The Truth Hurts
The truth hurts. There is no difference between drilling for gas and drilling for oil — and Terry McAuliffe knows it.
Check out the Moran for Governor press release that lays out the facts:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Contact: Jesse F. Ferguson, 703.966.2689
McAuliffe Campaign Breaks Positive Pledge; Attempts Offshore “Bait and Switch”
McAuliffe campaign admits support for offshore drilling, continues to support Surry Coal Mega-Plant
ALEXANDRIA – After months of pledging to run an entirely positive campaign, McAuliffe campaign manager Mike Henry sent an email to supporters today attacking the Moran campaign, in an attempt to cover up McAuliffe’s record of supporting drilling off Virginia’s coast.
“Our opponent’s campaign has broken their promise to stay positive in an attempt to divert attention from the positions CEO McAuliffe has taken in his ‘Business Plan’ and during this campaign,” Campaign Manager Andrew Roos said. “It’s just a simple fact that there are real differences in this campaign, and we will continue to point those out to the voters no matter what the other side tries to throw at us. Brian Moran has a great record of protecting the environment throughout his career. He opposes offshore drilling and a new coal mega-plant in Surry. Terry McAuliffe has consistently said he’s for drilling off our coast and that he does not oppose the new coal mega-plant. He should be honest about that and tell the truth. The difference is clear.”
Charlottesville’s NBC29 recently featured a discussion of the four candidates on offshore drilling available here
Earlier in the week, Friends of Terry McAuliffe sponsored a poll testing negative attacks against Brian Moran. The poll was conducted by Luce Research from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
McAuliffe’s campaign has not only broken its most visible campaign pledge, but also continues to make a misleading distinction between offshore oil drilling and offshore gas drilling. This position has been refuted by the federal Minerals Management Service, the body which regulates federal offshore drilling leases:
“Q15: The Commonwealth of Virginia indicated interest in possibly having gas-only leasing, as part of Virginia’s Energy Policy as defined in Virginia Code § 67-300. Is that an option?
A15: No, gas-only leasing is not currently an option because the OCS Lands Act does not allow for leasing of and exploration for natural gas only, as it authorizes ‘oil and gas leases’ under section 8 (43 U.S.C. 1337). Additionally, there are technical and engineering challenges to gas-only leasing including maintaining appropriate reservoir development and determining what would happen if oil was found.”
Brian Moran has consistently fought offshore drilling of all kinds.
- January, 2009. “In the race to become the next governor, Brian Moran, a Democrat, broke ranks Tuesday with other candidates by vowing to fight all efforts to allow oil and natural gas drilling off the Virginia coast.” (No Drilling off VA Coast, Virginian-Pilot, 1/14/2009)
- May, 2007. “During a news conference, [Brian Moran and Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf] …raised concerns about the impact offshore drilling could have on Virginia Beach tourism, the environment and global warming.” (Delegate, Mayor, Sierra Club Oppose Drilling for Oil in Virginia, Associated Press, May 26, 2007)
Brian Moran has a 20-year record of fighting for the people of Virginia. He was Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and a Delegate from Alexandria City and Fairfax County. Prior to that, he served as a prosecutor in Arlington County.
Hey Joe — Mo Elleithee from the McAuliffe campaign here. We’re old friends, but I just don’t understand the Moran campaign on this one.
BOTH Terry and Brian have consistently opposed offshore oil drilling.
However, when he was in the General Assembly, Brian Moran actually voted FOR the current Virginia law, supported by Governor Kaine, that prohibited oil drilling but allowed for limited natural gas exploration 50 miles off the VA coast. (SB262, 4/19/06)
In case you’re unfamiliar with the law, here’s what it says: “The measure also provides that it is the Commonwealth’s policy to support federal efforts to determine the extent of natural gas resources 50 miles or more offshore and to support the inclusion of the Atlantic Planning Areas in the federal Mineral Management Service’s draft environmental impact statement for natural gas exploration 50 miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline.”
We’ve repeatedly asked about this vote, but the Moran campaign has chosen not to respond, and instead continue launching false negative attacks against Terry.
So maybe YOU can answer, since your candidate won’t. Does Brian Moran think he and Governor Kaine were wrong when voted to allow offshore natural gas exploration was wrong?
Mo — A little legislature 101 for your candidate. There are these things called bills. And I am going to go real slow here. In this case there was a horrendous energy bill put forth by the GOP that would allow a lot of drilling. Amendments to that bill proposed by Governor Kaine would restrict drilling. Brian voted against the original bill and voted for the amendments that made the bill more restictive.. And why didn’t Brian vote against the amendments too when they were not as restrictive as he wanted? You see if you don’t come up with the votes for the amendments then the GOP would just pass the orginal bill — the unrestricted GOP bill would have passed. Amendments had to be crafted that would draw enough Republicans to vote for them so that a better bill (one with restrictions) would pass. And a bill that prevented any drilling (Brian Moran’s position) would have been voted down by the GOP — so Brian sided with the Governor to pass the most restrictive bill possible. But your candidate has never had to make those choices, because he has never had to cast a vote or work with a Governor on the floor to stop a more damaging bill. You knew the answer. In the future don’t waste my time.
Joe, I know you’d rather spend time pushing the false attack that Terry supports oil drilling (even though there are numerous citations of his opposition). The fact is, neither candidate supports drilling for oil, and repeating the same old tired attack doesn’t make it true. But back to the point at hand — I don’t mean to waste either of our time, I just think people deserve clarity on Brian’s confusing position and record. And you still haven’t answered my question — does Brian think he and Governor Kaine were wrong? Governor Kaine stands by the current state law which prohibits drilling for oil, but allows for limited exploration of natural gas. Senator Webb also supports that law, as does Terry. Brian voted for that law — he did not have to. If it was a principled position, he could have fought against BOTH bills. Did he offer an amendment to the bill? But as a candidate for governor, he now has a different position. I know its common for General Assembly members to resort to legislative speak, but I think most Virginians think that’s part of what’s wrong with Richmond. So, if it’s not too much of a waste of your time, please explain to me if he thinks Governor Kaine, Senator Webb, and his own vote were wrong. I’d appreciate it.
Dearest Mo, here is the difference between the two candidates. Your guy supports drilling for natural gas 50 miles off the coast of Virginia — he can say only natural gas all he wants — but the fact is every lease, by law is for natural gas and OIL. Period. Twist it any way you want. Spin it and rinse it but that is a fact. Brian Moran opposes drilling including yout swell 50 mile thing — period. Get it. Your guy is for it — Brian is against it. When the GOP wanted a bad energy bill and had a voting majority Governor Kaine did the right thing and proposed amendments that restricted the drilling and Brian Moran did the right thing and worked with Governor Kaine to make a bad bill better. Now if you don’t get it, well you just don’t get it. Man I hope he is paying you good.
I really only have one rule here. Don’t pretend you are someone you are not.
I guess the truth really does hurt! Good luck finding that new gig on June 10. My only regret, not including your 6 pm appointment to find new ways to blame Brian Moran for Trippi loss.
Dude — nice blackberry
Truth be known you’re both wrong.
Drill, baby, drill!
Jesus Christ, consultants feuding it out? This is painful. Worse on Mo, but matches the McAuliffe campaign pretty well.
As a journalist and frien, I’ve known Joe for better than 20 years and havewatched him do political campaigns from the mayoral to the presidential level. He’s a professional. He usually (not always) gets padfor what he des. But when he says his’s driven by his passions,not his paycheck, trust me–he’s being real.
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