In a desperate attempt to distract voters from the truth, State Senator Robert Hurt has
sent out an attack on Jim McKelvey’s campaign literature which explained to the voters
in the Fifth Congressional District how Robert Hurt’s record is similar to our current
Congressman Tom Perriello.
FACT Robert Hurt is a lawyer. So is Tom Perriello.
FACT Jim McKelvey is a businessman. As a successful local businessman, Jim actively
supports local small businesses that hire local people that provide our community
with economic opportunities.
FACT Robert Hurt voted with the Democrats for the largest tax increase ($1.6 Billion) in
Virginia’s history, when our Republican statewide ticket of Robert McDonnell,
Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli voted AGAINST this tax increase (HB 3202, 2004).
FACT Robert Hurt has not come out in favor of the Fair Tax after repeated questions during
numerous 5th District Congressional debates.
FACT Robert Hurt does not support term limits. He is a ten year career politician.
FACT Robert Hurt voted to give rights and benefits to same-sex couples that include
insurance benefits for homosexual couples. This bill is praised by all national
pro-homosexual groups. (SB 945, 2009).
FACT Robert Hurt supports prohibiting law enforcement officers when investigating a crime
to ask persons if they are an illegal alien. (SB 462, 2010).
Another Robert Hurt attack piece mailed by him insinuates that Jim McKelvey is in favor of a
Fifth District tax district. Nothing can be further from the truth.
FACT As a local lakefront developer, Jim McKelvey personally contributed $1,000 to the
maintenance of a clean Smith Mountain Lake, not a Fifth Congressional District Tax as Senator
Hurt’s literature falsely states.
Jim supported a private “surcharge on property that directly benefits from the lake is
reasonable to pay for cleanup and removal of weed, waste and water quality because of state
budget cuts.”
McKelvey stated in the Roanoke Times that with the value of lakefront property continuing to
climb, “we are making money off this lake. We should all participate in the maintenance of it. A
surcharge on property that directly benefits from the lake is reasonable and more viable than
relying on donations.”
Because of Jim’s efforts, he along with other lake residents, were able to convince Appalachian
Power (AEP) that it was the company’s responsibility to maintain the water quality of Smith
Mountain Lake, thereby relieving the tax payer of any financial burden.
Despite Robert Hurt’s attempt to claim that he is one of us, he continues to rely upon his
Richmond, Washington, D.C. and out-of-state political and media consultants.
FACT According to the latest Federal Election Commission Finance Reports, State Senator
Robert Hurt has more political consultants and paid staff than all the other six
candidates combined.
Advancing Strategies LLC – Consulting Fees – $44,000
Holtzman Vogel PLLC - Legal Fees - $ 9,500
Forest Consulting - Accounting Fees - $10,150
Public Opinion Strategies – Polling Fees - $15,000
Scott Howell Media (Dallas, TX) - Media Fees - $72,869
Bennedetti & Farris - Fundraising Fees - $49,125
Jackson-Alvarez Group - Research Fees – $13,487
TOTAL $214,131
It is clear, when one views the facts, that Robert Hurt is running away from a record that
he simply cannot defend. Despite Robert Hurt claims that the McKelvey campaign is
“desperate” or is “running negative and false attacks”, the facts are the facts.
Jim McKelvey stated: “I’m sorry Robert, the Truth Hurts.”
McKelvey’s antics and falsities are beginning to annoy me. Did he read SB 945? Where does it say homosexual? Domestic partner? It simply allows business to provide benefits to anyone. Who cares that a gay rights group mentioned the bill favorably? This bill would allow me to give benefits to my brother, mother, sister, girlfriend.
Who cares if someone is a lawyer?
If you read SB 462 you will also understand that it prevents VICTIMS of crimes from being attacked for being an illegal alien. This is so we can have them testify at trial against attackers and other felons.
oops. I’m a lawyer. McKelvey doesn’t think I should hold public office? My husband is a lawyer. what does McKelvey want to do with him?
McKelvey might think he should go fishing.He most likely couldn’t do any damage fishing.
tough to make a living fishing. Where does McKelvey get off thinking that lawyers aren’t running a business? who is McK’s lawyer? Does that lawyer have a business?
(this is personal pet peeve of mine since I know so many lawyers here in Southside/Southern Virginia that work damn hard in their practices making a living for themselves & their employees).
Kelley I hate to break it to you but lawyers aren’t very well thought of normally. When they jump into politics they are usually hated by everyday working people.
Kelly. The problem I have and as you have mentioned in the past is that lawyers, who sometimes become politicians, look at the Constitution in light of case law instead of it’s plain language. They ask the court it’s opinion when making decisions about a bill forgetting they are a separate and equal branch of government. Tom Perriello seems to think we have a great system. They pass laws, if we don’t like it we can take it to the supreme court ( if you have a million dollars) he thinks like this because he is a lawyer. Not all lawyers are are bad. But I can’t think of one politician lawyer that goes to D.C. that I can say I like. There might be a few but they are far between.
WatchDog: What would you have judges use? the raw Constitution? what about the laws that legislatures have passed? Laws overlay the Constitution.
If we go back to the virgin Constitution, then NO search & seizures would be allowed. So no policeman could ever find contraband or dangerous weapons on someone; our govt might not be able to open a container truck full of illegal aliens. I don’t view that as a positive. Or how about the 2d amendment (& I’m a proponent): people could point & shoot weapons anywhere. There are laws against that obviously, but they are accepted societal restrictions/constrictions on the original document.
Are there too many stupid laws? we would both agree that there are.
and we do have a great system. it is the best in the world. perfect. no.
Some of this is a stretch but we don’t need another classic GOP lapdog like Robert Hurt in office.
Then again, Jim McKelvey and his adultery won’t play very well with the more conservative 5th District voters, even if it is authorized by Mrs. McKelvey.
Kelly, What I want using the second amendment is when a legislator gets a bill across his desk for a national firearms assault weapons ban for example. I want him to look at the Constitution “…SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED…” and Vote NO! easy & simple. I don’t want him to pull out the case law and turn the commerce clause (and idiotic court decisions) into some magic reason he/she can vote for it. I know Robert would vote no on that bill but it’s the others I worry about.
watchdog: i agree with your last post.
DElmoS,
Adultery is a serious accusation. Do you have any proof or are you just slinging mud?
according to something I read on a McK website or mailer, he & his wife have a separation agreement. Most separation agreements use the language “live separate & apart AS IF NOT MARRIED” (sorry for caps, but wanted to emphasize).
McK doesn’t have the same type divorce where you are completely un-married, not-married.
and while I think this is all sort of “different”, i’m not sure it is the issue on which to disqualify him.
Aaron,
It’s not really adultery. Jim McKelvey IS still married, even though they separated many years ago. They wanted to get divorced but for financial reasons his wife and him decided to stay together. They are both perfectly OK with the other dating, having live in friends, in other words they have been separated but have chosen NOT to divorce. (I have heard from many people in Franklin, but have no way to verify, that for many years Jim, his wife and Jim’s girlfriend even shared the same home) They are fine with this arrangement BUT will the 5th District be so forgiving? What kind of fun will Tom Perriello have with this if Jim wins?
My book, he is not a Democrat who can get away with this kind of behavior. He is running as a Republican in a very conservative, religious and family values district. Jim wins, Perriello walks to victory.
We need to get back to the “raw” constiution as some of you have called it. It is a near perfect document. The mess we are in now are a result of your so-called “overlays”
Heh. I’m sure that McKelvey’s disdain for lawyers is shoved aside on each real estate deal that he’s done.
Dr. Cash, While the “raw” constitution is a brilliant document–truly remarkable when you view it thru the lens of history–it is merely a framework. There are very necessary laws that overlay it. Some of those laws started out as mere common law but have been codified.
I think child molestation should be against the law. Sorry for the mind-jolting example, but you must see that laws are necessary.
But, and I bet you will agree with me on this, it is counter-productive (some would argue destructive) for any legislative body to meet & spend all their time dreaming up MORE laws. sometimes we need less not more.
Its only 97% of lawyers that give the other 3% a bad name. I like my lawyer; then again, he’s not a politician.
I love my lawyer. He is an orchardist by passion.
maybe its the lawyers on TV that make the little southside virginia lawyers look so bad.
Lawyers have a vested interest in gaming the system, just as big businesses (banks, auto, etc) and other special interests (which includes unions, local, state govt and govt agencies.) What makes lawyers so dangerous is that, unlike other special interests, they are the system. It should be no surprise that Kelly, a lawyer, is supporting Hurt, also a lawyer. In short, we have a giant “conflict of interest” problem with our system. Short of outlawing lobbying by organizations, term limits are the only idea I have to at least minimize it.
howard, i’m not supporting Hurt because he is a lawyer–I came out for him the day he announced because, well, I like him personally, and because I think he can beat Perriello.
and as you say, anybody can want to game the system in their own behalf.
I swear, I’m counting the minutes to 7 pm tuesday. then we can march ahead.
“i’m not supporting Hurt because he is a lawyer” Yeah, OK
Hurt may have a stronger appeal to social conservatives, but he is a fiscal moderate. Given that our current problems are fiscal in nature, claiming social issues misses the point. Given the choice between a socially conservative, fiscal moderate and a socially moderate, fiscal liberal, well, is not a choice.
The establishment claims how much more money Perriello has spent compared to Hurt’s 2 Billion dollar worth of votes for tax increases.People Hurt is a state senator and he has been on a roll voting for tax increases let him go to congress where the big money is spent it won’t take Hurt long to catch up with Perriello.Im voting for Jim McKelvey.
I’d hold my nose for Hurt to defeat Two-Faced Tom, but can’t we do better? I’m willing to consider McKelvey or Verga. McKelvey is a good campaigner from what I’m hearing. But as for the separation/dating matter, I don’t know how much that hurts him. If all things are equal, that would veer me toward Verga [a herd-based decision I guess]. FRegards from an oldtime FReeper ….
PS: Sorry I was too busy with national news to spend much time contributing to this local debate.
Arthur Wildfire:
I held my nose and voted for McCain, and I AM NOT going to do it again!
If I voted for Hurt, I would have to ignore his tax increases, and the fact that Jeff Clark will run only if Hurt wins.
If I voted for McKelvey, I would have to ignore that he cannot think on his feet in a debate as in these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it3US5fDpN4&feature=related
http://virginiafifthwatchdog.com/2010/06/mcpadden-vs-mckelvey-videos/
Morton, Boyd, Verga and Ferrin have just not inspired, and are just easy to ignore.
It feels great to not have to defend my vote for Mike McPadden, like I would have to do with any of the other candidates! Finally I don’t have to ignore something about a candidate, or hold my nose as I vote. No way do I have to hold my nose as I vote for a Navy Pilot Veteran who is not a lawyer, not the establishment, not a politician, and who knows how to use the Constitution to undo the layers and layers of unconstitutional Federal Government programs and regulations that have hamstringed this great country.