Deeds: “I’ll be the governor…”

2009 Gubernatorial Race, Creigh Deeds, Hampton Roads, Politics, Virginia 1 Minute

Creigh Deeds spoke at the Fall Kickoff meeting of the  Greater Hampton Roads Black Chamber of Commerce, of which I am a charter member, Thursday evening. Afterwards, I spent a few minutes with him.

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30 thoughts on “Deeds: “I’ll be the governor…””

  1. Maybe, if he wants to do all of this, he should actually come up with a plan. He has no transportation plan, except to cut down his opponent’s plan. Even Doug Wilder won’t endorse him. You must admit that is a damaging blow.

    He has no plans, no ideas. More Tim Kaine / Jody Wagner debt? I sure hope not!

    1. He does have a plan. It’s on his website combined with his economic plan.

      Wilder’s non-endorsement, which you can read in full on Virginia Tomorrow, was not due to a critique mentioning a lack of plans. No tax increases and more importantly not overturning the one-gun-a-month law were the main points I took away from that.

    2. I don’t get Republicans crowing about the Wilder situation. After all, Wilder didn’t endorse McDonnell. And I don’t know a single person who was waiting with baited breath to decide who to vote for based on Wilder’s endorsement.

      Wilder is of the party of Wilder. Always has been, always will be. The sooner folks realize that, the better off everyone will be.

      1. That’s one reason I like him. I wish he had not run against Robb, though. If he had waited for the other seat, I don’t doubt that he would have become Senator.

      2. given the predictable nature of the dems, I have a funny feeling they would be “crowing” if wilder would have endorsed Deeds, yourself included vivian, no doubt!

  2. Certainly the President and the current Governor thought enough of Wilder’s endorsement to take time from their schedules to lobby him, and it’s not like either of those men don’t already have more irons in the fire than either are capable of handling.

    Seems like your top two party leaders thought it was pretty darned important.

    1. In this instance (certainly not the first time nor will it be the last), I disagree with the President and the Governor. Wilder’s endorsement may mean something to them but it means nothing to the voters.

      Putting personal likes and dislikes above what is best for the voters is one of the things I hate the most about politics. All the talk about “change” means nothing when you keep doing things the way they have always been done.

      1. Well, I think we can all agree that Wilder’s endorsement was most important to Wilder.

        Still, there’s no way to spin this as a good thing for Deeds. And had Wilder actually endorsed him, the campaign would be crowing about it.

        1. I don’t think it’s good or bad for either Deeds or McDonnell. Interesting early poll result:

          6% say Wilder endorsement would make them more likely to vote for a candidate, 24% less likely, 70% don’t care

          Looks like a Wilder endorsement would actually hurt more than help.

          2. Wow. I thought he was a popular and respected governor. Has it been that long that people forgot, and think of him now as just another self-important politician?

  3. Back in my father’s time, Jewish businessmen got together and founded the NAACP, because there were few avenues for the “Negro” community to forward their interests, since most of the business and community organizations were segregated.

    Today, with the Chamber of Commerce and all other community service groups open to all, why, other than racial separatism, are there race-based groups such as, the “Black” Chamber of Commerce, “Black” Congressional Caucus, etc?

    If groups were formed for European-Americans, those groups would be labeled by the Press as “racists” and shunned by the politicians. We need to decide if race-based groups are OK or not, and apply that standard to all communities.

    While I support our freedom to associate with whomever we want, most folks agree that the community is better served by groups where citizens of every stripe are welcomed into non-race-based groups such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, etc. where we work together for the common good.

    It does not make sense for politicians to lend legitimacy to race-based groups by making speeches at their meetings, either. Both candidates should find places to address the citizens where there is no implied or explicit race-based membership.

    1. Earlier in the day, I attended a gubernatorial forum hosted by a number of business groups in the area, including the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. The number of black attendees to this sold-out luncheon could be counted on two hands.

      The NAACP, founded 100 years ago this year, still exists. If you don’t understand the continuing need for black organizations, then I can’t help you.

      By the way, both the NAACP and the HRBCC accept non-black members. There is no implied or explicit race-based membership.

      1. I think Tyler know that the NAACP takes non-Black members, since it was the Jewish businessmen who set up the local chapter in his town. (I assume it was not they who actually “founded the NAACP,” but just the local chapter.)

        I, myself, who am so white I get moon-burn, joined in college, since so many of my friends were Black. I spent so much time with one (of the opposite sex) that some of my white friends thought we were dating! It was fun to yank their chains for a while.

        Unfortunately, like so many other friends, we went our separate ways after college.

        2. I must agree with Vivian on this one. It is difficult to explain, but being in the minority in any profession is difficult. I do not really think anyone would have a problem with the Association of Male Nurses, or the Association of Male Elementary School Teachers. Although small business owners are all in the same place in many ways, the path taken to get there is often vastly different for minority owners than for Whites. Similarly, being a male nurse or male kindergarten teacher entails challenges that females in those fields do not have.

          Groups such as the Black Chamber of Commerce not only address issues more common to Black businessmen, who often have shops in poorer, higher-crime areas, but also provide mutual support and encouragement that the larger group will not — not because its members do not care, but simply because they do not understand.

          And yes, there is still discrimination. A Black business owner will not feel comfortable discussing the latest slight, real or perceived, with his White colleges.

  4. Anon wrote:

    Wow. I thought he was a popular and respected governor. Has it been that long that people forgot, and think of him now as just another self-important politician?

    Yes. His behavior has relegated him to that status. This article is the best I’ve seen in capturing all that he’s been up to.

    1. I beg to differ. Personally (and Lord knows I do not speak for Democrats at all), I see Wilder’s reluctance to supply knee-jerk endorsements as making them more valuable. If he simply endorsed every every state-wide Democratic candidate, it would amount to just another party member giving his perfunctory endorsement.

      1. Either way, he loses, then, right? If he endorses everyone, no one cares. If he endorses no one, no one cares.

        The fact is that Wilder plays this little game every cycle, only to keep his name in the papers and to appear to be relevant. He’s not.

  5. Endorsements don’t mean a thing to voters, correct; but they mean a lot to potential donors. I am sure the Wilder endorsement cost Deeds tens of thousands of dollars.

    1. That may be, Max. But it would be hard to quantify, since you can’t count lost money. My guess is that it would affect donors outside of VA more so than those here.

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