Riding around northern Virginia I have noticed how every time an Andy Hurst sign is placed in the median on RT 29, two or more Tom Davis signs are placed around it to obscure it from view. At the recent debate between Tom Davis and Andy Hurst, the Davis people formed a virtual gauntlet outside the Fairfax Government Center as if they were trying to intimidate the Hurst supporters trying to get inside. Since when do we allow such tactics in our elections?
Even more disturbing are stories I hear about yard signs that are vandalized or destroyed in peoples' front yards! This happened to me in 2004 but has not happened again (maybe my neighbor realized that every time he or she took down a sign, another would appear, or maybe they were responsible for that warning letter I ignored from my homeowners association.) It has happened to a number of people I know in the area. Now many people in my neighborhood are afraid to put a sign in their yard, afraid that the vandalism will extend beyond the sign.
While I know that people from both parties have torn down yard signs, it seems to me to be much more common in Republican campaigns.
I first heard the term "dirty tricks" during the 1972 presidential campaign and Richard Nixon, who's campaign staff had a reputation for pulling stunts on their opponents. It seems like the local campaigns are taking their cues from the leaders in DC.
For example, the egregious actions of the Republicans during the 2004 National Convention. Apparently at the direction of the National Republican Party, protesters outside the GOP convention in New York were literally hauled away and held without bail for 36 hours! For expressing their opinions. For exercising their right to free speech.
And of course Pres Bush is still using similar tactics. Instead of debating his domestic wiretap program or compromising with Conressional leaders on Civil Rights protections, he makes speeches (lies) about how Democrats don't want the FBI to listen to terrorist phone calls, essentially saying that we support the terrorists,
In the final analysis, I think that what has happened is that the Republicans have forgotten that they are elected to serve their constituents, not the other way around. The power of the elected offices comes from US, the citizens, and is not theirs by right of birth, nor is it ordained by a higher power.
We have a right to question our elected officials, we have a right to challenge them for the offices they hold and we have a right to be treated with decency during these elections. Now is the time we have to fight for these rights. The fight is here, not in Iraq. The fight is waged with ballots not bullets. But make no mistake, it is a fight for freedom.
And it is a fight we must win.