Russ Potts: Conservative

By: Lowell
Published On: 2/25/2005 2:00:00 AM

The Kilgore campaign is now in full panic-attack mode over Russ Potts' announcement that he will run for governor as an Independent.  They are so freaked out, in fact, that they have rolled out the heavy artillery against Potts, even though it's still only February.  The core charge by the Kilgore campaign against the Republican from Winchester?  That he's liberal liberal liberal liberal.  Oh, did we mention that the Kilgore campaign is accusing Russ Potts of being a "liberal?"

Being the intrepid reporters that we are here at RaisingKaine, we decided to look into the Kilgore campaign's vicious charges for ourselves.  So, we checked with the good folks at Project Vote Smart, an invaluable resource for finding out how our elected officials have voted on a wide range of issues, and also how they've been rated by various special interest groups.  How did Potts do?  Well, let's just say the Kilgore campaign is just a weeeee bit off base in its characterization of Potts as a liberal. 

Let's start with abortion, where NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia group gave Potts a ZERO rating for 2004 on issues they consider most important.  That's right: Potts got a zero, nada, zip on pro-choice issues.  On the flip side, the anti-abortion Virginia Society for Human Life gave Potts a perfect, 100% rating during 2003.  So much for Potts being a liberal on abortion!

How about Potts and pro-business groups?  Well, Russ ain't to shabby there either, at least from a conservative perspective.  In 2000-2001, for instance, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce gave Potts an 81% positive rating.  Not bad for a supposed "liberal!"  And another pro-business group, Virginia FREE, has given Potts an average positive rating of 71% over the past four years.  Again, these votes don't exactly prove the Kilgore campaign's frantic, desperate charges against Potts that he's a "liberal" or not a "real Republican."

What about the Virginia Christian Coalition, you ask?  Potts doesn't do too badly there either, clocking in at a respectable (for a conservative) 57% rating.  Meanwhile, Americans United for Separation of Church and State gave Potts a ZERO rating for his votes between 2000 and 2002.  Wow, what a liberal this guy Potts is!

Alright, so Potts is conservative on religion, business, and abortion.  But what about other issues?  Surely the Kilgore campaign must have a point there?  Uh, well, no.  On the environment, for example, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters gave Potts a pathetic 33% postive rating in 2003.  And the Virginia National Organization for Women (NOW) gave him a big fat ZERO in 2000.  Finally, the National Rifle Association (NRA) gave him an "A" the last time it rated him.

Jerry, Jerry, Jerry -- what are you so afraid of?  Is it that Potts truly is a liberal, in which case you should be jumping up and down for joy instead of attacking him like he's a grave threat to you?  Or is it that Potts is a conservative, just about as conservative as you in fact, with a voting record that's amazingly similar to your own brother, Terry Gene Kilgore?

Sorry, Jerry, but as hard as you try to paint Potts as a liberal, his voting record tells a 180-degree different story.  Seems to us here at RaisingKaine that you've got big trouble on your hands - one mainstream, pro-business Democrat versus three conservative Republicans (you, Potts, and Warrenton Mayor George "Cool Runnings" Fitch).  So much for your plan to focus solely on Tim Kaine.  Looks to us like you've got a few problems in your own party to deal with first.  Good luck, Jerry!

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