In his latest campaign ad, candidate for VA-Gov Bob McDonnell used the familiar $1,761 clean energy tax lie in the most creative way I’ve seen yet. First, the ad says “Deeds supports tax policies that will cost families $7,800 over four years.” The first $1,000 is for a 20 cent per gallon gas tax. Aside from pointing out that taxing gasoline is a good idea, I’ll let this one go. The additional $6,800 McDonnell’s ad cites is the $1,761 figure (roughly) multiplied by four, the length of a term as Virginia’s governor.

Watch it:

At the 18-second mark, where the $6,800 figure is shown, it specifically cites CBSNews.com 9/15/09. This is the piece in which conservative blogger Declan McCullagh arrived at the $1,761 figure by way of faulty math. Brad Johnson documented the process by which this meme spread. It is starting to look like the Republican party’s messaging shop for energy policy is a single libertarian blogger making up numbers for the CBS website.

Here is the full script of the ad:

Creigh Deeds has unequivocally committed himself to higher taxes.Deeds supports tax policies that will cost families $7,800 over four years.

His billion-dollar gas tax increase would add twenty cents to a gallon of gas.

Cost to families: $1,000

Deeds called for Washington’s mandatory cap and trade energy tax.

Cost to families $6,800.

Killing up to 56,000 Virginia jobs.

Creigh Deeds ‘ tax policies will cost $7,800

For his part, Deeds is staying true to the stereotype of a Democrat who repeatedly insists on snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Despite being handed proof that his opponent is against working women, homosexuals and contraceptives, Deeds has trailed in the polls throughout the race.  To make matters worse, Deeds is running a new ad saying he “says no to any new energy taxes from Washington”, which is drawing the ire of environmentalists.  There has been some confusion over Deeds’ stance on cap and trade legislation, and as a result, he is being hit from both sides on an issue the Virginia Governor has absolutely no say in.