Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Remember Ken Cuccinelli, the Virginia Attorney General who told all the public universities that they could not bar discrimination against gays and lesbians? Turns out that's just the beginning of the crazy. He's a certified member of the paranoid right. RightWingWatch has found some interesting video of him during the campaign showing that he's a borderline birther:
And as if that wasn't bad enough, how about him saying he won't get his son a social security number because the government is tracking people with it:
This guy got elected, for crying out loud.
Politics
Comments
I imagine it is fine to not get a SSN for his son as long as he does not declare him dependent on the income tax form.
Posted by: KeithB | March 18, 2010 10:24 AM
Ed Brayton: This guy got elected, for crying out loud.
Virginia is the former home of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and Wilson... but current home to both Regent University and Liberty University. The liberal fruits and flakes are outnumbered by Virginia's conservative nuts.
Posted by: abb3w | March 18, 2010 10:40 AM
Someone appears to have wound him up a little too tightly.
The birther crap is getting old but the refusal to register his son with social security is a real conspiracy nut issue. How long does he think he can keep that up? Too weird and unstable to be given sharp scissors let alone power and authority.
Posted by: MikeMa | March 18, 2010 11:00 AM
umm... isn't the whole freaking point of SSNs so that the government can track you with them?? I'm more annoyed by other people using SSNs as identifiers than the government.
is this the new thing on the crazy right? Out there with not getting counted by the census? Are they simultaneously trying to drop off the grid *and* get their side back in office?
Can we make it mandatory to teach kids to think at least three steps ahead of their actions? Or at least tell them that the underpants gnomes are satire... *headdesk*
Posted by: kate | March 18, 2010 11:14 AM
The liberal fruits and flakes are outnumbered by Virginia's conservative nuts.
The fact that Obama carried VA in 2008 proves this wrong. What it also proves, unfortunately, is that Obama is the only Democrat who's competent enough to wage a viable campaign against whatever empty hot-dog wrapper the Republicans nominate for any office.
I voted for Creigh Deeds in the Democratic primary in 2009, thinking he would be the most effective candidate to run against the Republicans. Dumbest decision I EVER made (at least since thinking Bush Jr. would be a harmless idiot in 2000). I apologize to the entire human race for my part in letting these shameless extremist bigots get elected to any office. My only defense is that none of the other candidates showed any spark of effectiveness either.
Posted by: Raging Bee | March 18, 2010 11:31 AM
You gotta love the South. Crazy fundamentalists, mulleted confederate flag wavers, toothless yahoos saying "nigra"....you gotta love em!
Posted by: John in Colorado | March 18, 2010 12:06 PM
Kate at 4- For the most part; yes, social security numbers were meant for tracking purposes but only in regards to taxes. Over the past several decades it has pretty much become the default ID number for citizens of the US.
Posted by: Jeremy Shaffer | March 18, 2010 12:14 PM
I'd comment, but then Eric Houg might get all offended'n'stuff.
Posted by: Sean O'Doherty | March 18, 2010 3:41 PM
Raging Bee,
I feel your pain, for I too cast a primary vote for Creigh. I too thought he had the best shot and would be able to reach rural Virginia.
I too, was wrong. Terry Mac, as much I instinctually dislike the guy, was a better candidate. Terry doesn't bring knives to gun fights and would have at the very least got his message out. Creigh never figured out what his message was and every time he tacked to the middle (health care, cap and trade) his numbers suffered
Virginia, oh birthplace of Presidents, I'm sorry.
On a positive note, the Coch will never be our governor
Posted by: AFF | March 18, 2010 5:44 PM
The McDonell-Bolling-Cucinelli ticket ran a slick, well-run and stealthy campaign that scrupulously avoided pushing the social conservative agenda. Their ads were all about the economy, jobs, fiscal conservatism, transportation, and good government overall. They were well organized and stayed on message throughout. By comparison, the Democratic ticket was unfocused and inept, groping for a coherent message. The Lt. Governor and AG candidates were no-names who added little to the ticket. Deeds won and upset victory in the Democratic primary only after a lengthy and hard-fought primary where the two front-runners pummelled one another, letting Deeds slip past at the end.
Posted by: Dick Lessard | March 20, 2010 6:58 PM
"On a positive note, the Coch will never be our governor".
How do you know that?
Posted by: daniel rotter | March 20, 2010 11:33 PM