ANYTHING GOES: The election Big Top in Virginia
Published: October 18, 2009
This election season I have been keeping an eye out for marching elephants, trapeze artists and cotton candy.
I haven’t seen any of these things yet, but given some of what has been going on in the state elections, it seems obvious that the circus has come to town.
From top to bottom, this campaign has been full of stupendous stunts and awe-inspiring acts of aggression.
In the center ring, we have strongman Creigh Deeds beating up on Bob McDonnell for his 20-year-old thesis.
At first, the content of the thesis was a shocking revelation, one that seemed to describe a great deal about Mr. McDonnell and his, perhaps, antiquated notions. But as time marched on and Deeds beat
the thesis horse until he killed it, one began to wonder what was more ridiculous: the thesis itself, or Deeds inability to talk about anything else.
Moving down the line of power, we have the shenanigans of the local races for the Virginia House of Delegates.
Lift your eyes to the roof of the circus tent and you will see Democrat Luke Torian of the 52nd District. This tightrope walker is vying for the seat previously filled by Republican Jeff Frederick. However,
when the NAACP sponsored a debate between Torian and his opponent, Republican Rafael Lopez, Torian was nowhere to be found.
It seems that Torian was less than enthused at the prospect of being questioned by one of the panelists at the debate: Democrat Mike Hodge. At least that’s what the local NAACP president, Ralph
Smith, said at the time. You see, Torian had faced Hodge before — in the Democratic primary for the 52nd District seat.
Torian’s campaign said he did not attend because an agreement could not be reached on the debate’s format.
If that campaign’s high-wire act doesn’t get you, then look to the ring on your far left where you will see Democrat Jeanette Rishell’s clown act in the 50th District.
It seems some supporters of hers handed out mailers that say she was endorsed by the Virginia Education Association.
Problem is, her opponent, Republican Jackson Miller is actually the one endorsed by the organization.
From what I hear, Rishell and her campaign manager weren’t aware this mailer — one left over from a previous campaign — was being distributed. But then, that excuse doesn’t make Ms. Rishell seem
any less clownish. If anything, it enhances the laugh value of the incident.
Finally, in the far-right ring, we have Republican Rich Anderson trying to tame a lion (the voting public) with an attack ad purporting to reveal the criminal past of his Democratic opponent.
Problem is, he didn’t tell the whole story.
Anderson’s attack ad announces that Democrat Paul Nichols and a friend were stopped for suspicion of a DWI in North Carolina in 2006. Furthermore, the ad includes a piece of paper citing Nichols
for “resist, delay, obstruct and assault on a public official.”
However, the mailer does not mention the fact that the charges were dropped, that Nichols has witnesses saying he was the victim of police misconduct, that he was a passenger, not a driver, or that he
has had the record expunged.
Even bolder than those omissions is the fact that the mailer revealed Nichols’ Social Security number along with other personal information. Seems like some identity thief could have had fun with that.
It remains to be seen whether the mailer will cause the voting public to roar or roll over, but it’s definitely possible that the mailer could lead to the lion attacking its incautious tamer.
This election cycle has been the strangest since I moved to Manassas, and I swear that at night I sometimes think I can hear the sounds of the Big Top just outside my window.
But despite all the entertainment, I think I will be happy when the circus pulls up stakes and moves on to the next town.
I’ve had enough frivolity this election season to last me for quite a while.
Alex Granados is the editorial page editor for the News & Messenger. Call him at 703-878-8069 or e-mail him at
. If you aren’t sick of the circus, ask him to juggle; he will do it
on command.
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Reader Reactions
Liberalized you are correct!Delegate Bob Marshall will win on his record and how he has conducted his campaign. John Bell has an extreme left wing agenda supported by gay rights groups and out of state unions. The hardworking and fair-minded residents of the 13th District will be turned off by John Bell’s mailer and disparaging remarks about Del.Bob Marshall. Apparently, John Bell has no respect for Delegate Bob Marshall or his wife and children. Shame on John Bell for approving such a disgusting mailer.
Bell can spend all the money he wants he still isn’t going to win.
Hey Marshall (GP) what is it about the Bell mailer that has you frothing at the mouth? Is it the direct quotes? Like when you proudly called yourself a right-wing extremist (on youtube), or when you made that utterly tasteless comment that incest is sometimes voluntary? I would never call you a circus clown Bob, you are a very long way from being funny. Your views need to be taken very seriously indeed because it is people like you that think they have the one true moral code that threaten the liberties and rights of all the rest of us.
Perhaps you should take more time to explain yourself on HB 2366 or HB 2797 when you wanted to punish stem cell researchers or ban contraceptives for everyone. Your supporters claim you are all about roads and schools and yet time after time we see your name attached to these extreme and divisive pieces of legislation.
It is not a personal attack Bob when you are called out on your public comments and your voting record. If you feel that is a personal attack then maybe you should have thought about it more before you committed yourself to this extreme agenda.
As for lies in campaigning, I call your attention to your own mailer and your comments at the Bell-Marshall debate when you talked of the non-existent “death panels”. You played the typical childish trick of claiming you didn’t really say that - the author of the article did so you are not responsible. And yet you knew - or should have known - that your beloved Krauthammer that you cited had already disavowed those remarks a month before. Krauthammer even said to continue to claim there were death panels “debased the debate” on healthcare. You have debased the debate Bob not John Bell.
I suspect you called your campaign a referendum on Obama because you know you need to take the spotlight off your own record. Your legislative record, grounded in a narrow religious and extremist agenda rightly give pause to the voters in the 13th who want a delegate that represents everyone and will address the real issues facing us.
MARCHING925:
Hup, one, two…let’s sing “omward Christian Solders, Marchin g Off to War”.
Let’s not forget Bobby G.‘s teaming up with the Catholic church priests, the Va. governor., and himself in the right to die Hugh Finn case—- and how they all got creamed by the courts. Yes sir, old
bobby G. has always got his nose and prejudices stuck in something. A disgrace to PWC.
Bravo, to Mr. Granados, for putting a name to all these double talking clown acts.
Mr. Deeds could stand to let a 20 year old theis go, doesn’t he know by now that all our view and positions have changed somewhat over the ages. And if they hadn’t then we would be stuck in time.
Speaking of letting go, I guess Pastor Torian decided to let go of the title of “Dr. Torian” ; that might be due in part to the fact that no one seems to be able to locate his dissertation in the first place. Well like a magician, maybe we should look inside the campaign correspondence hat…tah dah! still nothing! And as far as clown-ary, we can take him and his campaign staff (including Earnestine Jenkins the hidden midget behind the curtain) and put them on the “Alice In Wonderland tale”, of “ I said it, but you didn’t see a rabbit, but I meant this? Well leave it to Mr.Toad, oh I mean Mr.Torian, and his belief that all papers including the Washington Post, have misquoted him. Although Pastor Torian did say he “favors civil unions between gays and supports Roe v. Wade”. So down playing him disrespecting the NAACP was just another trick of twisting words to tuck under his empty hat.
Mrs. Rishell took the concept of the paper reduction act a little to far, and hit the hay in a most messy way. Sending out mailers with an endorsement from a prior campaign, is definitely a Pie in the face! no constellation prize here.
Rich Anderson stayed in the distorted mirror to long and began to think he was looking GOOD! to bad it was just an illusion! at some point he was going to have to step away from the mirror and deal with reality, elephants can be large and messy, connect at the tail and follow them out.
PHDee, I take it your a democrat…so the nerve of you to call Bobby Marshall a “super duper Christian” how about the “Pulpit Politician” the democrats are running in the 52nd! My goodness, when did democrats sink so low, they started slathering into churches searching for pastors to run as candidates. That shows yall have no respect for God or the church, super duper hypocrite!
PHDEE:
Delegate Marshall doesn’t need to lie. He is voted back into office year after year because his record speaks for itself. It is a shame you are not in the majority and your views are so far out in left field.
And let’s not forget Bobby G. Marshall’s regularly lying to the voting public on issues during the campaigns.
Bobby G. has a proven record of running on things like transportation and schools. Yet, once elected his main concern is Catholic dogma, especially abortion. And all this from an allegedly super duper Christian. Oh shame!!!
And let’s not forget Bobby G.‘s involvement in the Hugh Finn right to die case. A disgrace and embarrassment to PWC.
Mr.Granados,
We can only hope that candidate for the 13th District, Democrat John Bell’s fascination with squirrels and nuts goes by wayside when his circus team leaves town after the election.
Check out his recent campaign flier. Talk about character unbecoming of a former military officer. John Bell apparently lied when he stated there will be no “personal attacks” Desperate times mean desperate means when it comes to the Democrats.
Delegate Bob Marshall has demonstrated great leadership and good character when it comes to how he handles his campaign. Judging by Mr.Bell’s campaign fliers he has stooped to the lowest level in politics.
Don’t be hoodwinked by Mr.Bell’s appearance. His actions as a political campaigner speaks volumes.
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