Attorney General Cuccinelli's star keeps rising at Va. tea party gathering

[Derechos]

By Rosalind S. Helderman Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 9, 2010; 9:48 PM

RICHMOND - Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II emerged as a clear favorite of the first Virginia Tea Party Convention Saturday, drawing lusty cheers as he told more than 2,000 activists that the tea party would not exist if not for Republican Party failures.

Cuccinelli (R), whose supporters waved the yellow "Don't Tread on Me" flag as they helped nominate him for office at last year's state Republican convention, drew a sustained ovation when he took the microphone at an afternoon panel on federalism.

"I don't think there'd be a tea party if the Republican Party had been a party of limited government in the first part of this decade," Cuccinelli said to cheers.

Saturday's speakers included Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), former senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), former senator George Allen (R-Va.), Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.), radio talk-show host Herman Cain and former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs. But every mention of the outspoken attorney general drew loud applause, and some activists handed out "Cuccinelli for President" lapel stickers.

Since taking office in January, Cuccinelli has sued the Environmental Protection Agency over regulations designed to prevent global warming and has subpoenaed the University of Virginia in search of documents that he hopes would show that a leading climate scientist is a fraud.

Most notably for the crowd, Cuccinelli filed suit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health-care law. His suit is separate from one filed jointly by 20 states in Florida and will be heard first - a federal judge will hear oral arguments on Oct. 18.

"Quite frankly, if they could switch him today with the governor, they would," said Robert Jeffery, an activist from Reston. "In a heartbeat."

Cuccinelli's continued popularity with conservatives could be complicating to the agenda of Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R), who addressed the convention Friday, and McDonnell's chosen successor, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R).

Cuccinelli has said he has no plans to challenge Bolling for the Republican nomination in 2013, but his supporters might push for him to run.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/09/AR2010100903894.html

[Derechos]

1. This is what the Washington Post

...considers a balanced "news" article.

[FSogol]

2. Cucinelli is scum

He makes me :puke: