Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 15, 1992 TAG: 9201150334
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
GOLDMAN SHRUGS OFF CRITICISM
Paul Goldman said Tuesday that attacks on his performance as state Democratic Party chairman go with the turf, and he won't let the criticism affect the way he operates.Gov. Douglas Wilder has denied rumors that he is considering replacing Goldman, picked by Wilder two years ago for the job.
Some Democrats said Goldman was partly to blame for the party's poor showing in November's legislative elections because he put Wilder's national ambitions ahead of the party.
"If they want to blame the chairman for all the ills of the world, that just goes with the territory," Goldman said. "It's just the way it is, and that's why so many people find public life so unappealing.
"You learn as chairman that you're going have to expect if the sky's blue and you say it is blue, someone will say it's something else. It's part of the price you pay when you want to change things in this world. You can't let this kind of anonymous criticism rule the day."
Goldman said the party contributed more money to legislative candidates in 1991 than ever before. He said cash donations came to about $200,000, and the party did more than ever to help new candidates.
"It's amazing how soon they forget," Goldman said.
Democratic activists have said Wilder might maneuver Goldman out of office to avoid a possible revolt by the steering committee which runs the party between meetings of the central committee, the party's governing body.
But Wilder, who abandoned his bid for president last week, said during a visit Monday to Northern Virginia that he has no such plans and added that Goldman is doing a good job.
Goldman would not say whether Wilder has been in touch to give him a personal vote of confidence.