This morning I woke up to a call from my mom who lives in Suffok, VA. It was 7:45am and she knows I don't like to see daylight before 9 or 10am so I knew she was calling for a reason. She told me that she had seen a peculiar sign on the way to work. It declared "MARK WARNER HAS BETRAYED VIRGINIA." My mom was obviously confused as to why someone would decide to post such a sign after Warner was re-elected this year. But I know why.
The last couple years have not been great for Virginia Republicans. First, they lose a presidential and senate race in 2012 and, then in 2013, they get shutout of the Statewide offices. I get it. This is all new to them. This year they fought hard to regain some sort of control and they lost, but just barely.
Let me explain something though. Virginia Democrats are some of the most devoted public servants I have had the honor to work for or meet. They have not "betrayed" Virginia in any way. If anything, Virginia Republicans have done that time and again. This person that posted that sign must not know what Virginia really looks like. So let me give you an idea of the Virginia I have lived in nearly my entire life.
My Virginia starts in Hampton Roads with Navy bases, traffic, and hundreds of thousands of people packed into 7 cities. These hundreds of thousands of people are of every race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic class. Other than NoVA, it is probably the most integrated part of the state in both mentality and geographic set-up. It still has its problems, but it is getting there. Hampton Roads is resoundingly democratic, sans Virginia Beach which is more 50/50. My Virginia then moves to the Roanoke Valley with mountains, long winding roads, high school football, and far fewer people. Going to middle and high school in Salem, VA was an interesting experience for this city girl. The diversity I was so used to was nearly nonexistent and the segregation of races, religions, and so forth was glaringly obvious to me as an outsider. There are not as many democrats out there, but my generation is changing that I feel. My Virginia finally moves to Northern Virginia with its hyperdiversity, prosperity, and millions of people. What I love most about living in NoVA is going to the store and hearing any manner of language as you walk around. I love that I live 20 minutes from a beautiful Sikh temple with a golden dome. That my neighbors are African Muslims who immigrated to the United States rather recently.
My Virginia is not narrow. It is a canvass that holds every color of the rainbow and more on it.
So when I hear people say that Mark Warner or Tim Kaine or Terry McAuliffe betrayed Virginia, I am confused. What Virginia are you looking at? Is your Virginia filled with White, Middle Aged Men? Because mine isn't.
I have never had the pleasure to work or even volunteer for any of Mark Warner's campaigns, but I have met him a handful of times in my travels. He is, by far, one of the most dedicated public servants in the country. He does everything for Virginians. From his Governorship to his time as Senator he has fought for us. For our military bases, our veterans, our teachers, our children, everyone. He sometimes even waxes a bit too moderate for me because he works for Virginians as a whole. I remember the first time I saw him in person. He was with Tim Kaine when he announced his candidacy for Governor back in 2005. I remember little 14 year old me having no idea who Tim was, but knowing that the guy to his right was Mark Warner aka the best Governor Virginia had ever seen. I was in awe of him and to this day I carry a deep respect for him.
As of late, it has become common place to disrespect Democratic leaders. Barack Obama may be President, but I have never seen a President put up with such blatant obstruction and crap in my lifetime or in history. Not too long ago, Mark Warner was the Republican's Democrat. He still has more Republican endorsements than his Republican opponents from time to time. This year, he's "betraying" Virginians. I don't get it. Nothing about him has changed. But something about the Republican Party in Virginia has and I don't like it. I won't respect this direction it is taking. Because believe it or not there are republicans I respect, but if this is the way of the VAGOP, then I bid them adieu and will personally see to it that they never win a statewide race again so long as I reside in Virginia.
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