Republicans Stumbling Against 'Virginia Values'

By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 13, 2007

RICHMOND It might not be "macaca," but House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) is keeping alive Democrats' hopes that voters, particularly those in diverse Northern Virginia, will view the Republican Party as out of touch.

Last week, Howell spoke to a group of business leaders at the Virginia Foundation for Research and Economic Education meeting in Richmond. In response to a question from the audience about illegal immigration, Howell said the state's newest residents might not be accustomed to the "shared values we have in Virginia," according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Asked by a Washington Post reporter on Monday to explain what he meant by "shared values," Howell hung up the phone. At least one business leader who attended the event described Howell's comments as appalling. G. Paul Nardo, Howell's chief of staff, said the speaker was talking about "Virginia values."

"Those values are lower taxes, less burdensome regulations and a positive business environment," Nardo said.

Democrats interpreted the remarks as something worse. They say Howell's "shared values" comment was the latest in a series of insulting remarks from Republican leaders, including then-Sen. George Allen's macaca slur last year and a statement in January by Del. Frank D. Hargrove Sr. (R-Hanover) that Jews are responsible for killing Christ.

On Monday, House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) and Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) had a conference call with reporters demanding that Howell apologize, saying the speaker was undermining Virginia's business climate. They noted that Howell made the comment on the same day Volkswagen, a German company, announced it was moving its U.S. headquarters to Herndon.

"Why would the speaker make a statement that hundreds of new employees coming into the commonwealth don't share Virginia values?" Armstrong asked. "It's almost as if, if you are moving to Virginia, and you are not a card-carrying member of the Republican Party, we don't want you."

Moran said, "This is about in-sourcing jobs to Virginia, making sure we continue our economic prosperity. When you have the speaker, a GOP leader, insulting new residents, I do not think that is good for our commonwealth."

In an interview, Nardo fired back at Armstrong and Moran. "If someone should be apologizing, it should be Virginia Democrats apologizing for their absolute failure" to do anything about "criminal illegal aliens," Nardo said.

The squabbling is silly. It seems to be a bit of a stretch for Democrats to accuse Howell of trying to dampen Virginia's economic growth. Instead of trying to score political points in an election year, Armstrong and Moran would be better served having a news conference to discuss Democratic priorities, something they haven't done in weeks.

As for Nardo's retort about Democrats and illegal immigration, there is plenty of bipartisan blame to go around for the failure to secure the country's borders. Immigration is largely a federal issue. The influx of supposedly illegal immigrants into Virginia in recent years occurred under the watch of President Bush, a Republican. Republicans also controlled Congress from 2003 to 2007.

Even if you argue the state government should have done more to curtail illegal immigration, part of the blame can be directed at Republicans, who have controlled the General Assembly since 1999. Efforts in the General Assembly to get tough on illegal immigrants have largely failed because the House and Senate haven't agreed on legislation.

Beyond the political bickering over immigration, however, there is one question that should be debated this fall: What are Virginia values?

"Virginia values" may be doing Republicans more harm than good. In his unsuccessful bid for governor in 2001 against Democrat Mark R. Warner, Republican Mark L. Earley was fond of saying he supports "Virginia values, not Vermont values." Four years later, former attorney general Jerry W. Kilgore (R) spoke broadly of "Virginia values" during his failed attempt for governor against Democrat Timothy M. Kaine.

Last year, Allen often mentioned "Virginia values" during his losing bid for reelection while accusing his opponent for U.S. Senate, James Webb (D), of having "Hollywood values."

Hundreds of thousands of people have moved into vote-rich Northern Virginia over the past two decades.

Some of Northern Virginia's new residents are from northern states such as -- gasp -- Vermont. Others are recent immigrants from all around the world, as evidenced by one in four residents of Fairfax County being foreign-born.

Those newcomers have no idea what Virginia values are; most of their knowledge of the state comes from history books.

And history doesn't always offer a flattering portrait of Virginia's values, including its segregationist past.

Kilgore's and Allen's losses can be attributed to their getting crushed in Northern Virginia, in part because the state's new residents were turned off by their message.

Republican leaders stress that Virginia values mean a commitment to faith and family. That argument can still be a winning message for Republicans in ethnically diverse Northern Virginia. After all, Hispanics make up the fastest-growing segments of the Catholic and Protestant religions in the United States.

National Republican leaders say Hispanics tend to be conservative and identify with the party's positions on social issues.

Republicans might want to find a way besides "Virginia values" to convey their message. Kaine's political slogan is "Moving Virginia Forward."

Does the Republican Party really want Northern Virginia voters to decide between a message about the future and one that causes some to think of the state's past?