McEachin condemns racist statement by GOP Official

State Senator Donald McEachin has released the following statement:

Senator McEachin Insists the Governor McDonnell,
Lieutenant Governor Bolling and Attorney General Cuccinelli
Repudiate Their Party Official’s Disgusting Racism

Richmond – Senator A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) today called on the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor and the Attorney General to repudiate the disgusting racism stated by one of their Party leaders. “I will not even demean myself or the honorable citizens of Virginia to repeat the egregious words in the email apparently distributed by the Republican Party chair of Virginia Beach. I would ask the governor, the lieutenant governor and the attorney general, the three statewide leaders of their Party, to not only renounce and reject this vile language but to ask that this individual relinquish his post. For this individual to be a Party leader in an official position of the Republican Party of Virginia says it all. In the absence of such behavior, it is only fair to assume that these three elected officials support such despicable and contemptible behavior. Their absence does and will speak volumes.

"These are perilous economic times and many Americans and Virginians, of all colors, ethnicities and backgrounds find themselves without employment. As they desperately search for a new job and a way to take care of their family, some of them have to turn to the safety net that we have in place for that very reason. To compare these hardworking Virginians to an individual’s dog is insulting not just to any one race, but to all Virginians. These citizens are deserving of our compassion and assistance. They are asking only for a hand up so that they, too, can find a well-paying job to support themselves and their loved ones. I can only hope that our governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general have compassion for those who find themselves unemployed and going through struggle and that they recognize that to mock and demean these people in such a horrific way is totally unacceptable.

"I await the words and actions of Governor McDonnell, Lieutenant Governor Bulling and Attorney General Cuccinelli. Every minute they don’t respond and repudiate this contemptible email and every minute they do not ask this individual to resign his position sends Virginians a message about their values and their leadership."

We should all be concerned about the decline of the Middle Class

This is news that should concern all of us, regardless of our political philosophy:

Mainstream values are described as "middle class," as are common tastes and preferences. Economists often state that the middle class is the engine of commerce, and industries from construction to education to consumer electronics rely on a strong middle class -- with large amounts of disposable income -- to build colleges, fill houses and buy Blu-Ray players. But what if this massive engine ground to a halt?

Read the complete article at Daily Finance.

A reception for Senator Donald McEachin

Our very deepest thanks to Charlie Diradour and Dr. Ann Ritter for their generousity in opening their home to us for this event.

You are invited to a reception!

Please Join

Mr. Charlie Diradour and Dr. Ann Ritter

At a reception honoring

State Senator A. Donald McEachin

At the Diradour-Ritter home
2206 Monument Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23220

Thursday, October 14, 2010
From 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Host Committee $1500
Benefactor$1000
Sponsor $500
Patron $250
Guest $40
Young Democrat $25

Questions and/or to RSVP: abbieaster@gmail.com

Click here for a printable version of this invitation.

Contributions are not tax deductible.

Authorized and Paid for by A. Donald McEachin for State Senate. Labor donated.

Senator McEachin's statement regarding Chairman Cranwell

State Senator Donald McEachin has released the following statement:

"I want to take this opportunity to thank Chairman Cranwell for his years of dedicated service, " Senator McEachin said. Chairman Cranwell has served this Party with devotion, with his energy and been a leader for us through good times and bad. Chairman Cranwell reminds us of the best we have to offer, speaking from his heart about Democratic values and ideals. His passion and energy for our Party has served us all well and has been a motivation and inspiration to us. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Godspeed, although we know you will never be far from where Democrats are gathered."

Senator McEachin continued, "Some good Virginia Democrats have approached me and encouraged me to run for the chairmanship. I am honored by their confidence in me, but this is not an idea I have previously considered. Out of deference to them, I will certainly ponder this and try to determine if my standing for election to chair is a good step forward for this Party that I love.

"Meanwhile, I encourage folks to make their own decisions and consider running. I look forward to a spirited campaign among the candidates, whoever they will be and encourage them to engage the State Central Committee, the local chairs and Democratic activists at every level. We have important elections coming up, this year and every year through the quadrennial and this is an opportunity for Democrats to determine in which directions they want to go and how they want to get there. This election provides an excellent opportunity for that kind of spirited and important conversation within the Party.

"No matter what decision I make for myself in the next few weeks, I promise my fellow Democrats that I will stay engaged, involved and committed. We must make sure we win our Congressional races, make gains in both the State Senate and the House of Delegates and ensure the re-election of both our Democratic Senator and our Democratic President. Then, of course, we want to make sure we take back the governor's mansion and the other statewide offices to return Virginia to a moderate results oriented government, not one driven by extreme ideology."

McEachin on McDonnell's support of a nullification amendment

State Senator Donald McEachin was quoted in the Richmond Times Dispatch today, responding to Governor Bob McDonnell's support for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would provide for a form of nullification.

Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, called McDonnell's commitment to the measure "shortsighted" and said, "I really think of it as an attempt on his part to play to his base."

"There are times when only the federal government will stand up for the rights of minorities," McEachin added, "and for the governor to support what is essentially the nullification of a federal act is poor government and poor governing."

You can read the complete story at the Richmond Times Dispatch.

McEachin on Delegate Lee Ware's position on ABC Privatization

Powhatan County Courthouse - Powhatan, Virginia

State Senator Donald McEachin had the following to say about State Delegate Lee Ware's statement in opposition to Governor McDonnell's proposed privatization of Virginia's ABC stores: "Lee Ware and I are in agreement on something."

Del. R. Lee Ware Jr. is a political conservative standing on principle in the debate over whether to get Virginia out of the liquor business.

But he's standing on a different principle than Gov. Bob McDonnell, who says the state has no business selling distilled spirits through the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

"The control of the sale of alcoholic beverages is a legitimate function of state government in serving the public good," said David A. Bovenizer IV, spokesman for Ware, R-Powhatan. "Consequently, the free-market assertion regarding privatization of ABC is at best secondary to the common good."

You can read more about opposition to Governor McDonnell's plan in Michael Martz's "McDonnell's ABC plan faces questions in his own party" in the Richmond Times Dispatch.

You are invited to a reception!

Please Join

Mr. Charlie Diradour and Dr. Ann Ritter

At a reception honoring

State Senator A. Donald McEachin

At the Diradour-Ritter home
2206 Monument Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23220

Thursday, October 14, 2010
From 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Host Committee $1500
Benefactor$1000
Sponsor $500
Patron $250
Guest $40
Young Democrat $25

Questions and/or to RSVP: abbieaster@gmail.com

Click here for a printable version of this invitation.

Contributions are not tax deductible.

Authorized and Paid for by A. Donald McEachin for State Senate. Labor donated.

A Target Rich Environment

Democrats are hitting back against Republican candidates:

One of the ways Democrats have been trying -- with some success -- to blunt the impact of voter anger and frustration with party leaders in Washington is by turning the spotlight on what they see as oddball statements by Republican candidates, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Times says the tactic is working better in some races than others:

- In Delaware, Democrats have delighted in Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell's mention that she once dabbled in witchcraft while appearing on "Politically Incorrect" with Ball Maher in 1999, and backed up her doubts about evolution during another appearance by asking, ""Why aren't monkeys still evolving into humans?"

Read the entire article here.