Some Reasons Why I Will Vote for Tim Kaine


There are many reasons why I'll vote for Tim Kaine, but here are just a few. Tim Kaine:

--Measures his success in the difference he makes in others' lives.
--Worked with Mark Warner to undo the reckless fiscal strategies of Allen and Gilmore.
--Helped Gov. Mark Warner earn the designation of "Best Managed State" in America from Governing Magazine.
--Demonstrated he knows how to govern.
--Focuses on others, not himself.
--Walks the walk on civil rights, doesn't just talk about it.
--Practiced law in support of the underdog.
--A pioneer in civil rights law, he trail-blazed fair housing law, winning a nationally historic settlement in a redlining case.
--Supports the Constitution, both state and federal and will uphold the laws of Virginia.
--As a missionary, worked to improve the living conditions of a poor community in Honduras.
--Respects his constituents.
--Listens to and hears his constituents.
--Says what he thinks, but has the diplomatic skills to represent us and advocate for us.
--Answers constituent questions candidly, and in sufficient detail to answer the question.
--Says what he means without empty rhetoric, such as "Culture of Opportunity," or "I trust the people," which cheap slogans masking a buck-passing, responsibility shirking opponent.
--Will responsibly manage Virginia's finances.
--Won't go on the equivalent of a "credit card" spree.
--Believes in a rainy day fund, so if disaster happens, as in Louisiana and Mississippi, we are not left helpless by tax cutting fanatics and deficit spenders.
--Earned experience governing in the localities where decisions have an impact. So he understands how what's passed in Richmond doesn't happen in a vacuum.
--Proposes to responsibly fund k-12 and college instead of shortchanging the education of our children. Tim's proposals for education, unlike the empty promises of Kilgore, will have the funding to support them.
--Won't scapegoat teachers and college professors by heaping the primary burden of any tax cuts on education (as Gilmore did and Jerry Kilgore will).
--Won't criminalize women or their doctors. Jerry's come out with contradictory statements on whether he'd criminalize women and doctors.
--Will protect the environment recover from the neglect of the Allen and Gilmore administrations.
--Will balance competing interests in the interest of all Virginians.
--Has a plan for how to cover the uninsured by enabling them to buy the same coverage state employees do. This will drive down current subscriber costs, uninsured costs, hospital costs for all currently insured who pick up the tab for the uninsured, and taxpayers because it's cheaper to prevent the need for some many Virginians to rely on the ER for health care).
--Supports a multi-modal transportation system.
--Won't pass the buck when tough decisions have to be made.

But don't take my word for it. Check out Tim's website (www.kaine2005.org) or DemocracyforVirginia.org, where I have posted two articles about Kaine. See also my first blog entry at this bottom of this page for the inaugural article, "Democracy Upside Down." It's about why Jerry Kilgore would make, not just an ineffective, but also a terrible governor.