On a conference call with reporters just now, the Creigh Deeds campaign blasted Republican candidate Bob McDonnell for not repudiating his supporter Sheila Johnson, who mocked Deeds at a McDonnell campaign rally for stuttering.
“I think they were offensive to a lot of Virginians, a lot of Virginians who truly do suffer from speech impediments,” said Deeds senior advisor Mo Elleithee. “And the fact that they would be so cavalier about it is disappointing, and I think outrageous to a lot of people.” He also added that the campaign has received calls from disability activists around the state, who are outraged at the attack on Deeds.
A reporter asked if Deeds, who admittedly trips over his words, does indeed have a speech impediment. Elleithee did not answer either yes or no. “Here’s what I’m saying. They are openly mocking those who stutter. They are mocking Creigh Deeds, they are also mocking stutterers,” said Elleithee. “And I think there are a lot of Virginians out there who stutter. I’ve had a lot of people ask me about Creigh’s situation. It’s something he’s dealt with his whole life, and he’s never sought treatment for it.”
The reporters asked again whether Deeds has a speech impediment. “As I said, his speaking style, he’s the first to admit that he sometimes stumbles over his words,” said Elleithee. “His speaking style – he’s spoken that way as long as he can remember, his entire life. He’s never sought medical attention for it, it’s just what he’s had to deal with. There are people out there who have worse medical problems. Some of them stutter. She specifically targeted those who stutter.”
Elleithee also said: “Whether or not Creigh has a speaking — whether or not he’s got a speaking issue is less important than their blanket indictment, if you will, about people who have speech impediments, and I think that’s what’s insulting today.”
Elleithee also said that he has never heard Deeds refer to himself as having a stuttering problem.
On another subject, Elleithee rebutted media buzz that the national Democratic Party has a lack of confidence in their chances. Elleithee pointed to the recent decision by the DNC to put $1 million into the race as evidence that they take the race very seriously.
Elleithee was asked about Democratic Governors Association chairman Brian Schweitzer’s (D-MT) comments that he would bet the money in his pocket on a Dem victory in the New Jersey race, but regarding Virginia: “That’s a flip of coin, I don’t which way that one ends.”
“Well you know, I think Gov. Schweitzer — and I don’t mean to speak for him, you can always call the DGA — I don’t think there’s anybody that would disagree this is gonna be a hard fought, challenging race, and I think he was acknowledging that,” said Elleithee. “He said some good things about Creigh Deeds as a candidate, and that Bob McDonnell has to answer some tough questions. We certainly agree with that.”
“If anyone wants to ask whether national Democrats are invested in this race, all they have to do is look at the tremendous investments that the DNC and DGA have made in this race,” said Elleithee. “One thing that in all of my time in politics, and working in Virginia and at the national level, national party committees are not inclined to put money into campaigns they don’t feel good about — they don’t throw money away.”
