Ken Cuccinelli, a Cruz supporter who dramatically threw down his credentials at the Republican National Convention in protest of Donald Trump’s nomination, now serves as acting head of the administration’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Today, August 13, 2019, Cuccinelli distorted the quote by Emma Lazarus on the Statue of Liberty by stating, “”Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge.”
Those of us who knew him when he served as State Senator of the 37thSenate District and Attorney General of Virginia were not surprised. As State Senator, Cuccinelli denigrated public education and refused to compromise on commonsense gun laws. As Attorney General, he focused on blocking rights for LGBTQ individuals and immigrants.
His total contempt for public education was on display at his town halls when he and his staff referred to advocates and school officials as “educrats” and dismissed facts and figures that accurately reflected what was really going on in public schools.
Despite the loss of two constituents in the Virginia Tech shooting on April 16, 2007, Cuccinelli refused to compromise on any bill that might stop future violence. Rather, he expanded access to firearms.
Despite his belief in limited government, he did not hesitate to pursue policies that interfered in the most personal of decisions. He defended anti-sodomy laws and opposed same-sex marriage. In his eyes, homosexual acts were “against nature and harmful to society.” He requested that Virginia universities remove protections for “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” and “gender expression.”
In August of 2010, he issued a legal opinion that law enforcement could investigate anyone they stopped and ask about immigration status. He opposed undocumented individuals from attending Virginia universities despite years of residence. He sought to repeal birthright citizenship and force employees to speak English in the workplace.
Recently, he blamed the father who drowned with his daughter crossing the river. Cuccinelli now will be responsible for reviewing and modifying the citizenship test for immigrants. When asked whether the test might be scrutinized, he asked, “Isn’t everybody always paranoid that this is used for ulterior purposes?”
We have seen time and time again his lack of compassion for those whose lifestyles and views differ from his own. He is no different now.