Quinnipiac University Polling Institute released a new poll
on Thursday that found Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) has a 2-1 approval rating. 53
percent of Virginians polled give McDonnell the big thumbs up while 26 percent
of Virginians living on planet Real don’t.[1]
What is particularly shocking and newsworthy are the
demographic blocs that approved of McDonnell’s job performance: young voters
and women, two of the same groups who largely voted against Mitt Romney.
Young voters aged 18-34 approve of McDonnell 48 percent to
24 percent while women approve of McDonnell 48 percent to 26 percent.
As if these numbers weren’t staggering enough, Quinnipiac
assistant director Peter A. Brown noted, “He [Bob McDonnell] is the only
Republican office-holder in the seven state surveyed by Quinnipiac University
who get positive ratings from women…and a plus score from black voters. A 2-1
approval rating among young voters doesn’t hurt.”[2] What
it does hurt, however, is my ability to make any sense of these poll numbers.
While McDonnell hasn’t been the vocal “the government is
taking away your guns” or “President Obama is a communist” Republican, he also
hasn’t been a friend to demographic blocs in Virginia that are not white and
male.
It wasn’t too long ago that Gov. McDonnell stated that he
wouldn’t make an exception for abortions for women who’ve been raped.[3] He
also strongly supported a General Assembly bill that required women to receive
an ultrasound before undertaking an abortion.[4]
Don’t tread on…a woman’s vagina!
Public naiveté or general lack of knowledge regarding the
views of their elected representatives is not a new phenomenon. Most of us want
to see the good in others, especially those who are supposed to be looking out
for our best interests in government. And McDonnell has abetted this process by
being careful not to crazy into crazy far-right territory too often and
throwing himself and his actual political views too far into the spotlight.
But McDonnell is not the kind of politician that liberal or
conservatives in Virginia want. He has subverted individual liberty, the
democratic process, and his own integrity for misguided ideological and political
goals.
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