Dave Marsden, come on back into the mainstream...

By: NoVA Democrat
Published On: 3/4/2006 2:00:00 AM

When Ben Tribbett began his attacks on Dave Marsden I believed that it was just a result of Ben?s primary withdrawal (loss) in the primary against Marsden (as well as the mean and ugly things Marsden did to secure the nomination).

Lets look at the facts:

1) Marsden ran as a pro-choice tough on crime Democrat.
2) Marsden won a landslide victory with 60% of the vote
3) Marsden was a Democratic Pick-up

Dave Marsden looked like he was headed into the mainstream of the Democratic Party, much like most members from Northern Virginia. However once he got to the General Assembly his actions would have fooled even the best trained political observer.

1) He introduced HB 1460 which would make local cops immigration officials (I am proud that ALL of Arlington?s delegates had the courage to vote against it).

2) He voted for HB 487 which again turns police officers into immigration officials.

3) He voted to get rid of a tax on the top .0000014% richest families in the commonwealth, the revenue from which will have to be replaced with taxes on the middle 50% of us.

4) And the final straw that broke the camel's back was his vote in support on HB 1308 which would ban gay-straight alliances in public schools.

Delegate Marsden, please don?t forget who sent you to Richmond and for God's sake get back into the mainstream of Virginia voters.

Update: I apologize to Delegate Marsden for singling him out, Delegate Bulova has the same voting record on the 4 issues above. I would also like to mention that both Delegate Marsden and Bulova voted against the discrimination amendment and they both voted against taking a totally abstinence based program in our schools. 

Comments



You're right, James. (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:33:13 PM)
You're right, James.  Just because a vote is 93-7 doesn't make it right.  For instance, the so-called "PATRIOT" Act of 2001 was passed 98-1 in the terror-stricken aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.  Only one brave Senator -Russ Feingold of Wisconsin - had the courage to oppose this infringement on our civil liberties.

Another example: the obnoxious "Defense of Marriage Act," aka the "Persecute and Demonize Homosexuals Act," was passed by the US Senate 85-14 on 9/10/96.  Here are the 14 who voted - correctly - against this pandering mosntrosity:

NAYs ---14
Akaka (D-HI)
Boxer (D-CA)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerrey (D-NE)
Kerry (D-MA)
Moseley-Braun (D-IL)
Moynihan (D-NY)
Pell (D-RI)
Robb (D-VA)
Simon (D-IL)
Wyden (D-OR)

Note No Republicans in there.  Not one, even the supposedly "liberal" ones like Olympia Snowe.  Also, note that many Democrats voted "yea," even Barbar Mikulski of Maryland - 68 years old and never married, strongly rumored to be a Lesbian.  Amazing.



Progressivism is abo (NoVA Democrat - 4/4/2006 11:33:13 PM)
Progressivism is about moving Virginia forward, and it is irrelevant that the vote was 93 to 7 in the House; when a large majority votes for a regressive measure, that doesn’t make them right. Governor Warner understood this, however I don’t think Governor Kaine gets it yet.

I have compiled a "progressive index" of all of the Democratic Delegates (as well as 1 Republican and an Independent.) that looks at the votes and nothing else (i have 7 now, i will add 2 later).

Marsden- 44%
Bulova- 44%

Which is about average for the Democrats i have listed: http://novademocrat.blogspot.com/2006/03/virginia-progressive-index.html



I like your update, (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:33:13 PM)
I like your update, James.  I would also add that many Democrats - including Gov. Kaine himself - support repealing the Estate Tax.  I believe doing so is wrong both politically AND morally.  As far as I'm concerned, progressive taxation and opposition to creating a hereditary aristocracy in this country should constitute core principles of the Democratic Party.  They WERE core principles of Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, and many other American leaders.  Repealing the Estate Tax, even for the super-rich (Bill Gates? Donald Trump?  Sam Walton?), is so wrong it just boggles my mind.


Hafta agree with Low (Craig - 4/4/2006 11:33:13 PM)
Hafta agree with Lowell.  If yer gonna pick on Dems who voted yes on these bills, then also pick on Steve Shannon and Chuck Caputo.  Sure these votes are kinda disappointing, but Marsden is hardly the only one.

Just another reminder that VA's more conservative than I'd like.



On HB 1460, the vote (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:33:13 PM)
On HB 1460, the vote was 96-4 in favor.

On HB 487, the vote was 77-22 in favor.

On the estate tax, the vote was 93-7 in favor

On HB 1308, the vote was 70-29 in favor.

I'm not saying that I support these bills - because I don't - but why focus on Marsden per se?  Just askin'...