By Bob Gibson
Charlottesville political blogger
To “swift boat” a candidate is a verb that gets more and more use in our political culture today.
The practice is hardly the exclusive preserve of Chris LaCivita and the GOP.
Democrats do it to each other, according to a distinguished political scientist from the University of Connecticut who retired to Charlottesville.
David RePass, in a post on George Loper’s web site, says that Barack Obama is being “swift boated” by the Clintons. Here is the top of his argument:
“Barack Obama is being “swift boated” by the Clintons. Say what? Let’s first define “swift boating.” It is a propaganda campaign that puts doubts into people’s minds about what actually happened to someone or is happening. In John Kerry’s case, it questioned his abilities as a boat commander and cast doubt about whether his medals were actually earned.
“This was such nonsense that Kerry did not think it would be believed by anyone.
“Before our very eyes this primary campaign season, the Clintons (and their friends among the media commentators) have us taking seriously the following nonsense:
“1) Counting total votes across all primary states is a legitimate method of scoring. This is like saying that the baseball team that has scored the most runs over a season should go to the World Series.
“Baseball is scored game by game; primaries are scored state by state.
“The ONLY way to score points in the primary/caucus process is to win delegates. And then there is the other piece of this nonsense: Hillary does not count states that held caucuses. (But almost hourly we hear someone bring up this “total vote” argument.)
“2) Hillary claims that Michigan and Florida held legitimate primaries and their votes should be fully counted as cast. It would be undemocratic, Hillary says, not to do so (even though these elections were undemocratic, noncompetitive “contests” in which the voters had no way to learn about the candidates – especially the new kid on the block). Also, Clinton argues that many Democratic voters in Michigan and Florida will not vote Democratic in the fall if they are “slighted” by the DNC enforcing its rules. (This assumes that the overwhelming concern of many of these voters will be that they were “slighted” by the national Democratic party and that THAT concern will far outweigh their concerns about such things as the economy, Iraq and health care.)
“3) White, working class Democrats and a great many women will not vote for Obama in the fall. Nonsense. This bogus analysis is based on primary results in which one Democrat is competing with another Democrat. Yes, many among the working class and many women preferred Clinton to Obama in these contests, but that does not mean that they will not vote for the Democrat in the fall. Primary contests between candidates of the same party simply cannot be compared with general election contests between a Democrat and a Republican.
“I am aware of the polls that show a considerable number of Clinton supporters saying that they will not vote for Obama in the fall (and vice versa). This is bogus. In the heat of a current campaign, some supporters (who have just left the voting booth) are going to be so invested in their candidate that they cannot see any other candidate as worthy. However, come November, this intense feeling will have worn off and Democrats will vote for the Democratic candidate.
“4) Hillary claims that there is a crystal ball that predicts that Obama will not be as strong an opponent against John McCain as she would be.
“Again, nonsense. No reputable student of voting behavior has ever been able to find a way to measure voters’ attitudes this far in advance of a (Nov.) election. Again, the results of contests between two Democrats in primaries tells almost nothing about a contest between a Democrat and a Republican in the fall.”
There is more on Loper’s site from David RePass. http://george.loper.org/~george/archives/2008/May/925.html
Do you agree?
By Bob Gibson
Charlottesville political blogger
Two of the better blogging conferences I’ve attended were in Charlottesville a few years back and were sponsored by the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia.
Virginia political bloggers of all stripes and shades, and yes, even a few stars, attended and spoke with each other in the flesh. This offered opportunities for friendships to flourish and for greater understanding of each other as well as of the interesting topics discussed.
Now that I’ve landed at Sorensen as executive director and just finished my first month on the job, I wonder if Virginia’s enhanced ranks of political bloggers would like to do it again.
I also wonder what bloggers would like to talk about at such a gathering, were we to sponsor one. Please let me know what you think, either below or at Sorensen. We could even invite a few politicians who blog (and maybe a few who could and don’t know it yet). Thanks.
By Bob Gibson
Charlottesville political blogger
Paul Harris, a Northern Virginia Republican who served two terms in the House of Delegates from Albemarle County until 2001,
has decided not to run for attorney general next year.
Harris said that in recent weeks there were times “when I thought maybe I can do this and make it work.”
He decided however that 2009 was not the right time.
His eldest child, P.J., just turned 17 and is a senior in high school next year and “I just couldn’t stomach not being there,” he said. “It’s been a very prayerful time for me and lots of folks have been very supportive of me in helping me make this decision.”
Harris may take a position in the John McCain campaign, he said of his continuing political activity this year.
He left the House of Delegates in 2001 to taker a position in the Bush Justice Department and now is in private law practice.
Harris explained his attorney general decision in an email to friends.
It reads in full: “Dear Friends,
“I have decided not to seek the office of Attorney General of Virginia in 2009. This difficult decision encompassed more than political dimensions, reaching into areas faith and personal values.
“Over the past several months, I have heard with my ears and embraced with my heart the earnest and well-meant pleas of ‘this is your time’. Those sincere expressions of support and encouragement refreshed my fondness and appreciation for life on the political campaign trail, as well as my love for the wonderful people of this Commonwealth, from all stations and walks of life. Your support also renewed in me a calling to serve a higher purpose with one’s life, a lesson my mother instilled in me.
“In the end, however, what matters most to me is that I do God’s will. Discerning His will for my life requires patience, and, in this instance, that quite likely means I will have to wait for a period that extends beyond self-imposed, political or convenient deadlines. Even the most courageous and well thought-through decisions in life cannot substitute for obedience to God’s will. But although I must wait, surely it would not be fair of me to impose that burden upon either the nomination process itself or any announced or potential candidate for attorney general. I will not do that.
“In its simplest terms, the joy of spending time with my three children far outweighs any desire I have to be attorney general. I get choked up thinking that my son, Paul Jr., a rising high school senior, will be off to college in the fall of 2009. He is co-captain of his high school wrestling team and placed second in his district tournament this year. No political office could ever substitute for pride that wells up from these three simple words: “I was there.” In those moments when the crowds are gone and I am left alone to my thoughts, I realize in my gut that I am not willing to sacrifice even one spontaneous moment with my children—those instant eternal memories that last for a lifetime—in the name of political ambition.
“Even at the age of 44, I can still feel the pain—the rejection and embarrassment—when, as a young Cub Scout in Den 3, Pack 98, in Charlottesville, I could not participate in the annual father-son project of designing and making miniature wooden race cars, because there was no father in my household. I vowed then that my children would have a different experience. I am where I am today because God blessed me with a mother who was present. She taught me that there are no victims in life, only volunteers.
“In the past few weeks, I have recalled time and again the words of Carl Sandburg, who said: “Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” My mother spent her coin well, in selfless devotion to her children. I shall try as best I can in my life to do the same.
“Some political assessments hold that this decision might mean I will never serve as attorney general of Virginia or ever again hold political office. If so, I am at peace with this decision nonetheless. Truly, my life has been like one long up-escalator. A designated “at risk” child in grade school, I am humbled to even be considered by many as a worthy candidate for attorney general. That itself is an achievement my mother would be proud of. But she also would be proud of me for choosing to be a good father, even if this happens to be ‘my time’.
“Next year Virginia Republicans will have several outstanding and exceptionally qualified candidates from which to choose a nominee for attorney general. I look forward to joining with our Republican ticket next year and rousing support for the optimistic vision and ideals of our party and its candidates, always standing for and with those whose compelling hope is to improve their modest lot in life.
“I thank all of you who have been helpful and supportive in this decision-making process. I especially thank those who have prayed with me and given me spiritual comfort along the way. To those who might be disappointed by my decision, I hope you will understand and trust my reasons for making this decision and look forward to our continued friendship.
“Finally, in the words of George Washington, Father of Our Country, may we all “labour to keep alive in our breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.” And then let us together do what is right for our Commonwealth and her good people.
“With warm personal regards,
Paul”
