Washington (CNN) – Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will deliver the Republican response to President Obama's first State of the Union address next Wednesday.
McDonnell won the Virginia governorship last November, reversing nearly a decade of Democratic gains in the purple state. He was sworn in as governor of the commonwealth last weekend.
After his resounding victory over Democrat Creigh Deeds, Republican strategists pointed to McDonnell's path to victory - focusing on economic issues while remaining committed to conservative principles - as a blueprint for future GOP successes in the 2010 midterm elections.
In 2006, Democrats tapped then-Gov. Tim Kaine to deliver the response to President Bush's State of the Union speech for similar reasons; national officials saw Kaine's win in Virginia the previous year as a sign that Democrats were finding ways to win elections in traditionally-red states.
"Gov. McDonnell understands that the American people are more interested in shrinking unemployment than expanding government," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said in a statement announcing the decision. "He is an impressive public servant and an excellent choice to offer Republican solutions for our country."
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said McDonnell "has offered common-sense economic policies in stark contrast to Washington Democrats' job-killing agenda."
– CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
And what exactly have the Republicans offered as far as jobs go?
They want to cut taxes on the top 1% again. Not the middle class, the top 1%.
It has been proven time and again that this 'trickle-down' theory is hogwash.
Does it really matter who delivers it? They're all reading from the same delusional script.
Although I have to say the Jindals performance was entertaining – high comedic value. The Mr. Rogers cadence – it was a hoot!
Great choice for rebuttal to the liberal propaganda that is sure to be spewed by our out-of-touch president. Obama & his cronies are completely incapable of changing their stripes. Can't wait unit Nov. elections. I love seeing the dems in a tailspin.
I don't know how much of an impact the State of the Union adress is gonna be, especially for our Prez. In some sense, it can be a good thing or it can just be a waste of time and that's where I'm leaning towards against.
Maybe it can be a good thing, especially what has transpired in the last days, I can see that. But is not like after that adress, people atuomatically are gonna get jobs out of the blue. The only thing he can do is hope for the people to listen, and articulate his meaning. That's it, to trust him.
And so far, he has not been doing a good job, he sucks, he definitely sucks at it. With his slang talk, his disobedience humor, his lackluster motivation, etc. And last time I checked, in his campaign trail, he didn't mention one bit of Health Care, that was Hillary's thang. And I keep wondering everyday how in the world did Health Care came abroad? That's what I wanna know.
Maybe it can have an influence, maybe it cannot, who knows. But I doubt you can put confidence into the American People when you got into the Losing column and rationalize your mistakes, behavior, etc on uncontrollable forces. If it worked, the Clippers would fare much better results...
I hope he comes across like another Bobbie Jindal, totally falling on face, sounding and acting like a moron and his political future in the sewer.
I suppose laying off state workers is" common-sense economic policy".I mean it is LESS government,fewer DMV's open,fewer state troopers,less VDOT employees plowing snow.Cutting spending is THE way to get out of a recession,you know!! That is of course not a job killer,it promotes growth by not spending and creates more jobs!! The job killing agenda was in the last administration,what did they do to stop the recession?? nothing is what! McDonnell has stated he will not raise taxes,period!! well guess we'll have LOTS of job growth in all the layoffs the state and local governments will be doing with his budget for the next 2 years!!!!!
How quick will the left wing CNN attack him?
Will his wife be at the speach or is she still in purda?
A follower of the ayatollah Pat Robertson will deliver the response? Tha'ts pathetic. Bob McConnell's mentor, Pat Roberson, said that the 3,000+ people murdered by Al Qaeda on 9-11 deserved to die.
Politic ionary:
Voters: Dumb sheeps: cant tell an elephant from a donkey
Republi CORP or Republi CON: too smart, cant hear U = in love with
scrooges = nothing for the people = see past 8 years = creates wealth
for a few in the form of borrowing = Gives handouts of 1 trillion
dollars to billionaires = Likes throwing the economy off a cliff= See last 8 years
Dumbo CRAT = dumb enough to listen = Usually cleans up after the
elephants' mess = Revives the economy = Creates wealth for all = Always give something back to the public= creates wealth for the mass = see Clinton years, FDR
It is obvious that the conservatives completely misinterpreted what happened in Massachussetts. They were thrown out in 2006 and 2008 for a reason. Dissatisfaction with the democrats should not be confused with a longing to return to the politics of the right.
You're all misunderestimating the independent voter.
And it will be the same old song... Obama will not keep us safe from terroism.... health care will bankrupt the system...small business is the way to go....keep government out of our lives unless you want an earlr termination of pregnancy irregardless of the reason etc etc etc!
Oh and yes Bush protected us!!!
Here's your next president thank goodness. Check back with me in three and see if I'm not right.
Blah, Blah, Blah,
The Republican Party and it's misguided supporters are the poison of America right now.
Like the voters in Connecticut, Massachusetts will soon come to realize that they "cut off their nose to spite the face".
If you want "change" give the President the tools he needs to get it, then hold him accountable. Voters have not done that and what we can all expect – thanks to Mass – Achoo – sets, is another lost decade in real reform.
Hey, the Conservative "Supreme Court" just gave every corporate lobbyist a free hand job. They've equated Corporate right to free speech with a citizen's constitutional right. They won't even be held accountable for telling you who's backing those anti-government adds!
Good luck America.... You deserve what Massachusetts has given you.
Virginia was stupid and Massachusetts was stupid er!!!!
Mass. voted for a man because he found "the soundbites" that
brought him to the top. For Now.
Massachucetts, well, half of them, must love what they have
done to our country! And, made the Republicans MORE COCKY!!
And, that is the thanks you gave to Ted Kennedy for all his hard
work, "For the People"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually, Massachusetts, you brought down the hopes of the
Middle Class! And you have HEALTH CARE!!!!!!
If you in Mass. are proud of dissing Obama, I want to tell you
that IF OBAMA FAILS, our country will have NO ONE to speak
for the Middle Class.
Actually, Mass. voters made me cry. Thanks, Thanks, a lot!!!!!
And, just wait til you KNOW the man you elected on a whim!!!!!
I live in Virginia, and this must be a joke. Gov McDonnell needs first to prove himself as Governor of Virginia before he can criticize the President. Boehner and McDonnell are both crazy and losers.
"The arrogance of the Democrats took the place of common sense. Calling people who oppose their view Nazis..."
Exactly how many signs showing Obama painted with a Hitler moustache held up by a screaming lunatic teabagger did you mistake for Dems calling everyone else Nazis? Back room deals? We just spent a decade watching Republicans engage in that behavior...locking Dems out of the chambers and scheduling 2 a.m. votes...and you want to complain that the Dems resorted to it once after 6 months of dealing with GOP obstructionism, fabrications and demogoguery? Now the GOP is the ones claiming to abhore such practices and blame them all on Dems? Where was the outrage for the past decade? This is nothing more than self-serving swill and the GOP knows it....people are just swallowing it because they're angry and scared and the GOP intends to keep you that way. Get ready for 3 years of NOTHING GETTING DONE, while they filibuster and continue to misinform and scare as many people as possible so they can blame Obama for everything getting worse in 2012. We would have had health care reform months ago if they weren't out there lying about things like "death panels," but they did it to delay and distract and hamper Obama's efforts to help us progress. If yo udon't realize these things, you're not a Nazi, you're a godforsaken moron.
I don't care his response will be to makes profit with big corporartion anyway
McConnell will only repeat what Americans already know and Americans need to know what plans/solutions the Republicans have. John Boehner needs to learn the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights before talking about common-sense economics, he's an idiot.
Let's see if Bob doesn't make this as uncomfortable as it was listening to Jindal's response.
Oh I can help him and the President with the stae of the Union.
IN SHAMBLES
The Country is in sever trouble.
Hang your flags upside down as this country needs help.
Until the Revolution starts, this country is going to be destroyed by Washington and Wallstreet.
Everyone will be broke and homeless.
That is the State of Our Union and the Public knows it.
One more thing. As a democrat in Virginia, who would've voted for Moran over Deeds any day because I already knew McDonnell was going to win, I must say that if you're a centrist democrat, don't call on the POTUS at the last second when your down in the polls. If Deeds would've been on the same page as the President from day 1, he would've won.
I hope he's as good as the guy from Louisiana.
$20 says T'SAH and Dutch won't watch their own Governor. Any takers?
Once I've heard the Presidents State of the Union Address, I
already would know what the Repubs have to say. I could write
their nasty speech. Face it. They will continually "disrespect"
OUR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
To continuiosly "disrespect" Obama, is a sin.