Virginia Republicans Fracture on Social Issues

By: Lowell
Published On: 2/18/2005 2:00:00 AM

Two votes yesterday in the Virginia Senate's Education and Health Commmittee, one on abortion and the other on illegal aliens in college, starkly highlighted Republican fracture lines over social issues.  Most notably, the differences between the moderate wing of the Republican Party -- yes, there still is a moderate wing! -- led by Russell Potts, Jr. (R-Winchester), and the far right wing of the GOP, led by former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, could not be clearer on these two issues:  abortion and immigrants. 

To put it bluntly, the Jerry Kilgore-led far right wing is vehemently against: 1)  abortion, even if it hurts the life and health of the mother; and 2) illegal aliens attending Virginia state colleges and universities, even if it makes far more sense for these people to be getting an education than, as Senator Benjamin Lambert III (D-Richmond) stated, "on the streets, robbing people."

On both votes -- to ban illegal aliens from state colleges and to require Virginia doctors to tell women that their fetuses could feel pain (and to offer anesthesia) --  Senator Potts, who is seriously talking about running for governor this year as either a moderate Republican or Independent, voted "no." 

The Washington Post reported that "Much of the ire of the abortion opponents was aimed at committee Chairman H. Russell Potts Jr....As [Potts] voted against each of the measures, abortion opponents groaned in exasperation."  On the illegal aliens vote, the Washington Times cited Potts' belief that "barring those who are here illegally [from getting an education] hurts the American dream."

Interestingly, the Washington Times reminds us that just two years ago, "the office of Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore...issued a letter to state colleges suggesting that they not admit illegal aliens as a matter of policy."  The article also points out that "No other states ban illegal aliens from their colleges." In the end, the Senate Education and Health Committee defeated the bill by an overwhelming 12-3 margin.

Once again, the Jerry Kilgore-led far-right wing of the Republican Party been defeated, thanks to a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans like Russell Potts.  We at RaisingKaine expect that the two votes yesterday in the Virginia State Senate neatly foreshadow the outcome of state elections this November:  victory for mainstream Democrat Tim Kaine and defeat for right-wing extremist Jerry Kilgore.

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