'19 Kids and Counting' Virginia Style: Duggars in Fredericksburg for Cuccinelli, Jackson

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, with 12 of their 19 children, made a campaign stop Wednesday in Fredericksburg.  The stars of the TLC series 19 Kids and Counting spoke of faith, family and freedom to about 150 people gathered at Calvary Christian Church. 

The Duggars are on a campaign swing through Virginia in support of Ken Cuccinelli and E.W. Jackson, the Republican candidates for governor and lieutenant governor.

"Virginia sets the precedence for the whole nation," Michelle Duggar said.  "When this state votes, it will effect every other state in our nation." She encouraged everyone to vote and to rally friends and neighbors to vote, too.

"We have the opportunity to share the light of Christ in this election," said Josh Duggar, the 25-year-old son of Jim Bob and Michelle. In June, he moved to the DC area to become executive director of FRC Action, the lobbying side of the conservative Family Research Council (FRC).  FRC Action Virginia Values Voter PAC is sponsoring the campaign swing.

The morning was filled with prayer and praise.  After musical performances by the Duggar children, Day Gardner, founder and president of The National Black Pro-Life Union and a spokesperson with Women Speak Out Virginia Pac, led the Pledge of Allegiance, finishing with 'Amen.'

"Let's get some people elected into office who understand what God's word really means," she said.  She told the audience Planned Parenthood has donated $1 million to Terry McAuliffe. 

According to the Virginia Public Access Project, candidate McAuliffe has actually received $255,103 from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Lela Mayfield joined the Family Research Council one month ago as digital strategy coordinator, moving to the DC area from Buffalo, N.Y.  "As a woman, I see his [Ken Cuccinelli's] heart for women," she said. 

Mayfield spoke of Cuccinelli starting S.A.F.E. (Sexual Assault: Facts and Education) on the campus of the University of Virginia.  "He heard a scream from a woman in college and he created a program called S.A.F.E.," she said. 

While Cuccinelli is credited with spearheading S.A.F.E., it is not clear he heard a scream.  "In the summer of 1989, Cuccinelli, then a college student at the University of Virginia, learned that his friend was the victim of attempted sexual assault," Bearing Drift reported.

"In order for women to succeed, they need to be safe and protected," Mayfield continued.  She also said the United States could better pay for its programs if people had more children.  "We have a population shortage," she said.  "We need more children to pay for programs." 

"Bill Clinton said if Terry McAuliffe were selling cars, he would not buy one from him," Jim Bob Duggar said.  "Can you imagine a Democrat being excited about voting for Terry McAuliffe?"  Patch has contacted President Clinton's press office for confirmation of this statement.

The Duggars ended their campaign stop in a style reminiscent of the Sound of Music — the family sang My Blessing to You to the tune of Edelweiss.

Libertarian Robert Sarvis, the third candidate for Virginia governor, was not mentioned.

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