Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 10, 1995 TAG: 9510100125
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
John Edwards, Democratic vice mayor of Roanoke, is running for state Senate. We expect him to advertise differences between him and his opponent, Republican incumbent Brandon Bell of Roanoke County.
We expect sound-bite commercials, of the sort that have helped degrade political contests and will be all over radio and television in the next few weeks.
We even expect negative ads. Indeed, we think they can be helpful, when the point is to distinguish candidates' records or points of view.
But, please, must we put up, right from the start, with the sort of commercial Edwards has put on the radio?
Excerpts:
Announcer: "During four years in office, state Sen. Brandon Bell has gotten just four bills passed. Just four bills in four years."
Southern male voice: "OK, boys, got my bill written. I'm goin' fishin'. . . . C'mon, dinner's at 6 - and the lobbyists are buyin'!"
Announcer: "John Edwards knows better. Because John Edwards is a hard worker - with a record of accomplishment. . . . John Edwards for Senate. Because our senator should work as hard as we do."
We're not sure how hard either man works. But we do know one way to assure that Bell gets more bills passed. Give Republicans control of the General Assembly.
As for Bell's first radio ad, well, it pretty much comes down to this: If you want a conservative in the state Senate, re-elect Bell. If you want a LIBERAL, elect Edwards.
Actually, you may not know this, but Edwards' first name isn't John. It's LIBERAL. That's right: LIBERAL Edwards is his name. And not only that - Edwards is a LIBERAL. He may try to claim he's not LIBERAL. But know what he is? You got it: a LIBERAL.
Well, that's the gist of the initial ads emerging from the Bell-Edwards race. If you hear them coming on, feel free to change the station.
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POLITICS
by CNB