Washington Post on Kilgore Cantaloupe Incident

By: Lowell
Published On: 8/7/2005 1:00:00 AM

Today's Washington Post has an article, "New Dominion: Early in Virginia's Race for Governor, Civility Heads South," in which it talks about the incredible level of enmity and nastiness "[i]n a state known for its civility and gentility."  Of course, we Democrats -- candidates and bloggers alike -- are not exactly innocent in this, and obviously "it takes two to tango."  Nonetheless, it should be clear to anyone who has closely followed this race from the beginning that the vast majority of blame lies in the "black hands" of the Scott Howell-led Kilgore campaign. 

One sign of how nasty this campaign has gotten is the fact that there have actually been physical altercations.  For instance, there was the infamous Halifax Cantaloupe Festival Shoving Incident, in which a "Kilgore hanger-on (and George Allen employee, apparently) named Tucker Watkins" reportedly "shoved [a Kaine staffer] back several feet" after objecting to the presence of Kaine for Governor signs.  Of course, the Kilgore campaign denied that the incident ever took place, and its supporters immediately resorted to the old standby of those with no argument:  go ad hominem.  Will Kilgore ever admit to ANYTHING?  Can we say "eavesdropping scandal" or "corruption in Gate City involving HIS OWN FAMILY?"  Well, now the Washington Post has provided its account of what happened at the Cantaloupe Festival, and it sounds like Kilgore's denials were false after all (big surprise): 

Just outside the gates of the Virginia Cantaloupe Festival at the Halifax County Fairgrounds in southern Virginia on a recent summer afternoon, Jerry Kilgore hugs and busses supporters who are hoisting Kilgore signs. Carrying a huge Kaine for Governor poster, Alleyn Harned, 25, stands close -- perhaps too close -- to the clamoring clutch of Kilgorites. Harned is Kaine's "visibility coordinator," the guy in charge of planting Kaine signs amid the sea of Kilgore signs.

One of the Kilgore faithful, Tucker Watkins -- who works for Sen. George Allen -- gets outraged and, using his chest and his body, bumps Harned back away from Kilgore. It's a particularly ugly little skirmish in what the political operatives refer to as "the sign wars."

Kilgore seems oblivious to the ruckus going on behind him. "I'm running for governor," he says, dressed in an orange-and-purple-plaid short-sleeve shirt, shaking hands with festival-goers.

It's that kind of contest. "Things can get a little tense," Kilgore will say later.

Yeah, Jerry, it DOES get a bit tense when your people start using goon squad tactics on Tim Kaine supporters.  Do you think the way you've conducted your campaign, even resorting to the use of Scott Howell-ian racial code language and attacking your opponent's religious beliefs, has had nothing to do with this?  Don't you think it sends a message to the less, uh, "restrained" among your supporters? Or is that exactly what you want to happen?

Again, I'm not saying that we Democrats have been angels, but the Kilgore campaign and the Republican Party of Virginia have played a huge role in bringing this year's governor's race down to the gutter level where it now finds itself.  Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that Kilgore and the Republicans have had very little -- if any-- positive ideas or solutions to offer.  Instead, they've repeatedly resorted to tearing down their opponents PERSONALLY -- just ask Russ Potts! -- to making up false "issues" (e.g., Kilgore's "accent" as opposed to his unwillingness to debate or speak in public).  Anything, in other words, but talk about the Kilgore/Republican vision for Virginia.  Gee, I wonder why THAT is....

Comments



Jen, You are not a (Jeremy - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
Jen,
You are not alone.  I Live in the most rural part of the Commonwealth and I had never heard of anything like that.  It would be like me taking my own fork to the Dickenson County Fair because the funnel cakes they sell are hard to cut.  (not that they are).

Neal/Gene,
I would say everyone I know puts salt on Cantaloupe [and watermelon]. 



Wow. Lowell you are (Vineyard - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
Wow. Lowell you are an amazing partisan. I guess you didn't feel like talking about what was reported right before the Cantaloupe festival incident.....a Kaine duck splitting open the toe of a female Kilgore staffer at the Shad planking? And I guess you don't like how the article makes clear that its the Kaine team who provoked the incident in Halifax? Really, how you can make this post, when you know people will read the article and see the duck story, is incredible. My other favorite parts of this article were learning that half the people at a Kaine fundraiser in Clarendon were from out of state, and included folks labeling themselves "Feminists." I also liked Larry Sabato declaring that "Kilgore is the perfect red state candidate, and Kaine is the perfect blue state candidate." That rural outreach by Kaine sure is working!


Why do you equate "B (racist! - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
Why do you equate "BLACK hands" with enmity and nastiness?  I would expect more careful wording from an alleged progressive.  I sure hope your attitude doesn't reflect some latent racism on the part of the candidate you endorse.


Well Dorsett of cour (Peter - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
Well Dorsett of course Lowell is a partisan you idiot. The state will go to hell if Kilgore is elected.


The real question is (Jen Little - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
The real question is who the Hell brings a plastic sppon to a festival?  This guy is just weird.

Is Kilgore too good to use a plastic spoon like the rest of us? 

And that has nothing to do with evesdropping or Gate County - this guy is a quack!

You guys can get back to your debate now.



Walt- Right with you (Vineyard - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
Walt- Right with you, if you ever want to know why this website hurts Kaine the post by Jen Little is the perfect example. Everyone who knows the Cantaloupe Festival, and Southside Virginia, knows you bring your own metal spoon, as the plastic ones break. Sorry to tell our Arlington friends, but that's why Kilgore will win rural Virginia by a huge margin: he understands it and knows it. Mark Warner did very well in rural Virginia in 2001 by making sure not to miss the Cantaloupe Festival and similar events, Kaine was conspicuously absent at this year's event. The Kaine rural strategy is over and done.


I always just picked (Neal2028 - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
I always just picked it up by the slice and ate it.  With plenty of salt.


Salt?? Um... wow, ne (Genevieve - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
Salt?? Um... wow, never heard of that one, but whatever floats your boat, dude.

I actually found the letter to the editor in the Outlook section of the Post to be more interesting today:

"Michael D. Shear wrote in a July 28 Metro story that the "political action committee representing Virginina's 35,000 Realtor's endorsed...Kaine" for governor...it is misleading to state that it represents all of Virginia's Realtors...Membership in VAR is mandadory...but donations to RPAC are separates from a Realtor's dues to VAR. According to the RPAC website, 33% of Virgina Realtors have made donations to the organization, something short of full representation.

RPAC certainly does not represent me in its endorsement of Mr. Kilgore.  ~David Chabot"



I am now enlightened (Jen Little - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
I am now enlightened.  I had no idea this was a tradition.  Living in rural Virginia myself, I thought I was pretty up to date on rural traditions, but never heard of this one.  I know now for the future, and if I should ever venture to the Cantaloupe Festival I will have spoon in hand.



Genevieve- you might (Vineyard - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
Genevieve- you might want to include the note after that LTE that noted the author is chairman of his local Democrat party committee. Not just a man on the street.


"Gutter Level", let' (Rat - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
"Gutter Level", let's see....is this race between TIM and JERRY or between Tim and Willie Mae,Terry and the whole Kilgore clan! Let's keep the race about the facts and man that can keep Virginia moving forward and NOT about mud-slinging and negative issues, only REAL positive meaningful issues. That's what is going to get my vote in November!


15 should read THE M (Rat - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
15 should read THE MAN that can keep Virginia moving forward


Thanks for backing m (Jen Little - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
Thanks for backing me up Brian!  I appreciate that. 

Bare in mind I am a Democrat, and as a Democrat I respect the traditions and beliefs of others.  In this case who eat cantaloupe with a spoon and those who eat cantaloupe with salt.  The Democratic Party is inclusion, not the ?You are either with us or against us? mentality.

Furthermore, as a Democrat and a person I apologize for my faux pas, and want to reiterate my respect and apologies to the citizens of Halifax, and the spoon sporting attendees of the Festival. 

I will however, recant my apology to the Duck.  It is the Duck?s supporters? first instinct to assault anyone with a Kaine sign, and that's what civil Virginians are up against.

I am nice ? not a door mat. 

Another shining example of Fellow Democrats and our continued open-mindedness is - Raising Kaine.  Thank you hosts for not censoring the content of the posts, and that obviously include those who show up to spread their right-wing propaganda.  You are truly Americans!

I can?t blame them though ? Democrats are certainly have a better party! 

Have a great day, all, except the eavesdroppers!



Thanks for backing m (Jen Little - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
Thanks for backing me up Brian!  I appreciate that. 

Bare in mind I am a Democrat, and as a Democrat I respect the traditions and beliefs of others.  In this case who eat cantaloupe with a spoon and those who eat cantaloupe with salt.  The Democratic Party is inclusion, not the ?You are either with us or against us? mentality.

Furthermore, as a Democrat and a person I apologize for my faux pas, and want to reiterate my respect and apologies to the citizens of Halifax, and the spoon sporting attendees of the Festival. 

I will however, recant my apology to the Duck.  It is the Duck?s supporters? first instinct to assault anyone with a Kaine sign, and that's what civil Virginians are up against.

I am nice ? not a door mat. 

Another shining example of Fellow Democrats and our continued open-mindedness is - Raising Kaine.  Thank you hosts for not censoring the content of the posts, and that obviously include those who show up to spread their right-wing propaganda.  You are truly Americans!

I can?t blame them though ? Democrats are certainly have a better party! 

Have a great day, all, except the eavesdroppers!



Thanks for backing m (Jen Little - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
Thanks for backing me up Brian!  I appreciate that. 

Bare in mind I am a Democrat, and as a Democrat I respect the traditions and beliefs of others.  In this case who eat cantaloupe with a spoon and those who eat cantaloupe with salt.  The Democratic Party is inclusion, not the ?You are either with us or against us? mentality.

Furthermore, as a Democrat and a person I apologize for my faux pas, and want to reiterate my respect and apologies to the citizens of Halifax, and the spoon sporting attendees of the Festival. 

I will however, recant my apology to the Duck.  It is the Duck?s supporters? first instinct to assault anyone with a Kaine sign, and that's what civil Virginians are up against.

I am nice ? not a door mat. 

Another shining example of Fellow Democrats and our continued open-mindedness is - Raising Kaine.  Thank you hosts for not censoring the content of the posts, and that obviously include those who show up to spread their right-wing propaganda.  You are truly Americans!

I can?t blame them though ? Democrats are certainly have a better party! 

Have a great day, all, except the eavesdroppers!



Guys...you bring the (William Jackson - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
Guys...you bring the metal spoon not to eat the Canatloupe but to eat the ice cream they put in the cantaloupe at the cantaloupe festival.  The Kaine folks should have bought tickets and gone inside, then they would have known this. 


If you ask me, the p (John Sloan - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
If you ask me, the person who was pushed by Tucker Watkins is lucky they escaped with their teeth in place. You liberals are a funny lot. See you at the B.V. Labor Day parade! And if you bring your moveon.org crowd; be prepared.


You ought to try it. (Neal2028 - 4/4/2006 11:27:27 PM)
You ought to try it.  It's one of those things folks like to do around here.

Kind of like watermelon.

FOr folks who think its just to daggone sweet on its own (much like I do) it helps.



It is way too fun to (Sticker chic - 4/4/2006 11:27:28 PM)
It is way too fun to read what those of you who were no where near a Kaine or Kilgore sign at the Cantaloupe Festival?including the editorial writing ?cuz??have to say about such a non-incident?The real news of the day was that Kilgore was there, was incredibly well received and the Kaine folks no where to be seen after their childish behavior. Yep, this blog entry from one of the Kaine proclaimed ?Sticker chics? who was there, front and center at the gate and meeting and greeting the fine citizens in the festival with Kilgore!



Dorsett: Wow! You mu (Genevieve - 4/4/2006 11:27:28 PM)
Dorsett: Wow! You must get the super special amazing version of the Post, because all mine tells me is "The writer is a Realtor and a member of the Sully District Democratic Committee." It doesn't say "chairman" anywhere. I gotta start getting the edition you get if it gives you that kind of info.

Ironic that you were being misleading when accusing me of being misleading. The irony is furthered by the fact that you misleadingly accused me of being misleading on a post about how misleading the Post and the whole campaign is. Wow! It's like...misleading-gate on RaisingKaine today!

Not so ironically, you missed my point that all Mr. Cabot was saying was that Shear's remark that "the political action committee representing VIrginia's 35,000 Realtors endorsed Republican Jerry W. Kilgore for governor" actually didn't represent all 35,000 Realtors. It only represented 33% of them. Unless of course, Mr. Cabot is being misleading. It seems to be a trend around here.

Brian and Neal- Ok, ok, ok. I'll try it.