In a breathtakingly spiteful move the Republican-dominated House of Delegates has removed Jim Dillard from his seat on the Board of Visitors of William and Mary. Dillard had represented the 41st District (south of the City of Fairfax) for 31 years; he was a moderate Republican and beloved by his constituents, who returned him handily year after year to the Assembly. Dillard retired last year, endorsing his former aide, Republican-turned-Democrat Dave Marsden, against an extreme right-wing Republican. Dillard made this endorsement because he honestly considered Marsden the better candidate for "his" district. Apparently this apostasy was too much for the Republican leadership, which demands party loyalty above public good. Just like their big brothers in the U.S. Congress in Washington, Virginia Republicans brook no breach of Party discipline, and are more than willing to mete out harsh punishment to apostates.
In this case, the Repubican-controlled Virginia House of Delegates was considering a series of final routine appointments to boards and commissions by former Governor Warner. Those appointments including Boards of Visitors at several colleges and universities. Normally, these are all voted on in one fell swoop. But in this case one board - William and Mary's Board of Visitors - was ?taken out of the block,? so that Delegates would vote on this one separately from all others. Then Republicans moved that each NAME be voted on separately. And finally, on a nearly straight party-line vote, former Delegate Jim Dillard was removed from the William and Mary Board.
The stated reason? House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith (Republican, 8th District) made what Kristen Amundson (D-44th) calls the ?outrageous charge that Dillard had exchanged his support for Marsden for a seat on the William and Mary Board.? Such a charge, typical of Republicans (who apparently assume that everyone else thinks as deviously and spitefully as they do) is utterly false. Dave Marsden himself has said that ?nothing could be further from the truth,? and has asked everyone to write to the Washington Post demanding coverage and condemnation of this egregious act by the House leadership.
Jim Dillard served for many years in Fairfax County Public Schools and had a distinguished career in the House where he was Chairman of the House Education Committee. Dillard also was one of 17 House Republicans who broke from their party?s anti-tax stance to support Governor Warner?s budget reform in 2004. The College of William and Mary?s Board of Visitors itself, on hearing of this cruel action by the House, approved a resolution commending James H. Dillard II, ?whose confirmation to the board was denied by his former Republican colleagues.? The William and Mary Board went on to heap lavish praise on Dillard. Since then, Dillard has not returned phone calls seeking comment. Perhaps Dillard is following the rule that if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything? If so, he has a lot more class than House Republicans. But, then again, we knew that already, didn't we?
Shame on the House GOP for putting partisanship over statesmenship.
Let us hope that Delegate Dillard will continue to serve Virginia in different capacity.
Like I said, Tribbett loathes Dillard and Marsden for personal reasons he choses to keep to himself. Thus, anybody who expresses the slightest sympathy or even says "sorry" to them he hates with a burning passion.
You'll have to ask him why. I'd say because his own attemp to run for the seat now held by Marsden (the 41st) basically ended when Marsden declared, but I'd like to think Tribbett is a bit less petulant than that.
But I could be wrong.
Upset about him losing, James? Well boo-hoo-hoo. Craddock has noone to blame but himself.
Don't forget who these people are!
Pete, I, too was a life-long Republican until this current crew infiltrated and took over, driving the GOP off over the horizon to the right, leaving me stranded in the old middle (which mysteriously has now become denigrated as "liberal"). The truth is, there are thousands of us former Republicans out there, many feeling betrayed and bewildered. James Webb is another example of one who has made the transition to being a Democrat. He must believe, as I myself finally decided about 20 months ago, that the only way to stop this insane rush to ruin by Bush et al is to join the only organized opposition which has a chance of throwing the rascals out, that is, the Democratic Party.