Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 10, 1994 TAG: 9404110140
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CAROLYN M. BYERLY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
What could possibly explain two prominent front-page news articles (March 23, ``Populist's `surprise' may just be timely'' by staff writer Dwayne Yancey, and March 24, ``Va. voters' 1st choice is `other''' by staff writers Margaret Edds and Warren Fiske) and a March 25 editorial (``New life in the Senate race''), all extolling Virgil Goode's virtues as Virginia's new Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful?
Goode's legislative record shows him favoring smokers' rights, opposing gun control, favoring parental notification in teen abortions and opposing the Equal Rights Amendment. These stands, which show consistent lack of caring for public health and women's lives, are arrogant and irresponsible.
Your editorial says that Goode's support for these policies makes him more experienced in public service than Richmond lawyer Sylvia Clute and of higher character than incumbent Chuck Robb, whose virtue has been sullied with admissions of extramarital sex. Other news media disagree.
The Washington Post's front-page March 23 news article notes that Clute has gained slightly against her rival Robb. The well-researched news article, with a broader perspective than yours, points out that female politicians like Clute across the country are succeeding in their races like never before. Clute also won the local Channel 10 call-in poll in mid-March. Your news-editorial team should listen up.
The nation's greatest problems - family disintegration, health care, education, etc. - are traditional women's concerns that are putting rising politicians like Clute into winners' lanes. Goode and Robb are has-beens in this new political era.
Clute has spent 20 years lobbying and writing major state legislation on children's welfare and family issues. She has 11 years of service on the state's Public School Authority. She's been a small-business owner since 1975, involved in banking and other economic activities. She's a strong advocate for Virginia's economic development, which she hopes to accomplish, in part, by encouraging new high-tech, low-pollution industries to locate here.
Clute has always drawn support for her policies across philosophical, religious and political spectrums. The Richmond Women's Roundtable, a bipartisan group she helped establish 13 years ago, still meets weekly. Her tireless, intelligent campaign now makes its way methodically into Virginia's communities, where she's striking chords with lots of people who see little hope in either Goode or Robb. Wise, responsible newspapers will pay attention.
A former journalist myself, I now teach college news-reporting classes. I know firsthand how news is assigned, gathered, written, edited and displayed. When it comes to politics, all coverage but the unexpected event is decided by a small, elite group, usually composed of a newspaper's key editors and a senior reporter or two. These gatekeepers set more than our agenda for public debate; they essentially determine the candidates for whom we'll vote. With this responsibility in mind, I hope you'll examine your editorial consciences regarding Clute's campaign.
Carolyn M. Byerly of Radford teaches journalism and media studies at Radford University.
by CNB