Posted on 11/05/2001 10:16:14 PM PST by 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.
"They mention caps on class size."
Perhaps the most BOGUS Issue out there, IMHO!!
"Are these determined by the school boards, the voters, or the union?"
This is totally Union-driven in a bald-faced attempt to increase their intake from Annual Dues. Good teachers teaching 30 students is far better than Mediocre Teachers teaching 20 students...and the lower the class-size, the more AWFUL Teachers you are forced to employ.
"Does anyone in the Republican party look into this stuff or is it just considered the third rail of Fairfax County Politics? How can anyone be against the children?"
Teacher's Unions act like they will Go Postal on you if you don't Mimic their ridiculous rhetoric, but as I said, I think Vouchers/Privatization is a winning issue for GOPers if they are willing to do the hard work of making the case. I told this to Jim Gilmore's face on more than one occasion and he said, "Not yet...not yet..."
I sorta like Gilmore and have voted for the man twice, but he's sorta a WIMP...MUD
It'd be an honor...MUD
That's quite an ad!
This looks like a good, cheap way to get a message out. What is the liability on the person that hosts it?
Yep, I heard he ain't even from around here. CT, somebody said. He always looks like he just swallowed a goat turd or something.
Those are the reports here, too.
The poll watchers told me it was a normal turnout, but it looked low to me- and mine is a Dem precinct.
We'll soon know (fingers crossed).
HA!! OK...
I'd have settled for learning a few new sequences & the hell with The Force. :o)
He said the the FOP had endorsed Warner but the members of the FOP were all over the talk radio shows saying that they were for Earley.
Also changed one "Board of Realtors" vote from Warner to Earley in Northern VA last week. The Board of Realtors endorsed Warner ~ hope she pulled a few more away.
I worked my polling place for a few hours this afternoon. The numbers my precinct captain called in at 4:00 put turn out at just over 1,000 or about 33%. It was steady, never heavy. I'd say of those who took partisan literature, the split was about even. I'm new to this precinct, but I know it voted Bush but not by much. I think 33% turnout is low. Since no tractor-trailer was overturned on the Beltway, or dogfood truck turned over on I-66, the pace was starting to pick up as I left. We had plenty of volunteers, only one Dem who'd been there since 3:00 a.m. putting up signs. I left encouraged!
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