Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 24, 1994 TAG: 9406290021
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: HARRY WILSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Democratic incumbent, U.S. Sen. Chuck Robb, is still dodging accusations of womanizing, attending parties where drugs were used, and of somehow being involved in obtaining an illegal tape of a conversation of his rival, then-Gov. Doug Wilder, gloating over the political demise of Robb. His victory in the Democratic primary with turnout under 10 percent did little to raise his appeal.
The Republican challenger, Oliver North, has a felony conviction for obstructing Congress by altering and shredding National Security Council documents regarding the Iran/Contra scandal. That conviction, as well as two others, was overturned on appeal on a technicality.
He had been granted immunity for his testimony before Congress, in which he admitted previously misleading Congress. Of course, he was merely ``following orders'' while disobeying an act of Congress.
Doug Wilder is, perhaps, the most unpopular ex-governor in the nation. While his administration's record is one of solid fiscal conservatism, his personal feuds with Robb and many others and his reputation for vindictiveness make him personally repugnant to many.
Ever the opportunist, Wilder pressured the Democrats to hold a primary, and, when he saw he couldn't win, he opted instead to run as an independent in November.
Marshall Coleman, former state attorney general and two-time loser in gubernatorial races, has changed his political stripes so many times that they now run horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Unlike North, he has no obvious convictions, legal or political. He was a liberal in 1979, a conservative in 1989 and now portrays himself as a moderate. He wants to win office, any office, badly, maybe too badly.
It is difficult to believe that four such well-known candidates could be vying for one office and the choice for Virginians is the least of the evils. Wilder and Coleman, the two independents, appear to be the least tainted. If only Wilder could seem less nasty and Coleman could find an issue to believe in, they could be successful.
Robb is about as vulnerable as is humanly and politically possible for an incumbent, but he may pull this one out. Not surprisingly, he is running a race on the issues, so far at least. Bragging about your support of Bill Clinton's budget and the Brady bill may not be a winning strategy in this state, however.
Still, it is North who seems to be the real ``lemon'' in this lot. He spouts platitudes about the moral decline of America and the need to re-establish the old, traditional values. Funny, I was taught, as I assume many of us were, that those values included obeying the law, regardless of whether or not you believed it to be just, and being honest.
To be able to decide which laws to obey and when it is permissible to lie smacks of the ``moral relativism'' that North's supporters usually deride. I guess he and they have a better insight into the will of the Creator than the rest of us.
North claims to be one of the people, an ``outsider'' who just happened to be assigned to the National Security Council. Clearly not part of the Washington Establishment, he failed to reject the endorsements (or contributions) of ``insiders'' Phil Gramm and Bob Dole. No, Ollie's just an average guy with a net worth estimated at more than $3 million, and he lives on a modest 194-acre, $1.1 million farm.
He plays a game, both with his supporters and the media. A media-creation himself, thanks to his performance during the Iran-Contra hearings, he talks about the ``liberal elite,'' blasts newspapers with his pet names (The New York Crimes, The Washington Compost, etc.), and, until recently, has refused to talk to the press.
Now he jokes with them in private and continues to lambaste them in public. Is this fraud or merely hypocrisy? Or does it simply fit with the rest of these characters? Is this the legacy of the revered Thomas Jefferson, Virginia's favorite son?
It is indeed unfortunate that this is the best that Virginia has to offer. Of course, the GOP rejected former Reagan budget director Jim Miller, a principled and scandal-free conservative, in favor of North at its state convention. And the Democrats chose Robb over state Sen. Virgil Goode, a principled, scandal-free and less recognizable conservative in their primary. So, the people have chosen their champions, and Coleman and Wilder have at least temporarily abandoned their parties to run as independents.
Who will win? It's far too early to say, but it is certain that Virginia will be the loser. I fear that this ``Gang of Four'' is really only a new version of the ``Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,'' as far as Virginia is concerned. Of course, the rest of the country can enjoy a good chuckle at our expense. I know I would.
Harry Wilson is an associate professor of political science at Roanoke College.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB