Posted on 12/14/2010 11:21:57 AM PST by SharpRightTurn
"What you see with Cuccinelli is what you get," say fans, foes and observers of Virginia General Attorney Ken Cuccinelli, R, who scored a victory in round one of his lawsuit against the health insurance mandate on Monday.
In the 4th District Court in Richmond, Judge Henry E. Hudson ruled the insurance mandate, a part of Obamacare that hasn't yet gone into effect, is unconstitutional.
"This case is not about health insurance. It is not about health care. It's about liberty," Cuccinelli said at a press conference on Monday. "We've won the first round of this particular fight, but we know there are others to come."
This is the first serious case against the health insurance mandate that a judge has ruled in favor of those challenging its constitutionality. And conservatives say there isn't a better person to carry the banner.
"He's bold," said Richard Viguerie, the conservative direct mailer who runs ConservativeHQ.com and mentors Cuccinelli. "He doesn't wait for others to take action."
Cuccinelli's fast-forward style may be one of the reasons Virginia is the only plaintiff in the lawsuit. He could have signed onto a similar lawsuit with 20 other states, but the attorney general decided to go it alone. He said it was because a Virginia law stands in direct contrast to a federal law. But his ability to be first to strike may have played a factor as well.
"The fact that this is the first serious case to reach a decision demonstrates his legal savvy," said Stephen Farnworth, a George Mason professor who studies communication and politics.
Farnsworth said the lawsuit was helped by the fact that Virginia's federal court usually moves quickly and it is also known as one of the most conservative in the country.
State Democratic Senator Creigh Deeds said he wasn't surprised by the ruling. But he disagreed with how Cuccinelli has treated his post as the Commonwealth's attorney.
"Ken is the most activist attorney general in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia," Deeds said.
Cuccinelli has carved out a reputation as a hard-line conservative who sticks to his guns no matter what. Since taking office last year, he's attacked climate change science, illegal immigration, federal health-care legislation, abortion, and even sex-trafficking on Craigslist.
From the start of his campaign for attorney general to his tenure in the state senate from 2002 to 2009, he was never known as backing away from a fight.
"The people of the Commonwealth of Virginia knew exactly what they were getting," Deeds said. "He comes as advertised."
But his style can polarize an electorate, leaving many to question his viability for higher office. He is loved by conservatives but in a poll released by Public Policy Polling in November, 39 percent of Virginians polled had an unfavorable opinion of him. Only 31 percent had a favorable one.
For now, the post of challenging the health care law suits him just fine. Cuccinelli has been coy about ambitions for higher office.
Farnsworth said Cuccinelli may be tempted to stay in his attorney general's office for a while, where Republicans have usually faired well in Virginia.
"He's not trying to make himself more acceptable or more palatable to the state-wide electorate," Farnsworth said.
But his firebrand style also endears him to conservatives. Viguerie said the health care ruling propels Cuccinelli to the national stage as a leader of the movement.
"He's representative of a whole new breed of conservative leader," Viguerie said- lumping him in with personalities like Sarah Palin, Senator-elect Marco Rubio and Rep. Mike Pence.
Whether they love him or hate him, as Deeds put it, "He's a true believer."
I will be very surprised if Cuccinelli doesn't move to a national office in the near term.
Attorney General of the United States, January, 2013, selected by President Palin and approved by all 63 Republican Senators {while being cheered on by all 328 Republican congress critters}.
His first prosecution was ex-senator dodd and bwaney fwank for fraud regarding freddie and fannie.
oberwoman and chrissy held hands while jumping from the roof at 30 Rock.
Shut yo' mouth, Deeds. Virginians made quite plain, last year, what they thought of you and your communist activism.
He'd be my top choice for Attorney General of the U.S. on a conservative "Dream Team."
Deeds, you lost badly, so they're gonna trump you on that. Go back to your hole.
That's right ... and they overwhelmingly chose Ken over your rumpswab Shannon.
Creigh Deeds....BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Whatta maroon!
So an attorney general who defends the Constitution is now an activist?
Sic Semper Tyrannis!
In which case how the heck did he get elected only last year by a comfortable majority ?
I actually know Steve Shannon and he isn’t a bad guy believe it or not.
I haven't met 0bama, either. Or Billy Jeff. Or Hildebeeste.
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