Senator Black Asks, "What are his qualifications for Governor?"

State Senator Richard Black represents Loudoun and Prince William County in the State Senate:

"We've heard about Terry McAuliffe's questionable priorities, but let's get down to the brass tacks: is he qualified to be the Governor of Virginia?
The simple answer is no. Terry McAuliffe has never held elected office, and has spent most of his career fundraising for the Democratic Party. According to the Washington Post, "McAuliffe is, at his core, a salesman – and even called himself a 'hustler' in his autobiography." In fact, they go on to say McAuliffe has had, "a business career built mostly on intricate land deals and dot-com investments, often with wealthy political donors -- and sometimes with no jobs to show for it."
In fact, McAuliffe has shown a clear lack of knowledge about how Virginia's government works. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, "McAuliffe wouldn't give specific responses when asked about technical aspects of legislative and governor's office operations. Asked if he could name the positions in the Governor's Cabinet, McAuliffe said: ‘Maybe could, maybe couldn’t.”
McAuliffe claimed that Virginians "can buy guns through mail order" and thereby avoid background checks. This cannot be further from the truth. Guns sold over the internet can only be shipped to a holder of a Federal Firearms License (FFL). Before an FFL holder can release the item, the purchaser must go through the standard background check before they can take ownership of the firearm. Mr. McAuliffe not only fails to grasp Virginia law, but has little understanding of federal firearm laws. An understanding of the law is a must for the Governor.
McAuliffe also claimed he would sign a bill to reverse Virginia's Marriage Amendment. Apparently, he is unaware that a constitutional amendment must be passed by two successive General Assemblies, which would then be followed by a referendum. Clearly, McAuliffe has no idea how the legislative process works, will not be able to undo the will of the voters with a stroke of his pen.
The business community has recently expressed their extreme lack of confidence in McAuliffe. The Northern Virginia Technology Council refused to endorse McAuliffe, even though many speculated that it was his endorsement to lose. According to the Washington Post, "Cuccinelli had detailed responses to questions in candidate interviews, three board members said, while McAuliffe was uninformed and superficial. . . . 'Terry was his normal, flamboyant self,' said a board member present for both interviews. 'He didn’t want to get pinned down to any details. He didn’t give any details. He was all about jobs, jobs, jobs — "I’m just going to take care of the situation when the time comes. I’m just going to do it." It was all [expletive].' Cuccinelli, by contrast, the person said, 'was precise. He was thoughtful. He thought through all the issues. He had a clear position on all those issues, and he didn’t agree with the council on all the issues.' "
In these difficult economic times, Virginia cannot afford a governor who does not have a firm grasp of Virginia Law, and who is flamboyant and flippant about running the government. We need a serious, knowledgeable, and experienced candidate who can confront the tough issues. Terry McAuliffe isn't right for Virginia. Vote Ken Cuccinelli for Governor. I encourage everyone to get involved by contacting Kate Karnes at kkarnes@rpv.org or via phone at 571-205-8011."