Republican response: Gov. Bob McDonnell invokes Jefferson

Just as President Obama recalled episodes from American history in his State of the Union address, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell tonight invoked Thomas Jefferson while making the Republican response to the president’s address.

McDonnell used Jefferson to sound the familiar Republican theme of small government.

“It was Thomas Jefferson,” McDonnell said, “who called for ‘A wise and frugal government which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry .... and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.’ He was right. Today, the federal government is simply trying to do too much.”

McDonnell hit efforts by Democrats to jump start the economy -- efforts he called lacking.

He said that last year “we were told that massive new federal spending would create more jobs ‘immediately’ and hold unemployment below 8%.” 

Instead, he said, more than 3 million Americans have lost their jobs. He added that “the Democratic Congress continues deficit spending, adding to the bureaucracy, and increasing the national debt on our children and grandchildren.”

In a change from the past, McDonnell’s remarks were delivered before a live -- and supportive -- audience at the state capitol in Richmond. Usually, the State of the Union response is delivered by a speaker addressing a camera solo. The staging allowed for applause and, in some instances, humor.

“It’s not easy to follow the president of the United States,” McDonnell said. “And my twin 18-year old boys have added to the pressure, by giving me exactly 10 minutes to finish before they leave to go watch SportsCenter.”

-- Steve Padilla

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Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell gestures as he delivers the Republican Response to the State of the Union in the Virginia House of Delegates chambers at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Comments

[Pamela McGhee]

McDonnell, you are a fool. We need a single payer (federal government) national health care system.
The role of government MUST be larger, not smaller. The recent Supreme Court decision is an abomination. Corporate control of our political system will result in serfdom for the American people.
GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE ENEMY. REPUBLICANS ALWAYS FAIL AT GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOVERNMENT. GOOD GOVERNMENT IS THE SOLUTION. REPUBLICANS ALWAYS FAIL AT GOOD GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY DISRESPECT GOVERNMENT. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!!!!!!!
Our medical system is NOT the best in the world. Denmark's is.
McDonnell, you are either delusional or in the pay of the corporate overlords.
You are a man who is of the past of class and racial (white) domination, or you are unaware of the mechanisms required to sustain a just society? It also occurs to me that you are in opposition to a just society - and have sold out to corporate interests, thinking that you can ride the wave to riches.
Where is your morality, your sense of right? Have you so completely sold out, or are you totally unaware of the human survival issues involved? Capitalism, like Communism is a failed system.
Would you create a society of paupers, serfs, and mendicants?
KEEP SUPORTING BIG BUSINESS CORPORATE INTERESTS - SERFDOM FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS IS THEN INEVITABLE.
Pamela McGhee

[Andy]

It is pathetic to listen to the response from the Republican party. Didn't they listen to Obama's speech? Can't we stop with all the BS? Stop misleading the American people with the same comments over and over..."President is increasing taxes, the security of our kids is at risk"...show for once that you will work as a team to build a better country. Bob, no one believes you...can't you get it? People are tired of dishonest people like yourself. Cut the crap and put the American people first. Support the President and we will all benefit.

[Rob N]

So today the Republicans are saying that the democrats are trying to do to much, what if they did not do what has been done and things were worse off. At that point the president would then be ridiculed for not doing enough. I think the key is that the economy is on the rise and we can attribute that to the efforts of the Obama administration. Further more rather than a rebuttal to counter the president of our great nation i would have been much more impressed to see affirmative action being taken in the sense that politicians in DC still have much to work on.