THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610310006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 29 lines
It is interesting to note the outrage Democratic candidate Mark Warner expresses over the doctoring of his picture in the recent John Warner television spot. While the whole incident was in poor judgment and certainly sheds a negative light on John Warner's handlers, I have to ask myself: How much worse is this tactic vs. misrepresenting an opponent's quotes?
One of Mark Warner's ads quotes Sen. John Warner as saying ``I don't have time to visit all the small out-of-way places. . . ''. The voice reading this quote places emphasis on the word ``time,'' which is an attempt to belittle the small communities in question and to make Senator Warner appear to be above those citizens. I would have to believe that Senator Warner meant that his duties in Washington prevented him the luxury of being able to travel throughout the state. Had he done so, I'm sure he would have been criticized by Mark Warner for neglecting his senatorial duties in Washington.
Mark Warner also accuses Senator Warner in another ad of wanting to cut Medicare ``just so he can give tax breaks to the wealthy.'' The emphasis on this ad is on the words ``just so,'' which implies that this is the only reason. With Medicare facing insolvency, if Mark Warner truly believes this is the reason to slow the growth of Medicare I hardly think Mark Warner belongs in Washington representing the taxpayers.
DAN SWEENY
Virginia Beach, Oct. 21, 1996 by CNB