I <em>PROMISE</em> to raise your taxes!

R.CREIGH DEEDS, the Democrat running for governor in Virginia, has now unequivocally committed himself to support higher taxes to rescue the state’s sclerotic road system. His stance is nothing more or less than common sense: Virginia needs tens of billions of dollars in new revenue for roads, and it will not materialize without asking taxpayers — the same taxpayers who rightly groan about traffic — to foot a good part of the bill. Still, by articulating that position in plain English on the opposite page Wednesday, Mr. Deeds showed political guts, which is more than one can say for the smoke-and-mirrors, wing-and-a-prayer approach to transportation endorsed by his opponent, Republican nominee Robert F. McDonnell.

via www.washingtonpost.com

Yeah. Thanks. Raised taxes, poor economy, rising (skyrocketing!) unemployment, tight budgets, and Creigh “What’s In Your Wallet” Deeds is going to raise taxes.

The WaPo, of course, is carrying the DemonRATs’ water and proclaiming that raising taxes is “common sense” – after all, the DemonRATs (hey, and the RINOs, too – let’s be fair) never saw a tax they didn’t love. Meanwhile, I’d wager that at least 30% of the average person’s wages goes to pay taxes, both hidden and otherwise. More taxes, more government waste, more government intrusion, more government strangulation of personal liberty and business opportunity.

The WaPo calls McDonnell’s transportation plan a “smoke-and-mirrors, wing-and-a-prayer approach,” but certainly – even if true – that’s better than Deeds’ plan, right?

Plus, the WaPo slips up and betrays their smarmy, elitist attitude toward the unwashed masses right there in the second paragraph:

True to form, Virginia Republicans are betting that an easily misled electorate will be too shortsighted to notice that the state has completely run out of road-building funds.

“Easily misled,” huh? Yeah, I suppose the WaPo ought to know: they’ve been leading the more gullible among us down the primrose path for years, right into the grip of economic disaster and enslavement to the Nanny State government.

Plus, from Douglas Wilder – whose endorsement is positively coveted by DemonRATic candidates -

The overriding “issue” in this year’s Governor’s race will be the judgment the voters make about which candidate is most capable of managing tough times and establishing the right priorities for when the economy begins to recover.

Throughout my entire involvement with public service, I have tried to be a voice for those most often left out when decisions are being made which affect them in their everyday lives.  As a state senator, I fought to get rid of the sales tax on food. As Lt. Governor, I fought to get rid of the sales tax on non-prescription drugs and opposed the increased sales taxes for transportation, because they are regressive taxes, meaning the poor pay at the same rate as the rich.  I have lived long enough not to assume that these voiceless people can always count on someone articulating for them.

This is not the time in our Commonwealth to talk about any kind of tax increase, especially those that are fundamentally regressive and will hit hardest those who are struggling. [emph. mine -- Kat]

And another clip from Mr. Wilder, not transportation/tax related, but *ahem* interesting:

Furthermore, In my conversations with the people across the state, I have not encountered anyone who has listed as their priority the need for them to have more handguns.  The present law permits anyone of sufficient age, who is not a felon, to be able to buy one gun a month; twelve a year, twenty four a year for couples etc..

Mr. Deeds thinks that’s not enough and signed a pledge to repeal that law.

[...]

I do not see how endorsing a proposal to have more handguns brought into our cities and suburban areas qualifies as any type of urban renewal plan.

And -

The requests, made of me, have been to endorse Mr. Deeds,  the Democratic Candidate, for Governor.  I refrain from doing so and will leave that choice to the voters. [again, emph. mine]

Hm… Well, golly-gee-darn! Don’t think you’re gonna get his endorsement, Creigh-baby.

(kittipurrs to Riley for the image)

(crossposted from CatHouse Chat)