Voting Against Virginia's Democrats?
By: fixfairfax
Published On: 5/31/2007 3:17:04 PM
Cross posted on ReformFairfax.com
A post on ReformFairfax.com notes the revelation that Fairfax Co. Supervisor Linda Smyth voted in the GOP primaries in '88, '89, and '96: How concerned should we be about Linda Smyth not voting for Democrats in these elections? Maybe concerned is not the best word -- but it's definitely something we should consider. These are some of our state's best politicians, and some of our party's best.
Let's look at some of these "reform" Democrats did. In the Senate, Chuck Robb went on to help stop wasteful spending while supporting programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Mark Warner, though he narrowly lost that Senate race, campaigned on the same principles he brought to Virginia as its governor: fiscal responsibility and economic viability.
And Doug Wilder, the first black governor ever elected, was a rising star in the Democratic Party when he was running for governor, the embodiment of the party's future. Though there was much talked about his race, he was the most qualified candidate for the job:
"The fact that he has been successful is in itself a qualification," said Gaston. "A rational person would have no reason to vote against Doug Wilder because he's black. It's only the irrational fears, brought out by history. ... He has proved himself able to succeed in the arena of Virginia politics. He's not an outsider, he's an insider" (Washington Post, 6/11/89)
So why didn't Smyth vote for Wilder in '89? Did she not think he was qualified, even though her party nominated him? Was it an irrational fear? Should we question her credentials as a Virginia Democrat?
I think it's fair game. In three instances, Smyth chose to participate in choosing her party's nominee -- all of whom were new Democrats focused on reform. If she didn't consider herself of a Virginia Democrat, why should trust her to be one now?
Comments
Come On! (code - 5/31/2007 3:52:51 PM)
VA is an open-primary state. Plenty of Dems vote in the Rep primary as a way of influencing the elecion toward a weaker rival, especially when the Dem field is set.
Get back to me when you have real news to report!
This is less revalation and more conspiracy theory.
Smyth herself said: (Chris Guy - 5/31/2007 3:58:31 PM)
"I thought John Warner deserved support."
How is that a conspiracy exactly?
Consider the alternative (merridem - 5/31/2007 4:00:52 PM)
Warner or a wingnut?
I would choose Warner.
Warner v. Warner (fixfairfax - 5/31/2007 4:56:27 PM)
John Warner's opponent in the Senate race was Mark Warner, who, from what I can discern, is not a wingnut.
But she didn't vote in ANY Democratic primaries (Hiker Joe - 5/31/2007 4:20:08 PM)
until she joined the Democratic Party in 2003 and immediately filed to run for Connolly's empty seat. In the meantime, she voted in three Republican primaries.
How many Democrats do you know who vote in nothing but Republican primaries?
Answer: (Lowell - 5/31/2007 4:28:14 PM)
Zero.
Answer (voter4change - 5/31/2007 5:16:41 PM)
But Lowell, Smyth does vote for every high density land use project that Gerry Connolly wants her to vote for. Just ask her....She votes with Connolly even if there are too many houses, too many trees destroyed, lack of open space and recreation, kids eating lunch at 9:45, etc.
Linda Smyth: opportunist? (BettyLou - 5/31/2007 5:59:29 PM)
As important as how many republican primaries Smyth voted in is how many democratic primaries she voted in. If the answer was 3 and 0, as someone else said, she was clearly republican-leaning at a minimum during those years.
If she became a democrat just to get into office, I don't want her.
Opportunists.Aren't they all?? (J.Scott - 5/31/2007 7:47:14 PM)
If your not an opportunist in the business of politics I think the train come through and runs you over. They are all opportunists. The point is what have the done with the "opportunity". Using your analogy my friend Sen. Webb should never have been elected. A man who defined himself for most of his career life as a virtual Republican switches to run as a Democrat for what I believe to have been sincere ideological reasons to run for the Senate. It begs the question if the seat had been held by a Democrat, what would he have done. We simply do not know. What we know is he supported much of the Republican platform since 1980 up until around 2000, thtas 20 years of votes probably never one done in a Democratic primary. Therefore, Webb by your view is in fact an "opportunist", but by winning he is making the best of his "opportunity" to represent Virginia in the Senate and is doing quite well- in the end that may be all that really matters.
But Smyth is being dishonest about switching parties (Hiker Joe - 5/31/2007 9:28:38 PM)
It's fine to decide to change political parties. But fess up to it. Be honest and give your reasons for doing so. To do otherwise is cowardly and dishonest. It's even more cowardly to then accuse your opponent of being a Republican as Connolly and her campaign have been doing.