Vote Earley ( and often)

nationalreview.com/ ^ | 11/05/2001 | By John J. Miller & Ramesh Ponnuru

[KQQL]

Vote Earley
Bush, Giuliani, and Bishop Loverde pitch in.

By John J. Miller & Ramesh Ponnuru
November 5, 2001 11:00 a.m.

Behind in the polls and badly outspent by his opponent, Virginia's GOP candidate for governor brought America's two most popular politicians and an important religious leader into his campaign over the weekend. Mark Earley's campaign mailed a brochure displaying a big picture of Earley walking half a step behind President Bush on what appears to be a tarmac. Inside, there's a quote from Bush: "I appreciate his strong stance on holding the line on taxes and cutting the car tax in Virginia." Bush recorded a phone message on behalf of Earley and two ticket mates, lieutenant governor candidate Jay Katzen and attorney general candidate Jerry Kilgore: "Mark Earley, Jay Katzen and Jerry Kilgore are the experienced leaders Virginia needs to keep the state moving forward--with a positive agenda for lower taxes, accountable schools, more jobs, and a safe and secure commonwealth." Earley's campaign also aired a new ad featuring New York mayor Rudy Giuliani: "If I were a Virginian, I would vote for Mark Earley." Voters who tuned in to the start of the World Series game last night would have seen it.

In northern Virginia, Earley may benefit as well from a letter by Catholic Bishop Paul Loverde that was either read at Masses or inserted into church bulletins over the weekend. In it, Loverde reminds parishioners of their "moral responsibility to vote" on Tuesday. "Respect for the dignity of the human person must be part of our consciousness as we enter the voting booth," continues the two-page letter. It also reminds voters of "the priority to protect the human life of all persons, pre-born and born."

The letter would have been stronger if Loverde had mentioned specifically that Earley is the pro-life candidate in the race and that his opponent, Democrat Mark Warner, supports abortion rights. In other words, there's more than just a moral responsibility to vote; there's a moral responsibility to vote for Mark Earley. Another possibility would have been to attach a scorecard showing how Earley and Warner (plus other candidates down the ticket) differ on abortion. Earley, for instance, supports legislation to require parental consent before a minor may obtain an abortion, while Warner won't commit past the parental-notification law that Earley helped enact.

As things stand, the bishop's letter leaves voters on their own to figure out the candidates' positions by tomorrow's election day. Perhaps they're sophisticated enough to know where Earley and Warner stand. Then again, perhaps not--and they won't receive much help from Earley's campaign website, which focuses on taxes, education, and safety issues.

But it's a good conclusion to what has been a lackluster campaign. In the end, though, the only thing that may salvage the hopes of those who intend to vote Earley is if they somehow manage to vote often.

[witnesstothefall]

Got two here in Northern Virginia

Make that three...

[Mudboy Slim]

"Best Wishes!"

Thanks, my Garden State FRiend...and good luck to you and Brett Schundler up there in Joisey as well!!

FReegards...MUD

[Jackie222]

Cumberland.........verrrry rural. LOL

[LibertyGirl77]

Is is wrong to pray for trucks to flip over, blocking all lanes of the Beltway, 395, Ffx Co. Pkwy., 7, 267 and 66? I would gladly spend the night at my office in exchange for a Warner loss.

[hchutch]

Only four points down? Which poll said that?

[Jackie222]

There was one horrible (big) sign that I saw on Rt. 45.

SPORTSMEN FOR WARNER

This is hunting country and it makes me mad. A lot of ppl will not care about anything but what that one sign said to them. Earley is for sporstmen too.

I could have snuck in one nite and used a big blk marker and said 'SO IS EARLEY'. but I think they put it up at the last minute cause I have not seen it until now.

grrrrrrr.......

[Mudboy Slim]

"The Right's Gonna Do It"
(To be sung to Charlie Daniels Band's "The South's Gonna Do It")

Well, the trend with Guv'ment is goin' Right this time,
And good Patriots is Votin' Right on down the line!
People here in Richmond can't be still,
With next Governor Earley boogeyin' 'gainst RAT's Leftist Shill!!
People out in Roanoke come from near and far...
To hear Dubyuh callin' 'cuz he's our Big Star.

So gather roun', gather roun', FReepers!!
FReep OUT; well, just VOTE NOW, FReepers!!
Get loud! YES...you can be loud here!!
And be proud, 'cuz we're damned proud here!
So be proud you a rebel, 'cuz the Right's gonna do it again, oh, Amen!!

Ronald Reagan's chillin' on his ranch today,
He ain't gettin' credit, but he showed the way!
And with Rush Limbaugh, it's a damned good bet...
That Slick Willie Clinton ain't seen nuthin' yet!!
Folks, all the good people from the Mountains to the Sea...
Are diggin' young Jay Katzen, while dissin' Kaine the FREAK!!

So gather roun', let's all VOTE, Christians!!
VOTE NOW; well, just git down, Gen-Xers!!
Get loud!!! Folks...we don't allow cowards here!
And be proud, 'cuz we're damned proud here!!
Be proud you a rebel, 'cuz the Right's gonna BEAT WARNER, yes it is!!

YEEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!

FReegards...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

"A lot of ppl will not care about anything but what that one sign said to them."

Fortunately, most of those ppl don't vote!!

FReegards...MUD

[mrs9x]

I live in Charlottesville, and I think the problem for Warner is that he might have wider support than Earley (as indicated in the polls), but that support is much "softer" than the support for Earley. Most people I know who are voting for Earley know a lot about politics, hate dems, and would walk through a snake pit to vote for Earley. Warner's support, though, is more in the mushy middle. They only nominally follow politics, are swayed by sound bytes, but do not really care that much about which way the election goes. If these people stay home, look for an Earley win.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Which poll said that?"

Not sure...I heard it on Limbaugh yesterday.

FReegards...MUD

[vollmond]

Instead of that, maybe have some snowflakes appear! Imagine the mass panic, as the government and schools shut down, and traffic snarls from DC to Dale City when everyone hits the roads at the same time. I can see Bob Ryan freaking out in a frenzy of storm tracking bliss right now.

Vollmond

[Mudboy Slim]

"Cumberland.........verrrry rural."

Yep...a pastoral paradise.

FReegards...MUD

[the bottle let me down]

Is is wrong to pray for trucks to flip over, blocking all lanes of the Beltway, 395, Ffx Co. Pkwy., 7, 267 and 66? I would gladly spend the night at my office in exchange for a Warner loss.

We don't really need that. All that we need is one guy threatening to jump off the Wilson Bridge.

You know, I could use a few months in a padded room . . .

;)

[hchutch]

If so, then it might be a three-for-three day, but right now, I have to say two-for-three, with Bret in a close loss.

[LiberteeBell]

LOL!

[pgkdan]

But, African American churches get away with endorsing people.

Hell, they turn Sunday Services into campaign rallies...complete with fund raising and they don't hide it...there's usually all kinds of TV coverage too. Oh well, at least the Bishop spoke out. I live in the Richmond Diocese and Bishop Sullivan would rather walk on hot coals than endorse...no matter how obliquely...any Republican.

[cogitator]

Warner's support, though, is more in the mushy middle. They only nominally follow politics, are swayed by sound bytes, but do not really care that much about which way the election goes. If these people stay home, look for an Earley win.

Good points, and probably one of the reasons that Republicans outperform their poll numbers. The pollsters get "likely voters" on the basis of self-identification. When they ask Republicans, probably 95%+ of the "likely voters" vote. When they ask Democrats, it's probably 80% or so. When they ask independents, probably somewhat lower. So that weighs in the Republican favor. Two downers: good weather means less of an excuse to stay home, and Warner is supposedly pulling out every trick in the book to get his voters to the polls this time.

[cogitator]

Warner's support, though, is more in the mushy middle. They only nominally follow politics, are swayed by sound bytes, but do not really care that much about which way the election goes. If these people stay home, look for an Earley win.

Good points, and probably one of the reasons that Republicans outperform their poll numbers. The pollsters get "likely voters" on the basis of self-identification. When they ask Republicans, probably 95%+ of the "likely voters" vote. When they ask Democrats, it's probably 80% or so. When they ask independents, probably somewhat lower. So that weighs in the Republican favor. Two downers: good weather means less of an excuse to stay home, and Warner is supposedly pulling out every trick in the book to get his voters to the polls this time.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Bret in a close loss."

I pray yer wrong, my FRiend...MUD