Republican Hung Cao is a chicken

Republican Senate candidate Hung Cao bailed out of the Virginia Bar Association debate with Senator Tim Kaine at The Homestead… an event with a long tradition in the Commonwealth’s politics. One wonders why since he should be desperate for name recognition. It appears Hung 🐓 Cao is terrified to answer questions from Virginians like:

Why does he support plans to sunset Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare? These are essential programs for millions of Americans. Yes, they need bipartisan “repairs” the assure future funding and reduce fraud… but you apparently want to end them entirely! 

Why does he support bills that would ban abortion, reduce access to contraception, and interfere with fertility treatments? Wow… the government intruding in women’s health and our bedrooms sounds like a dystopian future for Americans!

Does he support Project 2025 that is designed and promoted by a shadowy network of Christian nationalists and fascists. Project 2025 would take rights from Americans and many see it as a blueprint if Donald Trump is elected

Many speculate the Cao doesn’t want to leave NOVA to visit what he considers to be “podunk” parts of Virginia. He has made it pretty clear that talking face-to-face with Virginians in all parts of the state isn’t a priority for him. That stands in sharp contrast to Senator Kaine who relishes meeting and listening to constituents. Kaine visited Staunton last Saturday and met with an enthusiastic crowd.

Podunk Local Paper

Republican Hung Cao, who is seeking the nomination to run for U.S. Senate against incumbent Tim Kaine, recently referred to the Staunton News Leader as a “podunk local paper” and doubled down by adding “you wouldn’t even wrap your fish with that.” According to the Cardinal News, Cao also deems it a waste of time to travel to the 6th and 9th congressional districts to debate his opponents.

How is the News Leader even on Cao’s radar. Well, being part of the Gannett USA Today media network, the News Leader picked up a story about Cao’s Unleash America PAC not benefitting any Republican candidates for state and local office as promised when he created it in 2023. That story was picked up by the Virginia Public Assess Project news aggregator which attributed the story to the Staunton paper… that’s where Cao apparently learned about it.

A few observations…

Cao should research more before sounding off and belittling a newspaper and, indeed, an entire region. It does not speak well of his depth or temperament. He should at least have been aware that the article was actually from a respected national media organization and not some “podunk local paper.”

Maybe Mr. Cao prefers to campaign from his desk in NOVA via zoom, but most folks like to meet the candidate in person and take the measure of the man or woman. Tim Kaine knows this and visits the Shenandoah Valley and Southwest Virginia regularly. So Mr. Cao, take a tour down I-81, meet some folks, and maybe learn about the region’s transportation and infrastructure needs along the way. Plus, the scenery is great!

From where I perch in the Shenandoah Vally, Hung Cao’s candidacy appears to be “ridonkulous.”