Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 12, 1994 TAG: 9409130009
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHLEEN WILSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In one lives the working class. Blue-collar folk whose uniforms bear name tags and labels of service stations or exterminating businesses.
In the other, the upper class. White-collar people whose uniforms are Italian-tailored suits and $30 neckties.
Let's call the first principality Vinton.
And the second? How 'bout South Roanoke?
If you put these two groups in one room - say, a gymnasium - it most likely would resemble a junior high school dance, each crowd clinging to the gym wall where their own were clustering.
But to turn this event into a major-league jubilee, a festivity that would meld these two thoroughly disparate congregations into one big back-slapping family, all you have to do is utter two magic words:
Oliver North.
They'd immediately start purring, rubbing up against one another like a roomful of cats.
Yes, Oliver North is where Roanoke 24014 meets Vinton 24179.
Oliver North is the man these two principalities would choose to rule the new kingdom.
In fact, 77.5 percent of those polled in South Roanoke and Vinton are all for Ollie; 22.5 percent were not.
We sought out the major hangouts in each domain and asked one simple question:
What do you think of Oliver North?
``He's a born politician,'' declared Gary Phillips from his golf cart at Hunting Hills Country Club. ``It's just meant to be. He will be our next president.''
``I think he's needed,'' said Richard Wagner, a carpenter, wearing a red cap and a soiled T-shirt, the emblem of a hard day's work.
His wife, Dawn, agreed, as they pushed their shopping cart through Kroger in Vinton.
``I think he needs to be up there,'' she proclaimed. ``It's his moral values. And he's a real Christian.''
No argument back at the country club in Hunting Hills.
``He's the man,'' John Newton put it simply. His buddy in the golf cart agreed.
``He's conservative and has character,'' Mike Warner agreed. ``But most of all he's a patriot.''
Back to Kroger in Vinton.
``If anyone could do for the people what we're all hoping can be done, it's him,'' said Bruce Reichelderfer, who admitted some bias.
Bruce is a Naval Academy grad.
``He's a great guy,'' said Ken Pugh from another Hunting Hills golf cart. ``He's conservative and I think he would be aggressive about government spending.''
``He's the best,'' Lynn Crouch said from her shopping cart back in Vinton. ``I really agree with what he believes.''
``He's aggressive, well-organized and dedicated,'' said Bob Carter from his cart, the Hunting Hill golf variety. ``And don't forget to describe this as beautiful Hunting Hills.''
A woman who would only identify herself as Rose, purchasing Froot Loops and Oreos over in Vinton, said, ``Between the four, he's the only one worth voting for. I just don't think it's right that they took him to court for following orders.''
She believes that when the commander in chief asks you to lie, you say, how much?
We left Hunting Hills and wandered South Roanoke a bit, admiring its clover- and dandelion-free lawns with flagstone walkways and awnings. You almost make a formal entrance to these homes by the time you get up their sprawling lawns and brick steps.
Funny.
These two groups politically have far more in common than anyone could imagine.
But we've never seen a person from Vinton on the guest list for one of those glitzy Republican fund-raisers they throw in the principality of South Roanoke.
``I think he's great,'' said Merily Eckert, who stood a foot or so inside her doorway and didn't invite us in. ``He's willing to do whatever it takes to get a job done.''
Over at New York Pizza in Vinton, folks just about asked us to sit a spell and take a slice of pizza.
``I think he's just great,'' said Ed Spradlin of Ed's Barber Shop, between bites of pizza. ``He's got common sense and he's a retired ex-Marine.''
Ed's son agreed.
``I believe he's honest and that what he says, he says from his heart,'' Jerry Spradlin said.
Jerry says the commercial with the Vietnam vet who speaks of Ollie saving his life really affected him.
It's been such a long time since the word ``hero'' or ``patriot'' or ``all-American'' has been used to describe a political candidate. North's military service and duty in Vietnam ring from just about every North supporter.
Few seemed to recall ex-Marine Charles Robb's years of military service.
Of course, not all of those in golf carts in Hunting Hills or pushing shopping carts at Kroger were jolly for Ollie. One woman swore she'd never even heard of him.
The Political Party is an occasional column about the more offbeat social and cultural aspects of Virginia's Senate race.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB