Will the real Lieutenant Governor Please Stand Up?
I figured this was as good a topic as any to jump into the fray. Has anyone else seen this column?
I have to admit, that Tim Kaine was probably the first Democrat that I have seriously considered voting for. That is, other than Jerry Brown in 1996, but we will just scratch that one up to too much Beast Light during freshman orientation! When I met Jerry Kilgore a little over a year ago, I was not overly impressed. He oozed with the aura of a self righteous, 'slick' politician'.
The media blitz referred to in the column has been the only exposure I have had to Mr. Kaine, and, it would appear it had the intended effect on me. He came across as sincere, and I came away from the commercial thinking "I don't agree with this guy on a lot, but at least he is telling me where he stands." However... after reading Ms. Scarborough's commentary, I have second thoughts. I do believe that people (even candidates) are entitled to change their opinions on a subject. However, the positions Mr. Kaine took prior to announcing his campaign, are so contrary to what he is currently professing, that I am not sure how to measure the sincerity of his current rhetoric.
My mind is definitely not made up on way or the other, and election day is still far away. Man, it sure is a lot easier to just blindly vote along party lines! Maybe I should just stick with what I know....
posted by Joe @ 5/11/2005 11:17:00 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Interesting column. I'll admit to knowing little about Kaine before reading this piece. If their read is correct on Kaine, he's a mealy-mouthed, waffling S.O.B. who appears to want to pacify both sides of the aisle by professing to believe one thing personally and to plan to execute another as Governor. I prefer a candidate that says what he believes, and does what he says/believes. Actions speak more loudly than words as the #1 elected official in the Commonwealth -- just look at how well Warner did with the budget stuff! He said he was going to exert fiscal discipline, and he did. Unlike Gilmore (God help us all).
Reading about Kilgore and Kaine gives me a headache. Kilgore is calling for a statewide referendum before any tax increase could take effect, and he wants regional referenda to decide on increased taxes to pay for transportation costs. Kaine says Kilgore’s call for referendum votes on tax increases are a way for him to duck responsibility for raising taxes. But wait, Kaine supported Gov. Warner’s push for regional transportation referenda a few years ago. Oh, he just meant he opposed Kilgore’s plan to hold statewide referenda before raising taxes. But wait, Kaine supported the idea of a statewide education referendum over regional votes for education spending. So, which is it?
Opponents of Kilgore say his calls for regional referenda show how he has made “passing the buck into a new art form.” He would prefer to raise taxes than be a responsible budgeter and find ways to trim the budget and cut spending. Others say he’s just catering to the rich businessmen who would stand to benefit from increased taxes and increased transportation spending.
Then there’s the whole accent issue. Kilgore’s people say Kaine is making fun of his Southwestern Virginia accent, and in effect, disparaging the rural population of Virginia. Kaine has been trying to get Kilgore to engage in open debate—and urging him to “use his own voice” instead of using radio and TV ads to do his talking for him. Kilgore’s people say this is a subtle slight on his accent. Kaine’s people say that’s nonsense.
So, we’ve got double talk on tax increases and referenda, and squabbling over accents. Are these really the most important issues facing our state? I still have no clear picture of their respective platforms, particularly on issues such as education, healthcare, abortion rights, gun control, immigrant rights, etc. Potts is looking better and better every day; mainly because he's NOT Kilgore or Kaine.
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