Back in October 2007, I praised Gerry Connolly for saying that he would not "demagogue" the immigration issue like "some of our neighbors." Connolly was referring specifically to Prince William County:
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D) said yesterday that under no circumstances would he follow the lead of Prince William County and push for legislation to cut off services to illegal immigrants or authorize police to check the immigration status of suspects, measures he described as election season demagoguery."I can just tell you Fairfax County is not going to go the route of some of our neighbors," Connolly, who is seeking a second term as chairman Nov. 6, said during a meeting with Washington Post reporters and editors. "We're not going to demagogue. We're not going to essentially roll back the welcome mat. . . . That's not why I ran for office and that isn't who we are, and we're not going to do that."
OK, great. But here's the confusion. Yesterday, at his Prince William County kickoff for his congressional campaign, Connolly had on stage with him Prince William Supervisor John Jenkins, the Democratic leader on the Board of Supervisors in favor of the Illegal Immigration Resolution. That's a bit strange, wouldn't you say?
Even stranger, I've been told by someone who was there that Jenkins stood up and asked "all legal citizens of the United States [to] please join me in the pledge of [allegiance to] our nation." Now, what was that about "We're not going to demagogue?" Very confusing.
That's the genius of Gerry. He can be all things to all people. When in PW County, do as the PW County people do.
He's the darling of the Sierra Club who has presided over the clear-cutting of thousands of acres of land for development, first in Providence District and then Fairfax County-wide (except in Mantua, of course).
He can raise property taxes while claiming to lower them by a sleight of hand trick that lowers the tax rate in a rising real estate market.
He's the "man of the people" who forbids public comment at open meetings of the BOS while taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary, consulting fees, and campaign contributions from business interests seeking favorable treatment from the county government.
He's a foreign policy expert thanks to his fondness for overseas Congressional junkets at taxpayer expense when he worked on Capitol Hill.
He's a fiscal conservative who wants to balance the Federal budget while padding the Federal civil service employment in northern Virginia.
Are you really surprised?
It neglects to point out that Jenkins was a staunch supporter of Byrne in the 2005 primary and her losing lieutenant governor race.
It is sad that one RK diary calls for trying to treat Democrats fairly and another diary on the same page by RK's founder proceeds to spread bile that has no basis in truth.
Soon-to-be indicted Chicago shyster Rezko supported Obama's candidacy, helped him buy a house, and Obama did some legal work for him. Does that make Obama liable for Rezko's illegal actions? Of course not. What is the difference here?
They say actions speak louder than words, but RK's words clearly trump the action promised in teacherken's dairy.
Also, what about Connolly's endorsements from Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porter and PWC Supervisor Frank Principi. Who has endorsed Byrne from PW County?
What about Connolly's endorsements from every Democratic Fairfax County Supervisor who represents parts of the 11th District and the other 200 people, including those who represent some of our key ethnic communities, who showed up in Oakton at 3 in the afternoon on a weekday to show their support? How many people showed up at Byrne's announcement?
Senator Chuck Colgan, who has won more elections across Prince William than Gerry's endorsers combined.
Look, we are going to disagree. We are going to criticize candidates and supporters. That is fair game. But unsubstantiated attacks, personal invective and the like, is outside the lines.
Let me offer a contrast that you might consider. In 1988 Al Gore was running for president. He was campaigning in NYC with then mayor Ed Koch, who made a negative and personal comment about Jesse Jackson. Gore Immediately said that the mayor did not speak for him on that.
Also in 1988, George HW Bush was campaigning with Loretta Lynn, who asked publicly what kind of name Dukakis was, it wasn't American, and Bush jush sat there and laughed.
I think Lowell is pointing out that the statements my Jenkins were questionable, and that someone who has said that immigrants won't be demonized could have gently corrected them.
That has nothing to do with whom one has supported in the past. And your attempt to link this to Reszko is so out of line as to be laughable. Lowell is not criticizing Connolly directly for what Jenkins may have previously said, but when an incident occurs with Gerry present, that gives it an acceptance it might not otherwise have.
I was at Connolly's PWC kick-off. There was no Pledge, and Jenkins didn't say anything of the kind. Lowell, your source "who was there" is a fabricator.
-Shay Seaborne