What happens when a candidate knows that defeat is looming, and when that candidate has access to a finely-tuned, state-party-funded smear machine? Well, that's an easy question. He accuses his opponent of consorting with undesirables. Gays are always a good choice.
In a mailer paid for by the Republican Party of Virginia, received in the district over the last few days, O'Brien distorts comments made last month by his opponent George Barker to assert that Barker wants to indoctrinate school children in what O'Brien believes are all the sordid details of same-sex relationships. In other words, O'Brien played the Gay card.
Here's the mailer:
http://www.equalityv...
For the record, Barker's comments were simply supportive of the state's Family Life Education curriculum, which any parent can opt out of. It seems that a candidate who supports mainstream, reasonable programs is at risk from others who distort and vilify.
I wondered when this would happen. In Senate races at least, this cycle has been notable in its lack of gay-baiting tactics. Maybe this is a sign that most candidates in well-contested elections understand that their constituents aren't interested in bigoted pabulum, but instead want solid solutions for transportation, education and the environment. For O'Brien, his district has passed him by, and the best that he can do is appeal to the rapidly declining number of constituents who vote based on their personal prejudices.
Whether he understands or not, his district has moved on. Jay O'Brien - and hopefully others of his ilk who use base prejudice to motivate voters - will be out of office soon.
And Virginia will be a much better place for the change.
Jay Squires
Chair, Equality Virginia