THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 12, 1997 TAG: 9701110033
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: MARGARET EDDS
LENGTH: 81 lines
What comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb?
Forget March.
The new standard has been set by Gov. George F. Allen. At his swearing in on a frigid January day three years ago, Allen broke all previous records for acrimony in an inaugural address.
Describing the capital as ``a citadel of special interests'' controlled by ``stolid, status quo, monarchical elitists,'' Allen promised revolutionary change.
In case anyone missed his drift, he cranked the volume higher: ``In recent times, the will of the people has been frustrated by an unholy alliance of manipulative well-heeled interests, entrenched bureaucrats and political opportunists.''
Democrats weren't sure they knew the difference between monarchical opportunists and political elitists. They did know they were livid.
By the time the 1995 session rolled around, Allen had added something about ``soft teeth'' and ``whiny throats'' and Democrats had vowed to extract an ounce or two of flesh. They barred Allen from delivering his State of the Commonwealth address in the House chamber, and things went downhill from there.
Fast forward to last Wednesday night, and the speech launching Allen's final year in office.
In the governor's 40 minutes at the lectern, there may have been a couple of nanoseconds when he was not the rosy, affable leader of a love-in. But no more than that. Visuals ranged from the adoring glances of Tyler and Forrest Allen as they waved at their proud papa to Allen's mischievous grin as he praised House Speaker Tom Moss of Norfolk and other Democrats for their work on parole reform.
As for memorable sound bites, consider this ad lib: ``My motivation in life are those two wonderful children. . . . That should be the vision that unites us, caring about the future of all our children.''
Not since Ebenezer Scrooge awoke to discover that the Ghost of Christmas Future could be left behind in dreamland has there been such a joyous transformation.
Credit savvy and ambition.
What Virginia voters witnessed Wednesday night was as much the opening of a U.S. Senate campaign as the closing of a gubernatorial term. To be sure, George Allen's basic demeanor has always been good-natured. The disconnect was between the smiling lips and the acid rhetoric.
These days, Allen - who is the son of a football coach and a former college quarterback - is prone to sigh over past misunderstandings and chalk up his old style to rousing his team. Nothing personal, mind you. A winning quarterback has to motivate his players.
But a winning politician also has to ensure that (a) he doesn't imbue the opposition with equal fervor and (b) he doesn't dismay an electorate that lately has embraced civility.
Allen's midcourse correction after voters denied him a legislative majority in November 1995 elections was a healthy recognition that his old style probably did both.
Aiming to run for the Senate in 2000, Allen has adjusted both his tone and his priorities. Now, the hyperbole is reserved for boosterism, not war-mongering. ``Virginia is strong, vibrant, thriving and leading the nation. to the New World,'' he exulted.
The foundation Allen has laid for a future political bid is not as free of cracks as those words suggest. But there are solid cornerstones. Foremost, Virginia's economy is robust, and Allen's recruitment team deserves to share in the credit.
Second, in abolishing parole and imposing a welfare-to-work plan that preceded Washington's, Allen achieved major, popular reforms.
More problematic, despite Allen's recent emphasis on education, will be convincing voters that he is as committed as Democrats to public schools. He can and will tout his push for toughened educational standards, but he will have to account for his willingness to forego increased funding for a tax cut.
And he will have to dodge such pitfalls as his rejection of Goals 2000 money, his widely challenged environmental record, and the possibility that his welfare and prison reforms could look less sound in a few years.
As for demeanor, it remains to be seen whether Allen will be lion or lamb when he formally hits the campaign trail. What we know after three years in office is that, on that score, he's as flexible as a March day. MEMO: Ms. Edds is an editorial writer for The Virginian-Pilot.