DATE: Sunday, November 16, 1997             TAG: 9711120097

SECTION: COMMENTARY              PAGE: J1   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Opinion

SOURCE: By Scott Bates

                                            LENGTH:   80 lines

WARNING TO DEMOCRATS THE PARTY'S OVER

Never before in the history of Virginia has the crushing of a political party been so complete. The overwhelming victory of the Republican statewide ticket points to an inescapable fact - the Democratic Party has been repudiated by the people of Virginia. And you know what, my fellow Democrats? We asked for it.

It's important for people to appreciate the scope of the Gilmore landslide. Only about one in four Virginians voted for the Democratic ticket. At least 20 percent of African-American voters, for the second time in four years, went Republican. More than 66 percent of white males voted for the Republican ticket. The erosion of the Democratic base, a process in the works for the past five years, is now complete. Virginia is the first and only state in the South to have all of its statewide elected officials belong to the party of Lincoln.

It is time for Democrats to wake up. The people of Virginia do not accept the candidates you nominate and do not respond to your agenda. The message for Virginia Democrats is clear: Change or die.

For the past five years, Virginia Democrats have waged statewide campaigns that are disconnected from the lives of the working families of the commonwealth. In 1993, Virginians were worried about crime. George Allen made a simple pledge - to abolish parole. He led his party to victory. In 1997, Virginians were concerned about a tax that punched a hole in their family budget. Jim Gilmore made a simple pledge - to abolish the car tax. He led his party to victory. Where were the Democrats? In stubborn denial.

Virginia Democratic campaigns appeal to the same 50 people at the party convention that stand up and cheer for that old-time religion. In the closing days of the campaign, Beyer campaigned in the Democratic stronghold of Alexandria with President Clinton, who has also lost statewide in Virginia twice. Beyer and Clinton characterized a cut in the car tax as selfish. Jim Gilmore was ready to deliver the final blow. Gilmore said, ``Don Beyer just doesn't get it. It is not selfish for Virginians to have their own money to improve the lives of their own children.'' Gilmore is right.

When Beyer began to slip in the polls, he ran ads attacking Pat Robertson and touting the Beyer position of advocating abortions after the first eight weeks. This approach barely rallied the diminishing Democratic Party faithful. The battle lines must be drawn differently the next time around for Democrats to have any chance of ever being elected again in the Old Dominion.

Virginia Democrats need new ideas and a bold leadership style to avoid being relegated to the status of a fringe party whose last victory becomes the answer to a cocktail-party trivia question. It is time for the party to change its message and its direction, and now.

The new Democratic Party of Virginia must begin and end the day answering the question, ``What have we done to be on the side of working families today?'' We do not know better than the people of Virginia. We should not create new programs for every new problem in society. We do need to put money back into the hands of working Virginians.

Virginia Democrats' new focus on the family should have three main lines of attack:

First, eliminate the state income tax for working families who earn less than $50,000 a year. The best way to fight for working families is to let them keep the money they earn. No extra government programs or patronage; just let middle-class families keep the money they work hard for.

Second, rebuild public education in Virginia. Increase and equalize the funding public school students get across Virginia. Students in Southside and Southwest should be able to get the same quality of education and have the same opportunities as students from richer parts of the state. Demand higher academic standards and restore discipline to the classroom.

Third, bring down the hammer on violent criminal repeat offenders. Impose the death penalty for repeat child molesters and sex offenders. Serial murderers and rapists should never see the light of day again. These predators do not get better and should never have a second chance to harm our families.

Virginia Democrats need a new direction with new leadership. We must return to the original values of our party and fight for working families. Let working people keep the money they earn, provide a quality education for all the children of Virginia and protect our families from crime.

Virginia Democrats must acknowledge their repudiation and accept the need to change. Otherwise, in the words of the old song, ``Turn out the lights, the party's over.'' MEMO: Scott Bates was a secretary of the commonwealth of Virginia during

the Wilder administration.

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