Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 24, 1993 TAG: 9402180005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: HARRY L. WILSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
George Allen is running against Mary Sue Terry for governor. Don Beyer is opposing Mike Farris for the lieutenant governor's position, and Bill Dolan is running against Jim Gilmore for attorney general.
If you have been watching any of the debates or reading the candidates' comments in the newspapers or watching the evening news or any of the seemingly endless campaign ads, you may think that Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Bill Clinton, Michael Dukakis and even Jimmy Carter are running for office.
They aren't. But most of the candidates seem to think they are running against some combination of those individuals.
Real issues have been absent from all of the campaigns. The only issues in this campaign seem to be religion (or lack thereof), crime and guns in the schools. Everyone wants religious freedom (defined any way you like), better schools, safer streets, etc. This is not ``leadership.''
Doesn't Virginia currently have a budget shortfall that will only get worse in the next few years? How can we spend more money on schools or prisons or whatever when we don't have enough to fund our current needs? What about the gutting of the higher education budget in the state?
Oh, I guess these issues aren't important enough to warrant discussion by any of the candidates. Or maybe they just don't have solutions to these difficult problems. They all talk about better schools and reducing teen pregnancy rates. They discuss how unfit their opponent is to hold office, any office.
They all talk tough on crime. I wouldn't be too surprised to see one of them (pick one) drag a criminal on stage and perform a public execution. Then we'd see who's tough and who's not. I expect someone to come out in favor of motherhood (as long as the child is wanted) and apple pie just before the election. That sort of bold move can put you over the top.
All of this helped me make up my mind about how to cast my vote. Because there is no ``none of the above'' category, I will abstain or write in a name. I think either of my dogs would make a good candidate for governor and lieutenant governor. I just can't decide whether Mindy or Gretzky would be a better governor.
If you think I'm joking, let me assure you that I'm not. As a moderate Republican, I was initially unhappy with my party's ticket. My first impression was that George Allen might not have command of all the issues, Mike Farris (or maybe it was his supporters) was scary, and Jim Gilmore wanted to shoot everyone and let God sort out the good from the bad.
I heard stories from a couple of friends who attended the Republican convention, and the stories were all pretty negative. Allen pandered to the religious right; Farris supporters booed his opponent, and they did not even know who was running for governor. It was frightening to me. Their campaigns of mud have done little to reduce my fears.
I seriously considered switching over and voting for the Democrats. Mary Sue Terry had a distinguished career of public service. Don Beyer seemed to be a bright rising star, a ``good'' Democrat, open to the needs of business as well as labor. I didn't know much about Bill Dolan.
As the campaign has dragged on, however, I have learned a little more about Terry and Beyer. Both are running such negative campaigns that they make George Bush and Co. look like nice guys. And I thought next year's U.S. Senate race would be bad.
Terry is trying very hard to distance herself from all those Democrats she has worked with, campaigned with, etc., for her entire career, and paint Allen as a pawn of Falwell and Robertson. Beyer is so busy telling us about his opponent's convictions and connections that he seems to have forgotten that he has been lieutenant governor for four years and ought to be able to run on (or at least defend) his record. I couldn't in good conscience vote for either of these candidates.
At least Dolan and Gilmore have been hidden from the media's spotlight. I haven't heard enough from them to be turned off or have a turned stomach. Nevertheless, I don't think I'll vote for them either.
When any of the candidates start talking about serious issues, then I'll start taking them seriously. Until then, I refuse to vote for a candidate who, at best, could be considered the lesser of two evils. At this point, I don't even know who that would be.
When any of the candidates earns my vote, they'll get it. Until then, I'd rather vote for Mindy and Gretzky for governor and lieutenant governor. They're smart, they're kind, they don't spread half-truths about others, and they try to do what's right.
Oh, and for attorney general? Well, I'm still trying to decide between Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Carter.
\ Harry L. Wilson is associate professor of political science at Roanoke College.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB