Democratic AG candidate Steve Shannon held a press telephone conference this afternoon. (Due to other commitments, I was unable to participate.) Based on his press release (below the fold), Shannon asked Republican AG candidate Ken Cuccinelli to respond to the remarks offered by Catherine Crabhill, the Republican candidate in the 99th House of Delegates district.
Crabhill’s remarks (video) have made the rounds of the internet over the past few days, prompting blog posts from nearly every corner. In the video, Crabhill, speaking to an audience of Tea Party members, says “We have a chance to fight this stuff at the ballot box, before we have to resort to the bullet box.” It is this remark that Shannon denounced and urges Cuccinelli to do the same.
Shannon Calls on Cuccinelli to Respond to Reckless ‘Bullet Box’ Remarks
Fairfax, VA – Democratic Nominee for Attorney General Steve Shannon held a conference call with reporters Friday asking his opponent, Ken Cuccinelli, to respond to the reckless remarks made by his running mate and fellow “Tea Party” supporter Catherine Crabill.
“This type of incendiary rhetoric is not only divisive, it’s downright reckless,” Shannon told reporters. “As a candidate for Attorney General, I strongly reject and denounce these remarks and I hope my opponent Senator Ken Cuccinelli will do the same, especially given his close ties to the “Tea Party Movement” and the fact that he is running on the ballot with Ms. Crabill.”
At a “Tea Party” rally on Wednesday, Crabill, who is running for the House of Delegates in the 99th District, said Tea Party supporters “have a chance to fight this battle at the ballot box, before we have to resort to the bullet box.” The video of her comment can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paeuC-i8E1o
In a follow-up interview with The Washington Post on Thursday, Crabill said “Those are my convictions… what we’re seeing in Washington is domestic terrorism at its worst.”
On Friday’s conference call, Shannon posed the following questions to Cuccinelli:
- Do you believe that the President of the United States and federal government employees are domestic terrorists, as Ms. Crabill claims?
- Do you believe Americans should resort to the so-called “bullet box” and violently overthrow their elected representatives if they dislike the result of a democratic election?
- Do you know Catherine Crabill and do you support her candidacy?
- What is your relationship to the organizers of these tea parties?
Cuccinelli recently spoke at two Tea Party events on July 4th in Roanoke and Charlottesville.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Funny, anytime a Democrat says something along these lines, no one seems to think that other Democrats need to denounce it. Why do Catherine Crabhill’s (perhaps overly) blunt statements then require a response from Ken Cuccinelli?
Ah the statist view of the world… how refreshing that you are not grounded in the history of our founding fathers, the Declaration of Independence, and our Constitution.
You must be proud of your ignorance of our country’s history. What would you be willing to do if someone took your liberty away??
You won’t know Sam Adams either…
“If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
Could this possibly be any sillier? I say that as someone who hopes that Steve Shannon prevails in the AG race. Actual issues please.
Probably the best comment of the bunch.
Oh, for josh sakes. The line is a reference to a Libertarian concept of the Four (Five) Boxes for the defense of Liberty.
“There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury and ammo. Please use in that order.” ~ Ed Howdershelt, 1972, UT Arlington
Some ad a fifth box, the moving box, at various points in the sequence.
It is clear that violent revolution, such as when we parted company with King George, is the last resort, which must be kept viable, so that the earlier choices will have validity. After all, why would a despot, like Hugh Chavez, accept defeat in an election if the people would not rise up?
The concept is as American as apple pie. Trying to make it a political controversy reveals far more about those who don’t get it than those who espouse it.
Here’s my thing, WHY doesn’t Crabhill have any bio info on her website? Her website is nothing more than a lunatic’s rant and is quite disconcerting. Kind of hard to take her seriously as a candidate.
Why should Cuccinelli care what Crabhill says? Except that they both bear Republican labels, what’s their connection?
The reason I’m voting against Cuccinelli is that he doesn’t understand an attorney general doesn’t legislate. Shannon needs to make that clear as well if he wants this vote.
Crabill’s rhetoric doesnot surprise me. It follows the mindset held by certain people that if we don’t like certain people in power or our beliefs are threatened we’ll just take out our guns and blow the threat away. Guns and God, it’s the American Way. Judging by a recent article in The Virginian Pilot about a shortage of bullets for gun owners it just shows me there are a lot of people with guns who suddenly feel under threat. Wonder if Crabill or Cuccinelli will be held liable if some fool acts on their rhetoric?
I don’t know this Crabhill. I agree with
Dr. Tabor’s view, but that doesn’t mean that speaking of possible extreme hypotheticals is a good idea for Crabhill to do. Things are purposely and always taken out of context anyway.
Nothing has happened to warrant violence. Does anybody really forsee any likelihood? I sure don’t. I condemn any notion that violence is necessary.
Tess, at the moment, Cuccinelli is a legislator. When he becomes Attorney General, yes, his role will change, however, as a party leader and our attorney general, he will have profound influence. He will indeed be asked to render opinions for the state government etc. If you don’t know how much an attorney general can affect legislation, you haven’t followed Bob McDonnell(granted many bad effects)during his tenure as AG. Frankly, Cuccinelli’s successful sponsorship of eminent domain reform gives me confidence that as AG, he will respect our property rights. Unlike McDonnell who as party leader PUSHED failed eminent domain (alleged)reform that protected nobody’s property rights. Also, unlike Shannon. Shanon voted against making our right to property a part of Virginia’s constitution. Clearly, Shannon also thinks it is ok to take your land for the purpose of economic development like putting a Walmart or condos on your farm land. That isn’t public use! That is theft of property to enhance government power and revenue gain. First they condemn your land. After a time your property values drop like a rock because nobody wants to buy land that the government might want. Then you are compensated for that depressed value. There are even cases where localities tried to condemn for a legitimate reason(roads, school construction etc.) then……”oh…..we changed our minds. Since we have this surplus land, we’ll sell it to a commercial interest to put a shopping center on it.” Laws had to be put on the books to prevent that kind of shell game. Goes to show willingness to fleece the public to get what our representatives on city councils want. If somebody wants your land to develop, that’s fine. Just make an offer and do business honestly.
Yea, Cuccinelli has had an active and productive career in the state senate. He gets things, good things, done. I guess its only when Norfolk sends spies into your house looking for structural improvements to tax, and whatever else they might feel like reporting, then people realize that yes, unwatched, government can go too far. Cuccinelli’s legislation served to protect us. He doesn’t just put up new laws as window dressing to make it look like he’s doing something. He acts as he believes. I respect that. Do I agree 100% on everything with him? Of course not, but Cuccinelli serves us better than most.
As far as the Tea Party thing goes, I was at the one in Chesapeake. Cuccinelli wasn’t there, but his campaign staff had a booth there. This was a peaceful gathering with live music, food, etc. in addition to speakers. Nobody was advocating violence either. Feel free to visit the website I help write articles for to see some pictures of it. These are just peaceful gatherings of people excercising their freedom of expression to let their representatives know that they would like them to change course. That’s all.
As for buying up a lot of bullets because it is forseeable that new restrictions are on the horizon making ammo expensive and possibly scarce, that in NO way is an indicator that people are frightend to the point they think they might need it to defend themselves against the government. That is just more pure fear mongering and painting anyone that has a firearm as a criminal. Even if you believe that in extreme situations weapons might be necessary to secure freedom from a tyrannical government, that doesn’t mean you think that it is the case now or ever forsee that. We got it good in this country! BECAUSE of freedom. Let’s keep it.
If Shannon thinks his game of trying to control debate by thinking he can force Cuccinelli to defend or condemn somebody else’s comments, he doesn’t have what it takes to be AG. He should just step aside for a professional like Ken Cuccinelli if that is the case.
Crabill’s message is blunt and true. Are we disregarding the fact that the Second Amendment was penned to protect our Constitution? The gaff is that she is running for office and making these strong comments.
When you watch the video take note of the other videos that YouTube offers you to watch – The Republican’s 99th District Committee attempted to thwart Crabill’s candidacy and not run a candidate against the democrat incumbent Pollard.
Looking for more Republican candidates who are a source of amusement to Virginians? Check out John Amiral in Norfolk’s 87th. Here’s a cranky Eastern European that throttled the Norfolk GOP to get his name on the ballot. Since winning, this former Soviet has pushed away all party support and been through four experienced campaign managers. We’re waiting to see what silly statements he makes publicly.
If the Republicans were to gain to seats in the HOD this fall, the 99th and 87th would have been competitive districts for formidable candidates.
I’ve watched those Crabhill videos as one blog – I’m Surrounded by Idiots – has been all over this from the beginning.
My sense is that the Rs were simply trying to tie up resources and retain seats, not necessarily pick up seats. Otherwise, you’re right – the 87th, 99th and several other districts would have had better candidates.
Not Jeff Frederick,
Where do you get this number 4 from? By my count it is 3, only one of which was experienced. The other 2 should be ejected in the party for many reasons, the fact Amiral fired them shows he is on the right track.
agree with Britt. Crabhill’s statements are unwarranted here and now but imagine if she were in Iran a few weeks ago.
Preparation is the foundation of prevention.
I am one of those ‘nuts’ who keeps a rifle and 1000 rounds of fresh ammunition on hand. I keep it specifically so I will never need it.
Our Republic is based on the concept of government by the consent of the governed, but that concept is empty and meaningless if we do not maintain a credible means for withdrawing that consent. So, I have invested in a proper rifle and keep a store of ammunition for it, in the belief that because millions of guys like me do so, government will not become so onerous that it will become necessary to rise against it.
Vivian, you quote Jefferson at the top of your blog. His statement on the matter was ‘Where the people fear the government there is Tyranny, where government fears the people there is Liberty.”
I like to think I do my little part in keeping the government just a little nervous.