Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, also known as Crossroads GPS, is a secretly-funded 501(c)(4) conservative political group created in June 2010 by right-wing political operatives and “advised” by Karl Rove and former RNC chairman Ed Gillespie to support Republican candidates. It is a spin-off group of American Crossroads, a 527 Political Action Committee under the same leadership.

“It’s no surprise that Karl Rove has an early eye on this Senate seat,” said DPVA Chairman Brian Moran. “When looking at George Allen’s record next to Tim Kaine’s there’s no comparison.

“Republicans know that they can’t run on George Allen’s dismal Senate record so they’ve resorted to false claims about Tim Kaine. Voters in Virginia deserve to know the facts about their candidates not be mislead by outright lies.”

Newspapers across the Commonwealth agree, see the video below or click here.

• 6:45-7:30 pm private reception
• 7:30-8:30 pm general reception

At Ireland’s Four Courts (1 block from Courthouse Metro; 2051 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201; map, click here).

RSVP online, click here.

We need to do everything to keep this year’s crop of Tea Party extremists out of the state Senate. With the Governor’s mansion and the House of Delegates both controlled by Republicans, our majority in the Senate is the only thing standing in the way of the Tea Party’s extreme ideological agenda that will cost us jobs and decimate the Commonwealth’s education system.

We can’t let these radical Tea Partiers turn back all the progress we’ve made. Please join Senator Al Franken and Congressman Jim Moran and Congressman Bobby Scott for a reception on Tuesday, November 1st – your support will help give Virginia Democrats the resources and grassroots energy they need to prevent a Tea Party majority in the state Senate.

If you can’t make it, please consider contributing online, even just $5 can make a big difference this November.

Senator Al Franken, Congressman Moran and Congressman Scott are appearing at this event only as special guests. Senator Franken, Congressman Moran and Congressman Scott are not asking for funds or donations.

1. Virginia would change radically if the McDonnell-Cuccinelli Cantor Republicans take over the Senate
   In less than three weeks Virginia voters will go to the polls and make decisions that will affect the future of our Commonwealth and the families who live here. If Republicans are successful in taking over the state Senate they will have complete control of our government and free rein to advance their backward agenda – unless we spend the next 20 days doing everything we can to stop them and elect our Democratic candidates. To read Chairman Brian Moran’s rundown of what’s at stake and how you can help click here. To read an Associated Press column on the many radical right-wing laws that would go through if Republicans have full control of our government click here.
    
2. McDonnell’s Department of Education credits President Obama for saving or creating more than 7,000 jobs
   As President Obama visited Virginia again to talk about his plan to put more Americans back to work and more money in their pockets, Governor Bob McDonnell’s Department of Education told the Huffington Post that the President has already saved more than 7,000 jobs in Virginia. Maybe McDonnell’s thank you card got lost in the mail. To read about the jobs that President Obama saved in Virginia click here.
    
3. Jason Flanary signed Norquist’s anti-tax pledge before he didn’t
   Controversy erupted this week in the 37th Senate District race (incumbent, Democrat Dave Marsden) about whether Tea Partier Jason Flanary did or did not sign Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge. During the primary Flanary seemed all too eager to bow to Grover and kiss the ring, but now that he’s running in a general election against a results-oriented leader like Dave Marsden, Flanary seems to have changed his tune. Luckily, Norquist isn’t letting him off the hook. To read more about the right-wing spat between Flanary and Norquist click here.
    
4. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz stresses the importance of keeping the state Senate this year
   At the recent DPVA reception in Arlington DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DPVA Chair Brian Moran and U.S. Reps. Jim Moran and Gerry Connolly urged all Virginia Democrats to do everything they can to get out the vote for our Democratic candidates in the Senate and the House of Delegates this year. To view a video of each leader talking about this year’s elections click here.
    
5. Virginia communities brace for McDonnell’s budget cuts
   Governor Bob “McGimmick” McDonnell has dropped his self-congratulation over the “budget surplus,” and has replaced it with dire warnings of looming budget cuts to state agencies that could further damage education, transportation and other core services. To read more about the potential for new budget cuts to Virginia communities click here. To read statements from Democratic leaders across Virginia urging the Governor to put middle class families ahead of the Tea Party click here.

1. New DPVA Web Video – A jobs Governor?
   DPVA released a new web video urging Governor McDonnell to get results to match his rhetoric on jobs. In August Virginia’s unemployment rate increased for the second straight month while the national rate declined, and the percentage of Virginia’s population that had a job was lower than when Bob McDonnell took office. To watch the new video click here. To read a message from DPVA Chair Brian Moran about the importance of holding Bob McDonnell accountable on jobs click here.
    
2. Frank Wolf Rips Grover Norquist and His Anti-Tax “Pledge”
   Republican Rep. Frank Wolf took to the floor of the House of Representatives and went off on right-winger Grover Norquist and his pledge binding signers from raising taxes for any reason. Wolf accused Norquist of blocking real tax reform and listed a number of complaints Norquist himself including his association with jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Read more about this, click here. To read more about Frank Wolf’s anti-Norquist tirade click here.
    
3. Tea Party Senate candidate Garrett attacks Lynchburg
   Last week the Lynchburg News & Advance called out right-wing Republican Senate candidate Tom Garrett’s recent tirade against the city of Lynchburg, urging him to spend a little time in the city and get to know it better. Garrett went after the city for tax increases that are the result of unfunded mandates from Richmond and supposed “plywood on Main Street,” a charge to which the Lynchburg paper took particularly offense. To read more about Tom Garrett’s attack on a community that he is running to represent, click here.
    
4. Bob “Surplusterisk” McDonnell tells state agencies to brace for cuts
   Governor Bob McDonnell, fresh of his summer celebration of his fake budget surplus, told state agencies to send him a range of proposals to cut their budgets for yet another year. To read more about Bob McDonnell’s ever diminishing surplus myth click here.
    
5. McDonnell and Cuccinelli’s invasive politics
   Richmond’s Style Weekly magazine ran a great column last week by a VCU student examining the crushing hypocrisy demonstrated by self-styled “small government conservatives” like Bob McDonnell and Ken Cuccinelli, who make careers out of getting government out of people’s lives unless those people are women or members of the LGBT community. To read more about McDonnell and Cuccinelli’s continued big government moral crusading, click here.
    

Does one of these topics ‘grab’ you? Wanna say something more about it? Write a letter to the editor to one of our local papers, click here.

• Steering Committee meets Friday evening, September 16 at 7:30 pm at Osprey’s Landing (401 Belmont Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22191)
• Central Committee meets (and workshops) Saturday, September 17 at Harbour View (13200 Marina Way, Woodbridge, VA 22191)

Accommodation Details

• DPVA Hotel Block
  Hampton Inn (1240 Annapolis Way, Woodbridge, VA 22191 ), rate: $109/night. To make reservations, please call 1-703-490-2300 and ask for the “Virginia Democrats” room block. Or you can book online, click here (Group Code: VAD).
• Other Hotels
  These are hotels in the general vicinity. The DPVA does not have a block at any of the following:

• Inns of Virginia (951 Annapolis Way, Woodbridge, VA), (703) 490-3400
• Quality Inn (1109 Horner Road, Woodbridge, VA), (800) 228-5151
• EconoLodge (13317 Gordon Boulevard, Woodbridge, VA), (800) 553-2666

1. Crisis averted – Congress passes a debt ceiling increase
   As with any compromise, it wasn’t perfect, but President Obama and congressional leaders finally got together and passed a debt ceiling increase that will allow our nation to meet it’s obligations, avoid the economic catastrophe of a default and preserve the possibility of reducing our deficit through a balance of spending cuts and additional revenue. To read more about the recent debt deal click here.
2. McDonnell continues disingenuous promotion of phantom surplus
   Governor Bob McDonnell never lets the truth get in the way of telling a good story about himself. Fortunately, many Virginians and news outlets understand the considerably more complex story of a budget filled with gimmicks, unpaid bills and unmet obligations to working families. Click here to read the Washington Post’s takedown of McDonnell’s disingenuous budget rhetoric.
3. Moran, state leaders urge voters to focus on this year’s races
   This is a unique time in Virginia politics with so many state races coming up this year and such critical statewide races happening next year including a Senate and President race. As easy as it is to get excited about next year, this year’s elections will mean a lot for Virginia families, particularly if we lose a Democratic Majority in the Senate and Bob McDonnell is allowed to push his anti-middle class agenda unchecked. To watch a news clip about the importance of next year’s elections click here.
4. We’re on iPad and iPhone!
   In case you missed it, the DPVA released it’s first ever mobile app last week, giving our activists another way to stay up to date with the latest in news, events and local Democratic activities. If you have an iPhone or iPad, download the app and watch out for updates in the near future. To download the DPVA iPhone or iPad app click here.
5. Virginia budget cuts continue to hit home
   This week the News-Leader examined how cuts to Virginia’s human services budgets are putting further strain on our already crowded mental health facilities, an issue that “takes on a whole new danger you’re talking about acutely mentally ill patients.” As Governor Bob McDonnell talks about a phantom surplus, it’s important to remember the dangerous cuts we have made to education, human services, infrastructure and other key investments. To read about the building mental health crisis click here.

Does one of these topics ‘grab’ you? Wanna say something more about it? Write a letter to the editor to one of our local papers, click here.

Introducing the iPhone and iPad App for the Democratic Party of Virginia.  Search “DPVA” in the App Store or click here to download.

This is your party – and with this free app you can react to the latest news and video, post messages to Facebook and Twitter, find events near you, and get involved with your local Democratic Committee. Together we can fight for equal opportunity and make Virginia a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

All resources are a work in progress – we want to hear from you regarding ideas for how to improve the app, so send your suggestions and feedback to app@vademocrats.org.  You can also rate the app in the Apple Store. Don’t wait, download the app and help change Virginia today!

1. Virginia lost 14,600 jobs last month
   The U.S. Department of Labor reported last week that Virginia lost more than 14,000 jobs in the month of June, more than every other state but two. The loss amounted to nearly a quarter of the gains the state has made since Governor Bob McDonnell took office, which should lead Virginians to question about our Governor is actually doing to create jobs for struggling Virginians. At the same time, the nonprofit Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis released a report stating that Governor McDonnell has not made any progress on jobs since taking office. To read more about the staggering June job losses click here. To read the DPVA statement questioning “Bob’s for Jobs’” record on job creation click here. To read an overview of the Commonwealth Institute report, click here.
2. Cantor, Allen continue to play chicken with our economy
   As debt talks in Washington continue to threaten our economic security and the AAA bond ratings of the nation and Virginia, Eric Cantor continues to stand in the way of a deal and George Allen continues to cheer him on from the sidelines, urging Republicans to use potential disaster to our economy as ‘leverage’ for budget cuts that will hurt the middle class. To read more about Cantor and Allen’s willingness to risk our economy for their own agenda, click here. To watch a web video on how Allen’s position compares with other Republicans click here. To watch a web video on Cantor’s reckless and irresponsible behavior click here.
3. Guess who is pulling Eric Cantor’s strings?
   The Washington Post featured Eric Cantor this week as the largest defender of hedge fund and financial firms in Congress, and also of course one of the largest recipients of their money. To read more about Cantor’s Wall Street masters click here.
4. Warner, Webb try to delay carrier move
   Democratic Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner introduced amendments last week to remove the funding it would take to move a Navy aircraft carrier from Norfolk to Mayport, Florida. The move could cost thousands of Virginia jobs and hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. To read more about Warner and Webb’s fight to keep the carrier in Virginia click here.
5. Localities question the McDonnell surplus
   The Lynchburg News & Advance reported this week on the disingenuousness of Bob McDonnell’s ‘surplus’ claims as cities and counties like Lynchburg are struggling to deliver services for their citizens after dramatic cuts in state funding. As one city councilman put it:  “I think it’s unconscionable that the state would claim to have a balanced budget when, in fact, all it’s doing is forcing us to raise revenues locally to pay for its efforts.” He called the state’s actions “dishonest.” To read more about the local reaction to Bob McDonnell’s fantastical surplus, click here.

Does one of these topics ‘grab’ you? Wanna say something more about it? Write a letter to the editor to one of our local papers, click here.

• McDonnell embraces Republican cuts to federal transportation funding
  Always ready to put right-wing politics ahead of what Virginia needs, Governor Bob McDonnell endorsed a plan put forward by congressional Republicans to cut federal transportation funding by as much as one-third. The Democratic staff of the House Transportation Committee estimates that the cuts could cost Virginia as much as $340 million in funding and more than 11,000 jobs in fiscal year 2012. To read more about Bob McDonnell’s refusal to fight for the funding we need, click here. To read a round-up of two editorials condemning the Governor’s support for this plan, click here.
• More than 500 Democrats and Progressives gather for the first-ever Virginia Summit
  The first-ever DPVA/Organizing for America/Virginia Young Democrats Summit was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who came out to educate, train and win with fellow Democrats and the expert trainers and presenters we had on hand. To read more about the first-ever Virginia Summit as well as other Democratic events from last weekend, click here.
• Eric Cantor becomes the face of right-wing brinksmanship on the debt ceiling
  U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor has thrust himself into the limelight of the ongoing negotiations over the federal debt ceiling, demonstrating to the rest of the country what Virginians already knew: he’s a vain and smug man who is willing to play chicken with the economy to improve his chances of becoming Speaker. To read the RTD’s Jeff Schapiro’s take on Rep. Cantor’s self-interested foray into the debt debate, click here.
• Kaine doubles Allen up in first head-to-head fundraising quarter
  Governor Tim Kaine raised $2.25 million in the first fundraising quarter of his campaign for U.S. Senate. Former Senator George Allen raised $1.1 million over the same period. In response to being so handily beaten, Allen attacked the grassroots fundraising website ActBlue for, well, raising money from the grassroots for Governor Kaine. To read more about the recent fundraising reports in the U.S. Senate race click here.
• McDonnell touts budget surplus, McEachin calls him out
  Governor Bob McDonnell announced that the Virginia government has a $311 million surplus. That sounds well and good, but as Senator Donald McEachin pointed out in a statement, saying: “Not only has the Governor balanced the budget on the back of Virginians through local governments by insisting they pay more or cut programs, he neglects to mention all the outstanding obligations that have been incurred. Virginia has $600 million in unfunded VRS liabilities and over $3 billion issued in road bonds. Those are outstanding bills that will need to be paid.” To read more about the Virginia budget surplus, click here. To read Senator Donald McEachin’s statement in response click here.

Does one of these topics ‘grab’ you? Wanna say something more about it? Write a letter to the editor to one of our local papers, click here.

Does one of these topics ‘grab’ you? Wanna say something more about it? Write a letter to the editor to one of our local papers, click here.

• Allen was against ethanol before he was for it before he was against it
  Senate candidate George Allen has never met a poll-driven position he couldn’t find a way to take, even if he held the exact opposition position not too long ago. This time he’s jumped on the “cut ethanol subsidies” bandwagon, despite having supported them when he was President, and opposed them before that.  To read more about George Allen’s “flip, flop, flip,” on ethanol, click here.
• The Obama campaign gears up for 2012
  We’ve got critically important legislative races this year, but it is great to see that President Obama’s re-election campaign is already getting ready to win Virginia again next year. To read more about the President’s re-election bid in Virginia, click here.
• Connolly stands up to Republican censorship
  Rep. Gerry Connolly took to the House floor last week to decry Republican attempts to censor Democratic franked mail pieces that accurately describe Paul Ryan’s budget plan as a proposal to end Medicare as we know it.  To read more about Rep. Connolly’s fight against Republican censorship click here.
• Jamie Radtke calls the 2012 Republican primary a ‘referendum’ on the party’s soul
  The Republican primary for the 2012 Senate race is heating up as Jamie Radtke continues to make the case that George Allen isn’t nearly right-wing enough for today’s Republican party. Unfortunately, she forgets that George Allen is not particularly fixed to any particular ideological position and can easily get more or less conservative if the need arises. To read more about Jamie Radtke’s uphill climb against George Allen click here.
• Cuccinelli advises churches on legal ways to campaign
  Some Virginians somewhere (probably not on this mailing list) may have thought when they voted for Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli that they were choosing a new state lawyer to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves, keep the public safe and in general work diligently on behalf of his client, the people of Virginia. One wonders how they feel about him traveling around to religious conferences offering legal instructions to churches on how they can influence elections without threatening their nonprofit tax status. To read more about Ken Cuccinelli’s political playbook for churches, click here.