Since the Republican owned and operated Richmond Times Dispatch, won't publish this letter by our own (former) long-time Republican, Teddy Goodson, we will. All I've got to say is, "You tell 'em Teddy!!" (or should it be "Give 'em hell, Teddy?!?")Sirs,
The Saturday 21 May 2005 TIMES DISPATCH article by Mr. Schapiro described the "first serious attack ad" of the governor's race, paid for by the national Republican governors.
Well, "Here Comes the Sludge! Here Comes the Sludge!"
How we all had hoped for an old-fashioned, classic Virginia gentlemen's campaign about substantive issues, not smear, sludge, and fear. But, unfortunately, what else should we expect from Mr. Kilgore's chief campaign adviser, Scott Howell, from Texas, who was, as I recall, implicated in the scurrilous attacks on triple amputee war hero Max Cleland in Georgia (who found his patriotism questioned and his philosophy and face linked to that of Osama bin Laden)? Does no one in the national Republican Party, which seems to be doing Mr. Kilgore's thinking for him, understand that Virginians really are put off by such low down, ultimately irrelevant, attack ads, especially when they are engineered by non-Virginians? Let's tell these out-of-staters to get out of our hair, and go home! Don't they understand: we want to have a serious conversation among ourselves about where Virginia is headed?
Besides, this mindless, unending and well-worn whine about Taxes, Taxes, Taxes, completely misses the point. I attended one of Mr. Kaine's town meetings in Manassas, where he explained his five-point program on real estate tax assessments. Guess what, the citizens understood it, and also clearly understood that to get good quality government, like quality anything, you actually have to PAY for it. Governor Warner and Lt. Governor Kaine, together with a few moderate Republicans, dug us out from under the unholy budget mess Governor Gilmore dumped on us, and the majority of Virginians approved what Warner and Kaine accomplished, including the discreet and modest tax increase. In other words, the tax paying citizens get it., but certain Republican politicians don't.
Personally, I don't enjoy paying taxes either, but it is, as has been said, the price we pay to live in a civilized society. I believe that Mr. Kilgore should find something constructive to talk about for a change, instead of advocating an irresponsible credit card government that cleverly lets this generation spend, spend, spend, and tasks our children to pay the bills when they come due.
Only a candidate who is fundamentally weak, and of questionable character himself, would engage in smear tactics and pass-the-buck proposals like Jerry Kilgore.
Teddy Goodson
Fairfax, Virginia