Atif is also a dad, a husband, a soccer coach and a progressive thinker. He was endorsed by the Washington Post:
“District 13: After more than two decades in the House, Republican Robert G. Marshall has a well-earned reputation as a culture warrior more interested in right-wing doctrine than in his constituents. His contempt for homosexuals is surpassed only by his disregard for women who have abortions; he suggested that God exacts vengeance on women who abort their fetuses by assuring that their next pregnancy will produce a disabled child. His constituents in Prince William County would be much better served by Democrat Atif M. Qarni, a personable public school teacher and former Marine whose plain sense and temperate politics distinguish him from the incumbent.”
When Bob Marshall first ran for office, he favored term limits, or so he said. I guess he got power hungry.
At any rate, its time to give Atif Qarni a chance. He has put forth good ideas. Its time to implement them. It’s time to send a pro education delegate to Richmond.
Those who can, teach.
Those who can’t, pass laws about teaching.
Atif can! His reputation as an outstanding math teacher is known throughout Prince William County. Let’s send Atif Qarni to Richmond to show them how it’s done! He is even a math teacher so he can show them how it all adds up.
OH NO!! I had to dig up our favorite youtube clip. New computer and it was not saved as a favorite. Well, rest assured, it is now. I just could NOT let this day go by without posting this one. Funny thing, is the comments have been disabled.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6k4RrKNk7s
YIKES! I’ve never seen the picture post so clearly. It’s usually just the link. Enjoy!!!
That’s more than *I* bargained for.
What moron wants to take the morning after pill away from college students. Is he just nuts?
Unfortunately for you two, he’s yours now – though I hope not for long. I was soooo glad to see him no longer representing our neighborhood.
I guess he’s just a door knob. Everyone gets a turn. That’s what *I* inherited from the redictricting.
Dr. Alveda King—the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. and one of America’s most prominent and respected civil rights leaders—said :
I was saddened to learn today that Lt. Gov. candidate Ralph Northam refused to shake the hands of his opponent E.W. Jackson at the end of a television debate. I am deeply burdened by the loss of civility in politics today.
As one who has been elected to office as a Democratic Georgia State Representative, served as a Republican presidential appointee and who has often voted as an Independent, I have often said that we would all be better off without the political squabbles that tend to divide us. Refusing to shake hands with your opponent in front of a television audience takes the loss of civility to a new low. I would hope that his refusal to shake hands had nothing to do with the color of his opponent’s skin.
In a troubled economy, people are looking for leaders who can bring everyone together to solve the problems that confront us all. It is my hope that in these last hours of the race, Ralph Northam will recognize his inappropriate behavior and offer an apology to E.W. Jackson and to all those he hopes to represent.
I am not sure I even believe that story. If indeed it happened, then I feel confident it was an oversight. Is there video footage of this supposed diss?
Alveda King is a big buddy of Glenn Beck. Perhaps she should not listen to rumors. Had that actually happened I feel confident it would have been in all the papers.
So now Blue is dropping the race card for Dr. Alveda King.
Are you all really that desperate?
Thanks for the reminder. Are you represented by our old delegate now?
We’re represented by Rich Anderson now. I don’t know how close this race will be. He’s not nutty like a couple local reps I could mention, but if he merely tows the party line, he’s just as much a liability.
I considered voting for Atif for about five minutes — he’s young, a good school teacher and energetic former marine. His web site says one of his top priorities is to create good-paying jobs. Really? The guy’s non-military experience consists of being a college student and school teacher–no business credibility at all. I doubt he has a clue how to attract top companies to Va.
And to top it off, he called his opponent a right-wing extremist who vilifies women and minorities. Couldn’t he just have said that he differs from his opponent in that he supports a woman’s right to choose? He essentially insulted all of us who are pro-life.
This guy will not get my vote.
I seriously doubt if you were going to vote for him anyway. Why can’t school teachers have business credibility? I find that an incredibly insulting remark. What has most politicians done that prepare them for the business world, in your eyes?
His opponent is a right wing extremist. I have never heard Atif say that Marshall vilifies women and minorities. I wouldn’t even say that. In fact, Marshall invited my husband to the parking lot to duke it out, some 20 years ago, because I had shot off my mouth. That’s down right chivalrous want to beat up my husband instead of me.
Bob Marshall insults those of us who are pro choice every single day. The women of Virginia are more than capable of making their own morally appropriate choices. You have nothing to be insulted about.
Most politicians have not done much to prepare for the business world. The level of preparation depends on one’s previous career. Community organizer is another profession that comes to mind as providing little business preparation, which we have seen the results of during the last five years. A politician who was a school teacher or community organizer or military officer has to show that he knows something about business. The burden of proof is less for a politician who was a businessman or entrepreneur or small-business owner (e.g doctor, lawyer, accountant).
The quote about women and minorities is at this link:
http://www.muslimlinkpaper.com/community-news/community-news/3431-math-teacher-running-for-va-house-of-delegates.html
It happened, and we have it on tape (1:07 of the video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiS9kbrgijQ
I am no less insulted. You seriously think doctors and lawyers are more qualified to know about business? Give me a break. I have a lot of friends who work for doctors or lawyers. If it weren’t for their office managers, most wouldn’t have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. Those professionals hire people to run their businesses for them.
Atif is preparing people for the business world on a daily basis whether its for the cashier window at McDonalds or Wall Street. Show me a business person without a firm grip on mathematics and I will show you someone who has gone bust.
Now if you don’t want to vote for Atif because you disagree with his issues and policy, that’s your business. But please don’t say he isn’t fit to work on attracting business because he’s a teacher. That reason is so bogus and yes, insulting.
Let me defend the military for a while here also. People I have known in the military have been immersed in business and dealing with the outside world. The military doesn’t exist in isolation.
Just out of curiosity, what has his opponent done most of his life? He has worked for congressmen. He was a staffer for American Life League. Now he is a consultant for them.
Yet, Bob Marshall is all over transportation issues and that sort of thing. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
It just those damn social issues. Bob can’t leave the church issues out of politics. His church issues aren’t my church issues.
Finally, not to nit pick but….Atif said his opponent has a far right extremist AGENDA that vilifies women and minorities. Big difference. As far as I am concerned, his agenda does pretty much do that. If he were to push his agenda through, women would lose economic and political power and would be barefoot and pregnant all the time.
American Life League
http://www.all.org/
You might want to check out how they feel about contraception.
@Steve Thomas
Northam was paying attention to the speaker. He wasn’t aware that Jackson was trying to shake his hand. Usually that is done once everyone stands up and the event is over.
That’s just making something out of nothing. As for the race card…not even close.
Like I said, Jackson appears to be a nice man. I seriously doubt if he is the one who is stirring this rather unattractive, undeserved pot.
One more thing, let’s go after things that are real.
That is an example of one of the reasons I hate politics. I hate the set up. I decided to no longer work in political campaigns after an incident where the campaign manager took something Bob Marshall had said out of context. It was many years ago and I knew Bob Marshall hadn’t said it. My feeling is, if your candidate is better, you don’t need to resort to set ups and gotchas to score points. Stick to the truth. That’s all you need.
Unfortunately, that isn’t how the political game is played.
Now why do I think once the cameras were off both men and the emcee that they both shook hands? Of course, that part would never be shown.
Here is how I feel about the handshake. It looks like it was a diss, not totally sure. But Mr. Jackson interrupted Senator Northam and that was certainly a demonstration of poor manners.
I guess if you don’t have any gay people as friends, one could claim ignorance like Mr. Jackson on the premise that being gay is a “choice”. I happen to have gay friends, and they didn’t “choose” to be gay as much as Mr. Jackson didn’t “choose” to be black. His suggestion that everyone is “welcome” in Virginia but you will be denied the same rights is disingenuous at best. You are welcome as long as you acquiesce to being treated like a second class citizen? I hope he realizes how ridiculous that sounds. Hey, everyone is welcome in Virginia, but you can’t use the same water fountain, bathroom, etc if you are black.
He can pick and choose what he believes in the bible, and he can even espouse that those beliefs can be codified in law, but he can’t expect the rest of us to support him. He can have his belief and he can believe that adulterers should be stoned if he wants, but what he can’t have is his religious beliefs supported by law. What is the common good in not allowing gay people to marry? Nada.
Nah, no diss. He wasn’t aware Jackson extended his hand.
Northam isn’t the type to diss someone, even with those kinds of values. He certainly is no racist.
I didn’t vote for Ralph Northam, and this was one of the main reasons. Do you usually hob-nob with people who feel gays are an abomination or that disabled children are God’s punishment?
Do you think that any of us thought you were going to vote for Ralph Northam? Of course not. Too funny that you think we thought you were.
I remember vividly when I chose to be straight. It was on my 14th birthday. Before that, I’d been attracted to men and women equally, and was shy around handsome guys as well as pretty girls. After my choice, I trained myself to be attracted to women only – I carried around a small hand buzzer and gave myself a shock whenever a man’s presense provoked an erection in me. (It got some funny stares in the locker room, I’ll tell you). Plus, I prayed a lot. It worked like a charm, and I have never regretted my choice.
I took my cues from this TV program – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFo8NGO4nTA
BWAAAAAhahahahahahahahaha
@Elena
I agree it was a diss. Jackson even nudges him to make sure he sees he’s being offered the hand of friendship. But then, democrats are not put in moderation for being distastful.
I don’t think we have any democrats here. Most of us are Independents.
I find it interesting which groups made an issue out of it. Brietbart, Glenn Beck, Fox News.
I believe that Northam shook his hand AFTER the debate was totally over, not while the moderator was still speaking. The timing was very much off.
Meanwhile, something out of nothing. However, I understand you all are desperate. Might as well play the race card.
I am more interested in what the Reverend Jackson had to say about it than any of the culture warriors. Funny–he has been remarkably silent.
Classic Rick! thank you 🙂
When it comes to my vote, I didn’t look to the bible or some politician’s construct as how my uterus should be used. Just because one is silver-haired and has been on the “homecoming queen” throne too long is hardly a justification for political longevity. Time moves on and staid opinions become stale. Much of many politicians blah, blah justification for remaining in office was akin to “this is the way it has always been”, “I’ve been here forever”, “Vote for the status quo” etc. NOT what will I do for you NOW AND IN THE PRESENT. Just the same old same old tired BS time and again. What new and innovative ideas has an incumbent aspired to? Nada. Their election routines are so stale…basically they reek of “I’m here! So vote for me! My wife loves me so much she sent a letter written in cursive that only those schooled in the 1970’s can read!” No country for old men. Adapt or become extinct. The fact that Atif is a teacher… A TEACHER brings me closer to him than any other imbecile running. Because as a teacher he damn well knows business, especially the business of education and he damn well knows Virginia politics. His evaluations RIDE upon this knowledge.
Well, when you have a candidate who claims that anyone who doesn’t worship Jesus is in a fake religion, you have to make a mountain out of a mole hill. EW does not belong in politics, he belongs on the pulpit. It is a better match for him. Ralph Northam is respected child neurologist who can meet the challenge of Virginia’s needs without getting trapped in social “government none of your business” issues.
The moderator had not finished his final conclusion and it was not appropriate for EW to decide when that final handshake would take place. It was rude of Jackson to interrupt and it was rude to usurp the moderator’s control of the ending of the debate.
He did really well against Marshall. This may be Marshall’s last win.
Great job. Atif!!
I think Marshall has been served notice.
He scraped by by the skin of his teeth.
He won’t be so lucky the next time.
@Elena
From what I saw, it was a series of mis-directs. I don’t think Jackson intended to be rude by jumping in while the moderator was still controlling the situation. I don’t think that Northam even realized he had an extended palm.
The bottom line, I expect both men don’t have a problem. I think it is republicans grasping at straws. It certainly isn’t racist.
Two outta three-not bad.
It sure isn’t. Has Herring conceded?
It might be 3 out of 3. Look at the new thread.
Mr Qarni seems like an extremely well-qualified, impressive individual. Hats off to him for making the effort to run and hats off to those who supported him. Mr. Marshall has become something of a one-man Punch and Judy show. This was a close race that signals an end to Marshall’s brand of street theatre. I hope Mr. Qarni will do Virginians the honour of standing again for election, if not for this office, for some other leadership position.
I agree, Scout. I hope he will run again.