not the party of "NO!"

[Kram]

Clinton = republican lite. No thanks!

[justfacefacts]

What fantasy land do people live in? Politics requires a machine that creates motion, complete with money, agendas and organization. What elections are won on some airy fairy notion of virgin candidates with amnesia falling out of some sainted womb?

Anytime people don't like the lack of real issues framed by journalists, yell louder. You get what you get because journalists are telling you what their notion of what the debate is and who they decide will discuss it. This is why intelligent debate never sees the light of day and extremism reigns supreme. Nothing new or indepth is ever really fleshed out.

Everyone understands there is no such thing as clean coal. However, just what do we think the nation is running on. And how can it be replaced? And what can we do to mitigate the problems here and in the third world where there are not about to give a darn about emissions. Oh yeah, I guess we all will strap on our jet packs and fly off to solar heaven. Or, we can start having real true discussions with honest and sometimes dismal choices. Let's just wait to have this debate framed by the media and the yellers.

[mom2luke]

Re: Terry. It wasn't because he supported HRC...it was the regular criticism of Obama on nat. tv that made us not trust his judgment..­.clearly to Dems he doesn't have a Governor's temperment­...VA voters like me could see that....bu­t he did have really good campaign materials with lots of good ideas. Let's don't turn on one another. Voters like me clearly thought Deeds was our best chance to beat McConnel in general. I actually was torn between far left views of Moran which I actually prefer, but thought only Deeds could win so he got my vote.

[ChelseaC]

I voted for Moran. If you believed in him, you should have voted for him. I didn't need the Washington Post to tell me who to vote for.
If it could not be Moran, I wanted Deeds.
Deeds is more conservative than Moran but let's hold Deeds feet to the fire if he wants our votes.
I'm glad McAuliffe "the carpetbagger" lost.

[Vienna Jack]

Terry McAuliffe is the only reason Obama is president, as he rebuilt the DNC by raising enough money to get it out of debt and by improving its technological infrastructure to the point where Democrats were able to wage successful campaigns. Terry got into the campaign to try to help Virginia, and like many others who worked hard to try to help Terry win, I am disappointed at his loss and astonished, as well as disgusted, to see the number of people -like the punk who wrote this article - who are happy to jump on his corpse. Before Terry got into the race, there were no good ideas from Moran or Deeds. Terry brought energy to the campaign, brought issues to the campaign and is the sole reason that the three Democratic candidates were discussing transportation and green energy. He led, Moran and Deeds followed. The problem is that only Terry has the energy and savvy to get those programs enacted. As for Deeds, he is at best a blue dog Democrat who will pander to the gun lobby and, in all likelihood, lose to McDonnell.

[DustyMills]

"Terry McAuliffe is the only reason Obama is president.­...."


Really....­.I barely knew McAuliffe's name until he was associated with HRC campaign. Now your giving him credit for Obama's win. Who have thought...­..

[StillIRise]

Thank you.

[ZoeyMO]

As chairman of the Democratic National Committee, you didn't have to know his name in order for him to be enormously influential behind the scenes. You'd have to be very naive not to know that.

[ChelseaC]

???????
I don't think so........­..........

[Herders4Me]

Oh - someone I can agree with!

Most of the complaints I heard had to do with Terry being a 'carpet-bagger'. In a place as conservative as VA, sometimes an 'outsider' is *needed* to inject new ideas.

I have the same concerns about Deeds as you do. McDonnell has already beaten him once - and may not be much worse than he is.

[blah7]

Puleeeeez! McAuliffe is a large part of the reason so many people became disolussioned with the DNC. He was part of the old school, entrenched system. If you want to give credit to someone, give it to Howard Dean, who actually did some organizing and refused to just accept that only the 2 coasts would ever vote for Democrats. The only productive thing McAuliffe did was raise money, and he raised peanuts compared to what the DNC did under Dean. Enough said...

[Imli]

So glad to see Clinton's legacy being slowly and surely erased. McCauliff the clown is finally out of the Democratic Party. He lined his own pockets and made it possible to mix business and politics at the expense of the American people. Clinton made it possible for George the dumb Bush get elected. The progression was there for all to see. Clinton was a Blue Dog Democrat and McCauliff helped to move the party to the right. Virginia is smart to see through his shenanigans.

[live by the golden rule]

You complain that McAuliffe moved the party to the right? So then how can you be so happy that he was beaten in the primary by a guy who opposes limiting gun purchases to one-gun-a-month and who thinks it's fine that drunks in bars can carry concealed weapons,?
I many not be a huge TA fan, but as for your Clinton comments, Bush 43 was not elected. It was Gore who caused the close vote by running away from Clinton instead of running on the fact that the Clinton administration turned around the Republican deficits and catalyzed a booming economy with widely shared prosperity (and did it without a single Republican vote).

[Capaneus]

Bye, bye, Terry. Your ineptitude gave us eight years of George W. Bush. Please give up the thought of a political career--or else switch parties, giving real Democrats a chance to voter against you.

[FORLOMC]

I do not have a histroy or background on McAuliffe, but he lost all crediblility in my book on the Hillary Clinton campaign. Because of the rediculous drivle that came out of his mouth toward the end of her campaign I gave him the name of Bagdad Terry. Just like Bagdad Bob in Iraq who kept telling Hussein that the city was safe, the Americans were losing, Terry immulated the same nonsense. I thought then how he could ever regain his credibility and apparently he has not.

[ZoeyMO]

What the heck does "immulated" mean?