Hi all,

As the "50-State-Strategy" Northern Virginia field organizer, I will be there tomorrow and Sunday to help Jeff get elected. Also, the DPVA is 100% in support of Jeff. 2007 starts in Prince William County.

On another note, I selectively post comments on RK. In regard to threads on the DPVA's operations, I along with staff and committee members have read and digested everyone's ideas, criticisms and critiques. Keep them coming.

In my own way, I will strive for better communication, better operations and success in elections year round. There is passion among Virgina Democrats, regardless of the labels of "netroots", "establishment", "insiders", etc. I hope to help channel that collective passion into getting our great candidates elected.

I may not post as much as some folks would prefer, but I will make an effort to do so as we move forward. I'm open to listening to folks and what they feel would make the Party stronger, more inclusive and more efficient.

The best way to find me is to be alongside me and other volunteers on the ground, since I'm essentially a field person. If you need to contact me electronically, email me at  montanoj@dnc.org

Let's keep it going!

Respectfully yours

Joe Montano
Northern Virginia Regional Organizer
State Partnership Program
Democratic National Committee
Democratic Party of Virginia

I do hope you become a regular here, and I hope your fellow 50-staters elsewhere in the state come by to.  I'm sending you an email...

I had mine as a draft, and I was disappointed to see that it came above your diary when I finally posted.  While it is important to call out the right-wing hypocrisy and insanity, the event info is more importnat.  Thanks again.  :)

since you don't have to google-bomb George Allen anymore, maybe you could join me in bombing RK? (see my sig)

:)

but I think for it to work, you need to only have the link for the "RK" part of the sig, right?

The right-wing blogosphere's attack on Dion is unconscionable, but not surprising given the GOP's proclivity for below-the-belt attacks.

What is surprising is that this blog and others would provide the right-wingers an echo chamber to spread this mud about Dion by quoting verbatim large sections of the attack on Dion for even more people to read.

I am sure the writer of the diary has the best of intentions.  But a cardinal rule in politics is when you respond to an attack, don't help the attacker by making his case for him.

Unfortunately, this diary doesn't help Jeff Dion's campaign. It aids the Republicans who want to spread the nasty rhetoric about him.

I join with Joe in urging every Democrat to join us at Jeff's announcement tomorrow.

George Burke, Chair
11th CD Democratic Committee of the DPVA
(Prince William County's Occoquan District is in the 11th CD)

UPDATE:  It has come to my attention that some readers feel that I am actually hurting Jeff by posting this.  However, from what I can see here and in other places, I feel that this race has now gotten a lot more attention than it had yesterday, and I hope everyone who is on Jeff's  side donates and volunteers to bring another good Virginian into office as part of the Democratic party.

I apologize for the way this has come off to some of you. I hope you all understand that I meant no harm, and I support Jeff although I am not in his district.

I felt it was appropriate and necessary to call out the Republican blogger for his hate and ignorance. Gay rights are very important to me, as it affects my immediate family. Sometimes, as I have learned, while it may seem "smart" to ignore the right-wing bloggers and their inane arguments, counter-attacking them can help in the long run by making their abhorrant behavior PUBLIC.  Personally, I hope that Mike May CONDEMNS this hateful attack, and focuses on the ISSUES throughout this election.

I feel confident that Jeff Dion will.

Again, I am sorry to offend any of you if that is the case.

Now go donate and sign up to volunteer.

I think one has to confront evil like I just saw on the Black Velvet website head on.

I urge everyone to visit Dion's website -- his resume is outstanding.  And his kids look so happy -- those aren't forced campaign smiles, folks.

And let me cross post this cite -- http://pediatrics.aa...  which refutes the notion that gays cannot raise children properly.  Quite the contrary.

I think the last election has proved that this time is over. When confronted by the truth, with people and their candidate who will "not back down" they found out that we are a formidible bunch.
No longer will we sit back and take it. We will defend, expose and carry on.
Taste of their own medicine isn't so sweet now, is it?
You go girl!

My response to George on this, originally posted in comments at NLS:

George,

So being gay and running for office and having people know about is a negative?

No thanks. That's not a constructive way to frame this issue.

Jeff is a community advocate and victims' rights advocate and HOA President. That he happens to be gay is not something that should be treated like damaging information. Voters that would be persuaded by that kind of garbage are very unlikely to vote for the Democrat in the first place, and Occoquan does tilt Democratic, does it not?

I suffered the very same from people like George Burke in the Democratic Party when I ran in 2003 for Loudoun County Supervisor for the Sterling District, Jaime. They insisted that I should never address the issue because it would damage the campaign.

Like it wasn't going to come up. Please. It's all in how it is handled. I actually had it come up through a fairly friendly article in Leesburg Today. And I made sure people knew that it had nothing to do with why I was running. Unforuntately, it still wasn't quite enough, but I did get 47% of the vote in a (at the time) 60% Republican area (for off-year local elections). I had lots of Republicans who cared more about the community than their counterparts divisive shenanigans supporting me. And about every Democrat. If Jeff's opponents try stuff like BVBL did, he'll win--Occoquan is way more liberal than Sterling Park (that's my impression anyway).

In northern Virginia we are blessed with a mostly enlightened population.  The "Black Velvets" of the world are at the dark end of the opinion spectrum, and their position is slowly but surely being washed away by exposure to truth and light.

Hiding the "truth" does nothing to nurture it.

What erases all the phobias in sane people -- xenophobia for example -- is meeting and getting to know people that may be different from you in some way.

In the end, carrying the message of equality is worth more than holding office.

Look at the progress just in the last few days.  Attempts in Canada to stop gay marriage have failed.  The Vice President's daughter is having a child while in a gay relationship.  (I wonder what Mary Cheney would say about Black Velvet.) Conservative Jewish Rabbis may now be gay.  (And, hey, who better to interpret Leviticus, eh?)

Maybe all this positive news is what is tormenting Black Velvet.

I say -- speak the message of equality loudly and proudly.

Hiding one's heritage or sexual orientation in fact gives nourishment to those who discriminate, because then the discriminators can say it "must" be wrong if the person has to hide it.

I know a very bright, beautiful, promising young woman who recently was shocked to learn that her fiance and boyfriend of many years is gay.  He didn't tell her; she found out.

You would think this would be uncommon these days, but when you read those diatribes it isn't all that hard to understand.  And all of the generalized hatred in the air around the amendment can only make this kind of thing more common not less so.

My post had nothing to do with Jeff's sexual preference. I could care less.  I support Jeff for his experience and integrity.

My message would be the same regardless of the issue.

Simply stated; We should not amplify the message of the opposition.

The Republicans issue these hit pieces to push your buttons and gain attention -- and you are playing right into their hands.

I respect and admire everyone's passion, but we need to think and act strategically, not emotionally.

Let's not help the GOP spread their bile in this and the rest of the 2007 campaigns. Aim your best shots at the Republican candidates, not their agents and bloggers.

George Burke, Chair
11th CD Democratic Committee

I don't quote anything.  I just put up a link.

Now, you may think there's no difference, but I just wanted to point that out. 

I think some folks above may have misinterpreted George Burke's posting.  I think he's correct that we're highlighting the wrong issue here.

I personally think it is a mistake for this blog or anyplace else to be stamping Jeff as "the gay candidate" rather than focusing on his qualifications and his stands on the issues.  Whether one is gay or straight should be irrelevant to the conversation, except insofar as someone from a minority viewpoint brings a fresh perspective. 

For example, I wouldn't vote for Mark Foley in a million years, regardless of his sexual orientation.  But would I vote for Jay Fisette?  Hell, yeah, and I did so when I lived in Arlington -- because he shares my values. 

As Bill Richardson put it in terms of his presidential bid: "I’m not running as an Hispanic, I am running as an American who is proud to be Hispanic."  Let's talk about why Jeff should be elected, and let his sexual orientation be a secondary topic, as it should be.

Those who are attacking Jeff are being accurately stamped as junior swift boaters.  That's what's going on here.  And the attack is so over the top that I admit to being a little shocked by it.

I understand your point, Kindler, but this goes beyond pointing out sexual orientation.  That article is trying to turn conjecture and imagination into fact. That's swift boating. The remarks about custody and the reasons for divorce are pure speculation and the commenting that he didn't live up to his responsibilities are clearly untrue. He's obviously involved with his children.

Private matters and the real facts are being lied about and manipulated in an effort to make Dion fit in with the desired false construct of gay people.  This is an effort to alter the scenario so that the trigger words can be invoked. 

-- Anyone who has been through it or near divorce is well aware that custody arrangements are difficult and delicate. They are no one's business and it's stupid to guess about it.

-- They are trying to say that this man destroyed a marriage.  And the truth is anyone who has a divorce is involved in destroying a marriage.  Let's remember that the amendment thing was all about "destroying marriage."  So that's an effort to tap into that whole business.

-- He's being painted (in commentary) as irresponsible - walked away, etc. - even though he has the kids!  Remember gay is a choice to them - a choice of irresponsible self-indulgence - that is part of the desired persona for gays. 

The logic is twisted, dismal or absent, lies are involved and the attack is utterly off the scale.  Perhaps the prices of the house are mentioned to toss in a gratuituous bit of truth.  While people try to figure out if that is problematic or not, the lies that precede that part are settling into their minds.

Best to analyze a swift boat attack rather than let it stand.  They are not trying to define Dion as a "gay candidate," they are trying to define him as a "gay caricature."

Kathy is right when she says the offesive article is a swift boat-like attack and "private matters and real facts are being lied about and manipulated."

So why promote those lies and manipulations by publishing the most offensive sections of those lies on Democratic blogs and increasing the audience for the Republican spin?

it is good to criticize and condemn the comments as swift boating and manipulation.  But there is no need to spread the original lies by quoting the twisted logic at length.

Just look what this matter has spawned over at NLS.  The diary has turned into a thread full of gay-bashing and jokes that are as offensive as the original Republican attack.

In fear of giving the Swift Boat ads more play, he did not attack them head on for weeks.

The right wing smear is going to happen.  In fact, it's already happening.  Showing their comments is necessary when combatting them head on. 

I agree that it's not needed to quote ad naseum, but putting up a link to highlight their tactics (1) energizes our side to combat the smear and (2) helps create backlash on the other side.

An argument can be made for exposed rather than spawned, e.g., exposing the hate amendment for exactly what it is.  Amidst all of that unhinged spew, it can be difficult to see that the only subseries converging to truth is that the attack was based upon bigotry.

While I understand some of the sentiments about the state of the crazy blogosphere, etc., one can only wonder if a consistently more sedate dialog would have us dealing with a Republican majority right now. 

And frankly I also wonder if repeating offensive sections would be as problematic if sexuality didn't figure into the conversation.  It's not like these kind of objections were made in linking to or quoting the George Will's bizarre article.

that his campaign also linked that blog attack in their email distribution, so we are following their example.

Kathy is right when she says the offensive article is a swift boat-like attack and "private matters and real facts are being lied about and manipulated."

So why promote those lies and manipulations by publishing the most offensive sections of those lies on Democratic blogs and increasing the audience for the Republican spin?

it is good to criticize and condemn the comments as swift boating and manipulation.  But there is no need to spread the original lies by quoting the twisted logic at length.

Just look what this matter has spawned over at NLS.  The diary has turned into a thread full of gay-bashing and jokes that are as offensive as the original Republican attack.

the more you write, the more I admire you. As usual you are right on target on this issue.
Summarizing; Don't hide, promote the good, watch the wording, but answer the lies.

I understand how George Burke feels because I've been there myself.  It's hard to explain.  And phriendlyjaime is the one taking the heat, not me.

Thanks for the sentiment, but the only person I care about in this situation is Jeff Dion.

He was attacked, I counter-attacked.  Period. 

I knew Jeff from the early days. He's a hard worker, and very motivated. I admire him for running, but don't envy him in the task ahead of him. He'll make a great supervisor if elected.

My only concern is that Jeff is being defined by the issues that the right wing chooses to focus on ("lifestyle") rather than by the issues that most voters care about (practical solutions to problems like transportation and health care). 

Kerry unfortunately set himself up for the swift-boat smear by making his campaign about his service in Vietnam rather than about what he had been doing in the 40 years since then, and about his vision of what to do next.  I would hope that Jeff moves quickly to define himself according to the issues that matter most to the public and not allow the right wing extremists to define him in the public eye and dictate the tone and content of this campaign.