VA-GOV: I am sick and tired of this shit.

[RandySF]

A Washington, D.C.-based political action committee is pledging to reach out to 200,000 African-American voters in Virginia to promote Justin Fairfax, the candidate for lieutenant governor who was left off of some fliers printed by the campaign of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northam.

The Northam campaign printed some fliers that omitted reference to Fairfax, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, at the request of the Laborers’ International Union of North America. The union, a financial backer of Northam’s campaign, requested a flier without Fairfax on it because the group had not endorsed him, according to a spokesman.

Fairfax does not support two controversial natural gas pipelines that have the backing of the union.

The Fairfax-free flier looked similar to one that included him, Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring on it. When compared side by side, the discrepancy led to questions Tuesday about why Fairfax was removed.

Quentin James is the co-founder of the political action committee The Collective, which supports progressive black candidates nationally. He said the image of the fliers side-by-side is “striking” and kept him awake in the middle of the night when he saw it.



http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/pac-pledges-to-turn-out-black-vote-for-justin-fairfax/article_f7c5d84a-34fd-50fb-8958-357418824a50.html

[FSogol]

1. If Justin Fairfax isn't upset about it, why should we be upset?

[RandySF]

2. It's upsetting the African American community.

Do a Google search of the situation.

[FSogol]

3. I've been phone banking for Northam, Fairfax, Herring, and Filler-Corn.

Mr Fairfax addressed those concerns today and he appears on all the literature in my area.

[bottomofthehill]

9. got my sample ballot in the mail at lunch today

voted at the west springfield police station this evening. yes on the bond issue too!

[FSogol]

10. I'm in the area right next to you in Burke.

Thanks for voting.

[bottomofthehill]

14. Walked Lake Braddock this morning

It was a little chilly, but turned into a beautiful day

[RandySF]

4. And he is upset.

The Fairfax campaign issued a statement from him that said: “This was a poor decision, which shouldn’t have happened, and we need to make sure this doesn’t happen again. People who are canvassing for the coordinated campaign should be carrying (literature) for the entire ticket. I’ve heard that they’ve pulled the lit and it won’t be used. Sadly, this issue detracts from what we should be focused on which is getting our base, especially our African-American base in Virginia, excited about this election so that they come out to vote.”

[FSogol]

5. If you say so, I heard him comment on it this morning and he really downplayed it. n/t

[renegade000]

11. He's been on all the literature I've been seeing.

It's a mistake that should be criticized and rectified, but hardly representative of the promotion efforts of the VA Dems as a whole, based on what I've seen during my participation and following of the campaign so far.

I'm a bit concerned that this is an attempt to distract from the overtly racist tone of the Republican campaign...

[RandySF]

12. I got a little heated.

The union should see that Fairfax is, overall, a great candidate and person. They and the Northam campaign should have also foreseen the consequences of their action.