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.

[Trueblackman]

Translation: Lighter that expected as of 8:05 this morning.

[LiberteeBell]

An Earley Bump!

[hchutch]

That is a good sign. I just hope that we don't have some machine "make it up on the street" late in the day.

[Trueblackman]

We have to contact NJ Freepers who may have the day off and see that they get the troops out to the polls to vote for Schundler!

[hchutch]

Well, I'm in Va, and had to work, but I got my votes in!

[hchutch]

I only voted once, but I sent straight GOP. Those Party labels were quite useful. :)

[BlueCat]

I voted on Saturday. There were several people in there casting their votes, but I couldn't tell whether they were on our side or not.

Sure hope Earley pulls it off.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Vote Earley"

Yer wish is my command...MUD

[WashingtonSource]

I just voted in Arlington at 10 a.m. and it was the lowest turnout at my precinct at Taylor School I've ever seen in the 15 years I've lived here. There were three Democrats outside handing out fliers and no Republicans. Usually there are Republicans handing out fliers. Arlington is heavily Democratic. But, from this turnout, the Dems are not going to do very well here today.

[Ligeia]

Arrgh! A caller on Michael Graham relating a voting story. He went in to vote, saw a guy who looked like Jamie Farr. The caller asked him who he voted for and the voter replied, "Warner." The man asked him why, and the voter said, "Because he was married to Elizabeth Taylor and she has been so active in the AIDS cause." Can't we have a quota on idiots voting?

[hchutch]

Oh, boy, yeah, but if they only have the idiots on their side, then we might get some Earley votes on our side from it...

[afraidfortherepublic]

Thanks for the reminder. I'm placing a phone call right now to my daughter in Richmond to remind her to vote Earley -- a pro-life vote. My hopeless son-in-law is not registered. Arggggggh!

[Ligeia]

That's odd, there were no Earley volunteers there, but great news about the turnout. Did you see the Arlington Sun Gazette Earley endorsement?

[hchutch]

Holding back to see how many they need?

[Ligeia]

Here's the link to the Arlington GOP if you want to give them a call and let them know they need to get volunteers over there.

[Trueblackman]

When I get into range I plan to call Micheal and plug Early I am walking out of my Apartment in 5 minutes!!!

[Mudboy Slim]

"VA Freepers, reminder to get the vote out!"

Been there, done that, now calling on all my friends, family, and Right-thinking co-workers to do the same!!

Earley's gonna win this, folks...MUD

[Ligeia]

Isn't everyone registered with moter-voter now?

[Ligeia]

Good luck! I hope you get through!

[shuckmaster]

Aw, Shucks!