I was in Washington this past weekend attending a board of trustees meeting at Howard University. I did not attend any of the events during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual awards dinner. After I heard about President Barack Obama’s speech, I was glad I didn’t attend. I did, though, have occasion to talk with [...]
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(Speech Delivered August 16, 2011) It is good to be in Martha’s Vineyard, and it is good to be back in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Twenty years ago I was settling into my second year as governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The country and the world were getting used to having a black American [...]
The U.S. government can now meet its obligations. A deal has been struck between Democrats and Republicans on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. The crisis we have been forced to live through these past few weeks has been averted — for the time being. Yet this is no time for a celebration. Everyone in Washington [...]
RICHMOND – A couple of weeks ago my attention was called to an article on Real Clear Politics highlighting the fact that the president and his team see Virginia as a key battleground that Barack Obama must win if he is to be reelected. As such, the campaign already has launched an early and aggressive [...]
RICHMOND — IT WAS A PLEASURE and an honor to be invited by the National Governors Association — as a former member — in conjunction with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, to help lead the three-day induction course for Nigeria’s newly elected governors. I was part of a group that included former Governor Bill Richardson of [...]
RICHMOND — OSAMA BIN LADEN can harm us no more. Those are words many Americans have waited a long time to say. And I find they bring me great relief as an American to be able to use them. One of history’s worst mass murderers — a man who found satisfaction and purpose in attacking [...]
We rebuilt the Democratic Party of Virginia to exist for the benefit of its members and the citizens of this commonwealth. Does it still? Since the modern era of Virginia political history began — in 1969 when two-party competition first started — Virginia Democrats have ended statewide electoral draughts before. As a matter of fact, [...]
THIS YEAR’S REDISTRICTING plans could unnecessarily short-change minorities in the Virginia General Assembly — and also have unintended consequences for the congressional delegation. I know how redistricting works. During my time in the Virginia General Assembly and as the commonwealth’s governor and beyond, I have witnessed how a carefully wielded pen can mean the difference [...]