Decision Virginia

Jackson's rollout filled with controversial past statements

Very few people expected E.W. Jackson to be the Republican nominee for Lt. Governor, as a result it was difficult to predict how his roll out would go over. In the first 48 hours Democrats have worked hard to use Jackson and his many past statements as a way to double down on the narrative that the GOP has nominated a ticket to the far right of the political spectrum.

Republicans weren't expecting Jackson, but no one associated with the campaign is working to push him to the sidelines. All of his former Lt. Governor rivals have gotten behind his campaign. The candidate that he was down to the final two with, Pete Snyder, appeared with a Jackson sign in hand at an event with the new ticket in Fairfax.

Jackson is well liked by those who know him, but his powerful and often controversial speaking style is clearly going to be a problem for the Republican ticket. It is something only Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, the man jilted by the party, is willing to say publicly. In a statement provided to NBC12, Bolling called Jackson's past statements a problem.

"Bishop Jackson is certainly entitled to his views, but you should be able to express your views without insulting people," Bolling said.  "And some of the things he has said are simply indefensible."

(Bolling's full statement can be found after the jump)

Meanwhile, the GOP ticket continues to move along as a united front. The impact the surprise nomination of Jackson will have, yet to be determined.

Here is my story for NBC12:

RICHMOND (WWBT)- Just two days after his surprise nomination, the Republican Party of Virginia's candidate for Lt. Governor is already steeped in controversy! Bishop E.W. Jackson was considered a long shot among a field of seven candidates. Now some controversial statements from his past are dominating the headlines.

Bishop Jackson is known for his fiery speeches and rock ribbed conservatism. That combination is leading to headaches for the Republican Party of Virginia.

E.W. Jackson is a man who quickly makes an impression.

"Will you fight with me?" Jackson asked to loud cheers at the Coliseum Saturday afternoon.

He convinced more than half of the delegates in attendance he was worth fighting for.

Now, 48 hours into his time on the ticket we are learning more about just who Jackson is. Back in February he told me how he planned to use the office of Lt. Governor.

"It is a platform to try and inspire and unify people to rally our citizens around some commonly held beliefs," he said.

A Harvard educated lawyer, Jackson is a pastor and an honorably discharged marine. But he has unvarnished views many topics. For instance in appearance on former Saturday Night Live star Victoria Jackson’s conservative talk show, Jackson questioned President Obama’s faith.

"The idea that president obama is a Christian is laughable," said Jackson, to which the host responded

"Thank you! I keep saying that!"  He has been especially critical of Planned Parenthood and in particular their work in black communities. 

"Planned Parenthood has been far more lethal to black lives than the KKK ever was," Jackson said in a YouTube video.

He has also been especially critical of homosexual lifestyles in his defense of same sex marriage.

Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, a Republican who holds the job Jackson wants, said in a statement to NBC12 that many of Jackson's public statements were "insulting" and "simply indefensible."

As news of his nomination broke, national political web sites became flooded with old YouTube clips and transcripts of Jackson's past statements. It became perfect fodder for bloggers looking for clicks.

But Republicans plan to stick by their choice, hoping he can overcome the negative press and re-create the excitement he generated Saturday where he said to loud cheers: "I am not an African-American, I am an American!" And have it propel him to victory in November.

One man who hasn't wavered on Jackson's spot on the ticket is his running mate Ken Cuccinelli. The GOP nominee for Governor called Jackson a "powerful voice" for the Republican Party.

You can see Bill Bolling's entire statement on both Jackson and the RPV convention after the jump:

Jackson shocks Virginia GOP convention: wins LG nod

In an unlikely turn events, Bishop E.W. Jackson a Harvard educated honorably discharged Marine and pastor from the Hampton Roads area turned back six other candidates to become the GOP candidate for Lt. Governor.

He will run along side gubernatorial nominee Ken Cuccinelli and Attorney General nominee Mark Obenshain.

Jackson sprinted out to an early lead in the balloting after delivering an electrifying speech. But as the balloting went on, he seemed to be losing steam as Northern Virginia businessman Pete Snyder began to coalesce support from the delegates who had previously supported other candidates.

Snyder was the last man standing against Jackson going into the final ballot, but after a strange turn of events lost steam. A series of flyers were distributed throughout the building that said Snyder was endorsed by several people who he was apparently not supported by.

Jackson then marched around the Coliseum with Corey Stewart who made it into the final three, but did not make it on to the final ballot. From there Jackson overwhelmed the final vote to become the first African-American nominee by the Virginia Republican Party since they picked Maurice Dawkins in 1988. He eventually lost to Chuck Robb.

The Cuccinelli- Jackson- Obenshain ticket has the potential to be one of the most conservative in Virginia political history. While Jackson and Obenshein have their own records to present it starts at the top of the ticket. This afternoon Ken Cuccinelli did not run away from his conservative credentials but he made an effort in his speech this afternoon to step out from behind the sterotype democrats are ready to paint him with.

Here is my story for NBC12:

RICHMOND (WWBT)- Ken Cuccinelli took his critics head on, claiming those who call him extreme are ignoring a record of positive accomplishments.  This crowd of 8 thousand agreed, and he is now the party's nominee for the state's top job.

 It was just a formality, but it is now official.

"So I humbly stand before you this morning to accept your Republican nomination in the race to be the 72nd Governor of this great Commonwealth," said Cuccinelli to loud cheers. 

He is a man who built his career by fighting for conservative causes. He stood by those convictions, but today made the pivot to a candidate ready to create jobs and grow the economy.

"A stronger economy that can produce new jobs for the thousands who are currently out of work,” he said.   “And to be clear, we should be trying to create those jobs right here in Virginia. Not in Mississippi or in China."

He spent plenty of time knocking his opponent Terry McAuliffe and his business record and his career as a political operator. Outside of the Richmond coliseum, McAuliffe's defenders like Democratic Party Chair Charniele Herring said that Cuccinelli can talk jobs all he wants, but she fears it is not the kind of governor he will really be.

"Ken Cuccinelli has an extreme ideological agenda when it comes to women's reproductive health care," she said.

After his speech, Cuccinelli told me one on one that he would not pursue any new legislation as governor when it comes to abortion, but instead protect the laws the currently exist.  He said he has nothing to hide.

"They (voters) will have very clear idea of what to expect from a Cuccinelli governorship. Just like my last four races,” he said. “What you see is what you get."

And now Virginia voters will be the ones who get to take that information and make their decision.

Virginia Republicans chose to decide their nominees through this convention which drew a little more than 8 thousand voters, instead of a primary which had the potential to draw from tens of thousands. That decision is what ultimately pushed Lt. Governor Bill Bolling out of the race, and left Cuccinelli unopposed this afternoon.

NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News  

Cuccinelli says administration won't pursue abortion agenda

The 2013 campaign for governor of Virginia has been as much about the candidates defining their opponents as it has about creating an image for themselves.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli spent much of his 2013 convention nomination speech talking about his goal of making life easier for businesses to grow and thrive. He also compared that promise to his opponent Terry McAuliffe's business record and in particular his decision to open a green car company in Mississippi.

"He dropped us like a hot brick for Mississippi moola - Mississippi tax money," Cuccinelli said of McAuliffe. "And now he can't keep his story straight about why he abandoned Virginia."

But while Cuccinelli talked jobs and the economy protestors outside the Richmond Coliseum worked to paint the GOP nominee as an extremist, hellbent and rolling back access to abortion.

“Ken Cuccinelli’s extreme Tea Party rhetoric should remind Virginians of the singular focus of his career: outlawing a woman’s right to make her own decisions,” said Democratic Party of Virginia Chair Charniele Herring.

But backstage after his acceptance speech concluded, Cuccinelli, who only briefly mentioned abortion in his speech, said his administration won't make abortion a central focus of his administration.

"I am not going to persue anything new," Cuccinelli said.  "Our focus is going to be on jobs and the economy."

I specifically asked about personhood, the controversial legislation that came close to passing the General Assembly in 2012. If it were to become law, it would designate human life as beginning at conception. Democrats have pointed to personhood as a something Cuccinelli would advance from the Governor's mansion.

Cuccinelli told me that he won't propose new laws related to abortion.

"It will be important to protect what we have," he said.

In the past two years in the General Assembly has passed several laws related to abortion. One set new stricter standards for abortion clinics, another required women seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound before getting the procedure.

It is clear this won't end the debate over abortion, but it shows the position the GOP nominee hopes to stake out leading into November.

Saxman, Moran talk Virginia Governor's race

Former Del. Chris Saxman (R) and former Del. Brian Moran (D) have gone into business together, starting a political consulting firm.

But while the two still have a hand in politics they aren't directly involved in their party's campaigns.

To preview the Republican Party of Virginia Convention, the two joined me on NBC12 First at 4 to discuss the governor's race.

Check out their interesting perspective:

 

Dorothy McAuliffe fires back at attacks against her husband

It has been a slow drip of attacks for the last several weeks, fueled by stories Terry McAuliffe wrote about his life in politics in is book "What A Party."

Sites like BuzzFeed have posted several of the anecdotes like the one where McAuliffe talks about leaving his wife in the delivery room after the birth of one of their children and other stories that show the former DNC Chair's drive to raise money for his team at all costs.

BuzzFeed even went as far as to take excerpts of his audio book and turn them into short clips for people to listen to McAuliffe himself telling the story.

Republicans have had a field day with the material, sending it around to anyone who might be interested.

For the most part the McAuliffe campaign has remained quiet in the face of the onslaught, but tonight McAuliffe's wife Dorothy, who is at the center of much of the controversy, released a statement that was a powerful defense of her husband.

Mrs. McAuliffe said that she helped her husband write the book and that the stories show his sense of humor.

She also compares his record to the GOP nominee Ken Cuccinelli when it comes to women and claims that Cuccinelli is the candidate women should fear.

Here is her full statement:

"I am surprised that Ken Cuccinelli and his spokespeople have latched on to a few anecdotes from Terry's book in response to the incredible support Terry is getting from women across party lines in his campaign for governor. Terry and I had a lot of fun writing the book; it was a great opportunity to relive some of the experiences we’ve had in our over 25 years together.  While politics has become a negative and cynical business for some, Terry has used his humor, good cheer and innate optimism over many years to find ways to work with others to get things done. 

"The truth about Terry is that he is a wonderful husband and a great father -- he is supportive, devoted, and caring. I have always stood beside him, and he has always stood beside me. 

"Anyone who knows Terry knows he is someone who respects women and the role we play in today's world -- and nobody knows that better than me. My husband's opponent is underestimating the women of Virginia if he thinks he can distract us from the real issues that affect our lives and the lives of our daughters.  While Terry has always been there for me, I can stand on my own two feet and say that Mr. Cuccinelli should know that he will have me to answer to if he wants to intrude on our family life for political attacks." - Dorothy McAuliffe wife of Terry McAuliffe

The statement from Mrs. McAuliffe comes on the heels of a big roll out by the Democratic campaign zeroing in on McAuliffe's support by women. A rescent poll has McAuliffe in the lead with women, but several others have shown the women vote up for grab. McAuliffe and his team are continuing to push Cuccinelli's position on abortion in the hopes it will fire the female vote up come November.

Cuccinelli senior advisor Chris LaCivita responded to Mrs. McAuliffe's statement. "With all due respect, those aren't our words," he said.  "Those are Terry's words in his own voice."

Undecided on your choice for Lt. Governor? Here is a recap:

It all comes down to this for the seven candidates vying for Lt. Governor on the Republican side of the ticket. A diverse and eclectic group, the only consensus about what could happen on Saturday at the Richmond Convention Center is that no one really knows.

If you are headed to Richmond and like most, somewhat undecided, here is a look back at my interviews with several of the candidates. I talked to four of the seven candidates at various times during the past year. For the other three I wasn't able to track down, I provided links to their web sites.

We will see what happens Friday.

The interviews are in chronological order.

SUSAN STIMPSON (October of 2012)

 

Our story from Decision Virginia.

PETE SNYDER (announced his candidacy on First at 4, November 2012)

 

Our story from Decision Virginia.

E.W. JACKSON (February of 2013)

 

Our story from Decision Virginia.

COREY STEWART (May of 2013)

 

Our full story from Decision Virginia.

Here are the campaign web sites for the other three candidates:

Scott Lingamfelter

Jeanmarie Davis

Steve Martin

On convention week Snyder invests in Southwest VA Business

Time is ticking away for the candidates for Lt. Governor and each is working to find the edge that will help push them to the top of the heap.

With a field that most voters are not intimately familiar with, few Republicans in the know seem willing to venture a guess as to who could come out on top. It has the air of a Papal election. A huge crowd of potential nominees, but not one person with the best chance of winning.

With jobs and the economy the top issue, Pete Snyder the well funded, well connected candidate could benefit from a well timed business announcement. Snyder, who sold his successful New Media Strategies social media marketing firm, has now gone into the investment business. His Disruptor Capital firm is designed to inject cash into emerging companies and Snyder believes he found one in Russel County, VA.

On Tuesday, Snyder announced a major investment into Bills Khakis, an American company with a manufacturing operation in Virginia. Snyder's investment will help to support 160 jobs in Russell County where LACorp, a cut and sew operation, manufactures more than 100 thousand pairs of Bills Khaki pants a year.

As part of his investment, Snyder will sit on the company's board of directors.

Snyder said the announcement on convention week was a "coincidence", the conclusion of something he had been working on for some time. But it was clear that he saw the political opportunities in presenting himself as a do-something businessman leading up to the important vote. Snyder appeared with company CEO Bill Thomas behind a podium that featured his campaign slogan "real world experience, real Virginia jobs."

Snyder has worked hard to paint himself as the alternative to Terry McAuliffe. He has gone out of his way to virtually ignore his fellow primary opponents and focus any fire he has on the Democratic nominee for governor. He set up his investment in Southwest Virginia several weeks ago with a lengthy web video that asked why McAuliffe chose to move his Greentech car company to Mississippi when high unemployment rates and need existed in parts of Virginia.

Snyder is counting on the economy being the central focus for convention voters who are largely strong social conservatives. Snyder checks all the important boxes in those categories, but is certainly positioning himself as a mainstream candidate who can compete in a general election in a very purple state. 

It has led some of his detractors to question if Snyder has the passion to pursue a strong social issues agenda that many convention goers crave.

Former Del. Tom Gear (R-Poquoson) sent out a mass email to a large group of Virginia politicos and media members comparing Snyder to Mark Warner. Gear was upset that Snyder refused to answer a questionnaire he sent to the candidates and said his lack of participation was evidence that Snyder is not as conservative as he seems. Gear received responses from only three of the seven people standing for the GOP nomination. (Lingamfelter, Davis & Stimpson)

Snyder though has racked up endorsements from important and influential conservative leaders like one time U.S. Senate Candidate Oliver North and Former Reagan Education Secretary Bill Bennett. He doesn't run from his conservative record but seems confident that jobs and the economy will continue to be the top issue, even with the far right of his own party.

As much as the GOP cares about abortion and gay marriage Snyder feels the story of an American company defying the odds will resonate with convention delegates.

"At a time when many manufacturing jobs flocked to Southeast Asia, Bills bet on the talented and hardworking people of Southwest Virginia—and the quality shows," Snyder said. "We're excited to announce this investment in a great American business and good Virginia manufacturing jobs."

Stewart works to stand out in crowded GOP Lt. Governor field

With nine candidates and an unpredictable electorate it is virtually impossible to tell who has the edge going into this weekend's Republican convention.

We know Ken Cuccinelli will end up as the nominee for Governor, but both the Attorney General's race with two established legislators competing, and the Lt. Governor's race featuring seven candidates of various stripes, will make for an interesting if not volatile Saturday in Richmond.

There is no candidate, or campaign that demonstrates that potential unpredictability better than Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair Corey Stewart.

Stewart entered the race as an early front runner, simply based on his experience and his effort to build a statewide brand. He has flirted with statewide runs in the past. However as the field got crowded his campaign has worked hard to stand out from the crowd. In some instances that has led to positive attention, in other areas it has led to controversy.

Late last week, Stewart told me that heading into Saturday he considers himself to be the one to beat. 

"I'm clearly the front runner," Stewart said and he points to two specific examples of what has pushed him to the front of the pack.

The first is his support from The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation and the Middle Resolution PAC, a Tea-Party related activist group based out of Richmond. The Tea Party Patriots Federation is a loosely based organizational structure of the various Tea Party groups throughout Virginia. While the Federation leadership expressed support for Stewart, each individual Tea Party group can choose to support a separate candidate if they see fit and several have.

However Stewart believes that the endorsement of this large association demonstrates his commitment to smaller government and fiscal restraint.

"People know that we have to return some fiscal sanity to the Commonwealth's budget and the Nation's," he said.

But Stewart's campaign has also had it's stumbles. The past several weeks he has been forced to beat back accusations that he was either directly or implicitly connected to a series of web attack ads against opponents Pete Snyder and Scott Lingamfelter. The source of the ads is not clear and the rumors have caught fire in the conservative blogosphere, even reaching the popular national site Breitbart.com.

Stewart emphatically denied any connection at all to the ads and said it was just another example of his detractors working to de-rail his campaign.

"We haven't attacked any of our opponents," Stewart said flatly. He went on to say that "Talk about personal attacks? The personal attacks have been more against me than anyone else."

He made it clear that he has nothing to do with the ads.

"We are not behind those ads, We wouldn't support them and at the same time I'd ask my opponents to kinda lay off me as well."

But while Stewart has denied that connection, and any connection to the mysterious group behind the ads, his story changed a bit during a candidate forum in Henrico Friday night.

Breitbart columnist Michael Patrick Leahy recounted an exchange between Stewart and Richmond Tea Party member Larry Nordvig.

Nordvig Question: "Do you agree with these ads and did you have any connection to them whatsoever for the record?"

Corey Stewart Answer: "Am I connected? Yes. I have donated money to that organization."

Nordvig Question. "At least a couple of these candidates fought against these budget increases, specifically Steve Martin...The information on the flyer is not correct so this information is misleading. Will you do the right thing and publicly condemn these ads as false?"

Corey Stewart Answer: “No, I’m not going to do it. I play hardball. This is politics.”

Leahy has statements from several people at the meeting who confirmed the exchange. Nordviq was holding up mail pieces attacking several candidates paid for by "Virginians for Limited Government".  Stewart said he donated to the group, but denied having any direct connection with the production of the mail pieces or web ads.

The candidate told me the accusations and innuendo are byproducts of his momentum going into Saturday.

"This is why I have been the subject of so many accusations and so many attacks," Stewart said. "As soon as the Tea Party endorsed me last week the knives came out. I got attacked from every sector and have been called every name in the book."

The source of the ads remains a mystery but many Republicans privately are convinced Stewart had some hand in their production. The candidate continues to deny any connection.

What the delegates believe could determine if Stewart is the actual front runner he thinks he is.

Our full interview with Stewart, including his thoughts on the future of immigration reform can be found below.

 

 

 

Accuser of former McDonnell aide speaks to NBC12

Thursday we broke the story about the charges Eric Finkbeiner, the former senior policy advisor to Governor Bob McDonnell (R), is facing after a tumultuous affair with a woman who is not his estranged wife.

Last night on NBC12 News at 11, Mr. Finkbeiner's accuser, Summer Hudson who is now facing charges herself spoke on camera to our Chris Thomas.

Chris also revealed some of the sordid details Ms. Hudson alleges in the criminal complaint she filed that ultimately led to Finkbeiner's arrest.

Finkbeiner's attorney also spoke to Chris. Todd Stone believes there are two sides to the story and appears prepared to make Hudson's character a key issue when the case goes to court.

As Chris points out in his report from Thursday night, this could be a question of "he said, she said".

Here is the NBC12 report:

NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News Click here for MOBILE

RICHMOND (WWBT)- The woman accusing one of Governor Bob McDonnell's former top aides of assault - is speaking out.

Summer Hudson says she has lived in fear of Washington Redskin's attorney Eric Finkbeiner for too long.

"When you are having to look over your shoulder all the time," said Summer Hudson. "It is just scary."

Hudson spoke to NBC 12 with her attorney by her side. Eric Finkbeiner, the former senior advisor for policy to Governor Bob McDonnell and the architect of the administration's failed effort to privatize the state's ABC stores, has been arrested on four different assault charges and three violations of a protective order.

"I'm tired of living in fear for such a long time," said Hudson. "Nobody wants to go through any type of situations of this sort."

Criminal complaints include a text message exchange in which Finkbeiner allegedly tells Hudson, "You are absolutely nothing and I pray for your painful and agonizing death."

On May 12, 2012 Hudson claims, "My arm and shoulder were in the door, and Eric kept slamming it on my arm."

"This young lady has brought to me probably more pictures, more text messages, more than any 3 clients put together," said Hudson's attorney George Edwards. "I would say the record speaks for itself. Ms. Hudson stopped in our office the other day completely distraught."

Finkbeiner is being represented by Todd Stone, who says his client is not guilty of the charges.

"Were you surprised by the charges?" we asked Stone.

"I am surprised that they came at this late stage," said Stone who notes the charges date back to May, October, and November of 2012. Our cameras were rolling when Stone called to notify Hudson they would be filing charges against her as well.

read Chris's full story on NBC12.com

Both sides will be back in court on June 20th. We will continue to keep a close eye on this case.

Former top aide to McDonnell arrested on assault charges

Eric Finkbeiner, the former senior advisor for policy to Governor Bob McDonnell and the architect of the administration's failed effort to privatize the state's ABC stores, has been arrested on four different assault charges and three violations of a protective order. 

All seven charges are misdemeanors and stem from a relationship with one woman, who is not his estranged wife.

The accusations directed at Finkbeiner come from a woman named Summer Hudson who he admits to having a "tumultuous" relationship with.

Ms. Hudson, who is also facing charges that have yet to appear on the Chesterfield General District Court website, spoke on camera to our Chris Thomas. His story on the back and forth on this case will air tonight on NBC12 at 11.

Finkbeiner is currently a lawyer with his own law/consulting practice. His most high profile client is the Washington Redskins.  He has been a key player in the negotiations to bring the Redskins training camp to Richmond.

He left the McDonnell administration in May of 2011 for a position at McGuireWoods Consulting LLC. He left McGuireWoods in late 2012 to start his own firm.

The four separate incidents happened over more than a year. The latest occured in late March of this year.

Finkbeiner appeared in Chesterfield District Court this afternoon where the case was continued. He will appear again on June 20th.

He is being represented by local defense attorney Todd Stone. Stone said his client is not guilty of the charges. He told me by phone that there is a "complete other side of the story" that will eventually come out in court. 

UPDATE: Stone has followed up with a more complete statement:

"It is very easy to get a warrant against someone in Virginia and that's the  reason people are presumed innocent at this stage.  Fortunately Mr. Finkbeiner had the awareness and foresight to preserve a substantial amount of evidence during this tumultuous relationship and it will prove his innocence in a courtroom". - Todd Stone 

Finkbeiner has not officially been forced to answer to the charges.

The Governor's office chose not to comment on Finkbeiner's arrest.

NBC12 photojournalist Dax Gray contributed to this report.