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.

[Mudboy Slim]

"If you limit yourself to government control or government control-lite, you're only screwing yourself. I can't understand why people so slavishly whore themselves out to only two parties."

The third parties cannot expect to have an impact until they make some in-roads during non-election years...seems like year after year, I hear folks bemoaning the fact the the GOP and the RATS are Frick and Frack, but the 3rd Parties repeatedly fail to stir up much passion in the Electorate.

FReegards...MUD

[Dane]

Yep mark warner is going to give you a tax rebate. Earley is going to make sure the car tax elimination goes through. Warner is going to try to stop the car tax elimination.

Again mark warner thanks you for your vote.

[Mudboy Slim]

"No one wanted Demo-rat stuff."

For good reason...it's ALL LIES!! I'm amazed at how pliant the Leftist Medyuh has been fer the RATS...considering how Wartner has summarily contradicted every political stance he has ever stood upon!!
FReegards...MUD

[IMRight]

Poor representation. Poor organization. Lack of contact with the public. Inferior coordination and utilization of volunteers.

Well... I'm sorry that you are obviously looking for a perfect politician to represent you. If you had said "poor character" or "insufficient experience" or "wrong on the issues" you could have a right to complain... but the man doesn't campaign well enough for you? I agree that Warner ran a better campaign - but that doesn't mean that he deserves my vote (and it doesn't mean that Earley does not deserve to be elected)

[Mudboy Slim]

"I voted Libertarian for Lt. Gov."

Reams is a good guy, but my absolute loathing of Tim Kaine forced me to vote Katzen, who I know little to nothing about.

FReegards...MUD

[TKEman]

I agree with you. The Libertarians, in some cases, have gone over the deep end since 9-11. It's very depressing. It just shows one that the mainstream views, while ultimately influenced by the third party views, and more or less correct and balanced in the sense that they represent sensible opinion.

I went to my last Libertarian meeting here in Northern Virginia, and heard some people saying that they should be able to carry firearms onto planes.

I'm for fighting this war. I'm also for common sense.

[Reborn]

I'm just afraid the Dems might try to pull some crap like in MO in 2000 by keeping the polls open later in Northern Virginia to get all the minorities and leftists to the polls in time once they know how many votes they need.

I'll have you know that it was quite necessary to keep those polls open. There were lots of empty lots, dogs, and dead men who had been unable to cast their votes earlier in the day.

[Dane]

Quick poll. Who here honestly believes that if Virginia had a Republican governor, Senate and Assembly the income and car taxes would be completely eliminated and all useless government workers would be out of a job?

The car tax will be completely eliminated. Income tax comes next. It has to be gradual. People who say that income tax should be eliminated get 1% of the poll.

This mess was created over 40 years and it wil not be gone overnight.

Again mark warner thanks you for your vote.

[sirshackleton]

wouldn't happen with a third party candidate either.

I vote third party for things like delegate, mayor, etc. But otherwise, I have yet to see any third party candidate for major office (governor, for instance) pull together any decent kind of campaign. I'm of the belief that if third parties are really serious about getting into office, they need to start small and work up. Concentrate on getting three or four good candidates together for mayoral/delegate/city manager races or something. Then work on areas like attorney general, lt. governor, maybe senator or something like that. just going right for the whole cake doesn't make sense, and all it ends up doing is grouping potentially viable 3rd party folks in with the space cadets who run for president out of their garage and get covergae on The Daily Show.

[mrs9x]

LOL...How come Fido never gets to vote during normal polling hours?

[Ward Smythe]

I'm just afraid the Dems might try to pull some crap like in MO in 2000 by keeping the polls open later in Northern Virginia to get all the minorities and leftists to the polls in time once they know how many votes they need.

Won't happen in Virginia. Chair of the State Board of Elections is appointed by the Governor.

RATS in Virginia have traditionally done most of their vote stealing in SW VA in the coal counties.

[nina0113]

Katzen's a pretty good guy - he spoke at the Spotsy County library earlier this year - he's pro-life & wants to bring covenant marriage to VA. I can't remember where he is on 2nd Amendment, but if he was really bad I think I would.

[Reborn]

Oh he does. He is just doing it in a different county, LOL!!