THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 11, 1996 TAG: 9605110003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A11 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: Kerry Dougherty
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
I took a deep breath Tuesday evening as I stepped from my car and prepared to run the gantlet of campaign workers lining the path to the polls.
Earlier in the day I'd vowed that this trip to the voting booth would not be like every other since casting my first ballot in 1972: This year I would not - under any circumstances - argue with anyone wearing a phony smile and clutching a fistful of campaign literature.
I made it safely past a couple of cheery candidates and members of the teacher's association, before an unctuous man in a rumpled suit accosted me: ``Hey, would you like to vote for Republicans?''
I froze, spun on my heel, couldn't stop myself.
``I thought candidates didn't run by party in the local elections,'' I replied.
``Well, here is the list of candidates endorsed by the Republican Party,'' the man crowed, smiling steadily.
``I thought the Virginia Beach Republican Party voted not to endorse candidates,'' I said, staring at him.
``No they didn't, they only voted not to give 'em any money,'' he assured me, shoving his literature in my direction.
``No, they voted not to endorse,'' I argued. ``What you're handing out are the endorsements of the fringe elements.''
I snatched one of his cards: ``I want one of these to be sure I don't accidentally vote for any of your people.''
I marched into the polling place shaking my head and wondering.
I was wondering what makes a man loiter outside the polling place, telling lies, on Election Day. Here it is, the most magnificent day of the year for lovers of democracy, and one jerk is dancing in the drizzle, trying to hoodwink voters into electing his guys.
Earlier this year the city's Republican Party wisely voted not to endorse candidates in the local elections. That didn't stop a group of GOP zealots from forming their own little caucus and endorsing a handful of candidates who passed their narrow litmus test.
Moderate Republicans were not amused.
And that wasn't the worst development in crazy field which at one time had nearly 50 candidates running for seven School Board seats. As the election approached, it was reported that several candidates had been less than truthful about themselves.
It set me wondering why someone with a penchant for untruths would risk the embarrassment of running for public office.
Most people would recoil at the thought of being caught in a lie.
But after bickering with the man outside the polling place I suddenly knew why.
If you're a dishonest person, or worse yet, a pathological liar, where do you find soulmates? Politics, naturally.
The political scene has always been studded with badly flawed men who lie when their lips move.
When I think of politics one powerful image comes to mind: It's a bit of grainy television footage from the 1980 Abscam operation. The undercover film shows several members of Congress literally stuffing their pockets with money, while fake Arabs - swarthy FBI agents, as it turns out - smile and nod.
To those who would argue that politics is an honorable profession I would invoke the following late 20th century scandals: Watergate, Abscam, Iran-Contra, The Keating Five and Whitewater.
And these fine men: John Jenrette, Jim Wright, Richard Nixon, Wilbur Mills, Bob Packwood, Adam Clayton Powell, Dan Rostenkowski, Ted Kennedy, Ollie North and of course, our very own Chuck ``It-was-just-your-run-of-the-mill-nude-backrub-from-a-beauty-queen'' Robb.
Is it any wonder that the ethically challenged are drawn to politics? The role models are unbeatable.
We're partly to blame. One of the reasons politicians lie is because the electorate demands it. Walter Mondale learned a lesson when he experimented with honesty in the 1984 presidential elections. He promised to raise taxes. Reagan won in a landslide.
In retrospect, I was a little too hard on the man in the damp suit. He's found his calling. And I'd rather have him working the polls than working on my car. MEMO: Ms. Dougherty is an editorial writer for The Virginian-Pilot. by CNB