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Labeling of Candidates Should Cut Both Ways
Why is it that The Post, in its editorial and news pages, uses terms like "unabashedly liberal" ["In Virginia, the Race Is On," Editorial, June 17] to describe Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Leslie L. Byrne, yet your newspaper never uses words like "extremist" or ultra-conservative" to describe her GOP opponent, William Bolling?
I am not concerned about the charges leveled by the Republican message machine against Byrne and the other Virginia Democratic candidates in your paper. I understand that such quotes are fair game for reporters. Heaven knows that the Republicans are experts at spewing venom at Democrats -- and at themselves. We saw that in the divisive and nasty rhetoric between the two GOP lieutenant governor candidates during the primary campaign.
However, I am concerned about the labels that your editorial writers and reporters affix without attribution to Byrne, while you bestow no such tags on Bolling to describe his far-right positions.
If Byrne's long record of effectiveness and her positions in support of decent education for all Virginians, in support of clean air and clean water, in support of improved health care and prescription drug prices for our citizens are "liberal" positions, then most citizens of the Commonwealth, including me, should also be called liberals.
In contrast, Bolling's votes in the Senate against education, public safety and common-sense governing earn him no moniker, even though Bolling's positions are far to the right of those held by mainstream Virginia Democrats, independents and Republicans.
The Democratic lieutenant governor candidates ran a clean, polite and issue-oriented primary campaign, in sharp contrast to the intense mud-slinging and name-calling between Bolling and Sean Connaughton. Unfortunately, Bolling will now use the same kind of fear-mongering and hate-filled rhetoric against Byrne. He will use sleight of hand to try to divert the attention of Virginia voters (and The Post) away from the critical issues facing our Commonwealth and, instead, try to move the focus to God, guns and gays.
You owe it to your Virginia readers to look closely at the positions of both Byrne and Bolling, rather than perpetuate meaningless slogans that fail to define either of these candidates.
George Burke
Chairman
11th Congressional District Democratic Committee
Falls Church
