Virginia Tomorrow

Bob McDonnell gets the honor of giving the response to President Obama’s State of the Union speech on Wednesday. I have five suggestions for what he needs to accomplish.

1. Don’t try to do too much: 

Speaking after President Obama, even in this political climate, would be like a baseball announcer calling games after the great Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Vin Scully or a talk radio host replacing Rush Limbaugh. You aren’t going to beat him in oratory, so keep it simple, and focus on your campaign theme, “Bob’s for jobs,” and how conservative principles, instead of statist-oriented solutions, are best suited to grow the economy and create jobs. Just keep it simple. Try to do too much, and you will accomplish nothing.

2. Tell the nation that your daughter served in Iraq

Liberal pontificators will try to diminish you by bringing up your graduate thesis in which you hypothesized whether working women could have detrimental impacts on the family. Mention your daughter’s service in Iraq to buffer yourself against these attacks. When Jim Webb gave his state of the union response (I must add, Webb’s was probably one of the better responses in recent memory), he talked about his military service in a credible way to buffer Democrats against charges that they were weak on national security in a time of war. Mentioning that your daughter courageously served is proof that you are not the Neanderthal liberals will make you out to be.

3. Talk about education to highlight your desire to work with President Obama (it also gives the media a reason to mention that the President stiffed you).

Enthusiastically mention how you are looking forward to working with President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan on education reforms, particularly those dealing with charter schools. This will show that you are willing to work with President Obama and Democrats on an issue that should never be partisan in the first place.

Second, if you talk about education, the media will have to mention that President Obama did not invite you to the Race to the Top kickoff event in Falls Church, Virginia even though you were one of the most vocal and enthusiastic supporters of his education reforms. You should take the high road and not mention that you weren’t invited, though, as the media will be more than willing to do it for you. Obama will probably talk a lot about bipartisanship during the speech. He will paint Republicans as obstructionists and as being from the “Party of No.” But his not inviting you to the Falls Church event will be a powerful symbol-and reminder-of how Obama’s words and rhetoric have often not resembled reality and how bipartisanship is a two way street. 

4. The Head of the DNC Tried To Raise Taxes

Mention that the outgoing Governor, Tim Kaine heads the Democratic National Committee. And remind Americans that he left you a budget with tax increases in a time of recession. What does it say that the titular head of the Democratic National Committee tried to increases taxes on his way out the door? Let your audience decide.

5. THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR SPEECH (Take home point): LOCAL CONTROL and LIMITED GOVERNMENT

In your inaugural address, you spoke these powerful and relevant words:

The Founders recognized that the government closest to the people governs best. More often than not, Richmond knows better about the hopes and dreams of the people than Washington. And Galax and Fairfax and Virginia Beach know far better than Richmond.

This statement is what you are about. It is what conservatives who believe in limited government are for. It captures the frustrations of Independent voters who are concerned about government’s overreach. Repeat this statement for the last 5 minutes if you have to. But make sure this statement gets in the sound bites and the sub headlines. Make sure your speech is remembered for this statement.

I don’t know precisely what President Obama is going to say in his State of the Union Address (maybe it’s still being written); but I do know that advocating local control and limited government will be a powerful retort against the crux of his address. Sure, it’s been leaked that Obama is going to announce a spending freeze, but that doesn’t handcuff him or his administration from attempting to pass intrusive regulations that will impact states like our Commonwealth. Your job, Governor, is to make sure voters associate your State of the union response with the above words that are highlighted.

Tony Lee is a political writer in Virgina. Follow him on twitter: @TheTonyLee; E-mail him at TheTonyJLee @GMAIL.com