Earlier today I posted a diary on TIM KAINE – what’s he like??? based on my speaking with and observing him at a fundraiser here in Arlington VA where I live. That fundraiser was for him.
Tonight he spoke at a fundraiser for Jay Fisette, chairman of Arlington County Board, who is up for reelection this year. Jay now has no opponent, but that was not known at the time the fundraiser was scheduled (the deadline for filing was Tuesday).
This diary will offer a few observations about the fundraiser, the people who attended, Kaine’s remarks.
Fisette was the first openly gay public official elected in the Washington Metropolitan area. He is now highly respected, which explains the lack of an opponent. We also have a gay member of the House of Delegates, Adam Ebben, who also attended. A number of elected Arlington officials were also present, as well as several former elected officials. Tow attendees caught my attention. The first was Kate Hanley, who was chair of the Fairfax County Board, and who ahd considered challenging Jim Moran in the Democratic primary until she found out her husband was sick. I spoke with her briefly, and she made clear she has no intent of again running for office. She was there to support Jay, with whom she worked cooperatively on regional issues when they were both in office.
The other only had his first name, Steve, on his name tag, but I recognized him, and verified that my recognition was correct. it was Steve Gunderson, formerly a Republican Congressman from Wisconsin, who was there with his partner. He is apparently a friend of Fisette’s, and is also known by the staff of Kaine’s campaign.
I only spoke briefly with Kaine, as lots of people wanted his attention. He immediately remarked that my question last night about Schiavo turns out to have been very timely given the actions Jeb Bush has taken.
In his remarks, after he was introduced by Lesley Byrne, the newly nominated candidate for Lieutenant Governor, began with some complimentary remarks about her. But then he went in to why he was there to support Jay.
He talked about how Jay and Adam and so many in the room had lived through discrimination. He acknowledged that he could not fully understand, that he knew what it was like to be attacked for his political position, but not for merely being who he was. he talked about the effort in the immediately past legislative session to bar the right of gays to adopt (and I note that when he walked into the room, the very first thing he did was go over to a couple of gay men who were present with their sons and greet them). He talked about how they were able to stop that from passing, and that he is being attacked for that around the state, although obviously NOT in N Virginia.
He talked about the importance of this election, about the stark difference between the two tickets, about how all the positive things that the Warner administration had been opposed by Kilgore and his running mates.
It was not a canned speech. It was not the same as last night, although he covered a fair number of the same points.
My sense is that the gays who might otherwise vote Republican will be turning out in large number for Kaine this fall. We have a fair number in Arlington, and the state’s gay and bi-population is concentrated in Northern Virginia. I also sense that Kaine will not back away from what he supports, whichy is equal civil rights for Gays. It will be interesting to see how this issue plays out in Virginia.
Anyhow, I think he’s a good guy. I again encourage people to consider supporting him. If you live in Virginia, by all means make sure you are registered to vote. Even if you don’t, there will be a ton of money poured into this race. You can always be of help that way.
The website is here. Hope you’ve enjoyed this brief look.
