Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 11, 1992 TAG: 9203110318
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: From staff and wire reports
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Paul Goldman, a political confidant of Wilder, referred to Democratic state legislators who denigrated the performance of Wilder and Attorney General Mary Sue Terry during the just-concluded 1992 session.
"All this does is antagonize the Democrats and embolden the Republicans," Goldman said. "They are making it harder for the Democrats to win in 1993."
Goldman, who along with Wilder has not been shy about criticizing fellow Democrats in the past, described his comments as "a storm alert."
Democratic legislators scoffed at Goldman's remarks Tuesday.
"I'm not aware of any great hue and cry of criticism against the governor or attorney general," said House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton. "I don't recall any serious acrimony in the Democratic Party in the past 10 or 12 years until he took over as party chairman."
Sen. Joseph Gartlan, D-Fairfax County, wondered why Goldman "doesn't talk to Democrats instead of the press if he's upset. Maybe it's because none of them will talk to him."
Stung by criticism of Wilder's performance in the recent session, Goldman said, "This is serious, serious business." Legislators are "skating on the thin edge of causing permanent damage. It doesn't help the state or help the party to go out of your way to try to embarrass and bash the governor and attorney general."
Some Democrats criticized Terry, the party's probable candidate for governor in 1993, for pushing too hard for a bill that would have allowed police officers and magistrates to revoke on the spot the licenses of suspected drunken drivers. The bill failed Saturday, just before the end of the session.
Several also have questioned Wilder for inconsistent signals about his goals for the legislative session. Democrats complained that Wilder failed to lay the groundwork for his health provider tax. He also was unable to block a transportation bond issue proposal.
Goldman said it is his job as party chairman to urge Democrats to tone down their rhetoric.
"I'm happy to learn he is once again interested in Virginia politics," said Del. Clifton Woodrum, D-Roanoke. "For a while there, we thought he wasn't."
After Republicans made surprising gains in the Senate last fall, Democrats blamed part of their troubles on Wilder's unpopularity and his and Goldman's fixation on Wilder's erstwhile presidential bid.
But Goldman, who discounted the GOP victories as "local stuff," said Democrats should stop the bickering with Wilder in preparation for next year's statewide races.
Goldman also hinted that Wilder may use his veto on some legislation approved during the session.
"They [legislators] will see in the next 30 days that governors do make a difference," he said. "Maybe the legislature doesn't think so."
by CNB