I'm getting a little tired of this pretend show of unity led by Bob McDonnell - an attempt to cover up the protracted intra-party ugliness inside the GOP over the transportation debate ahead of the 2007 elections. Why? Because the Virginia media is getting bamboozled.First off, both the Washington Post and the Virginian-Pilot have buried the lede on the most critical part of this story: these intra-party negotiations have thus far failed and appear doomed.
I highlighted this critical part of the story in my previous diary - Sen. Chinchester's "nothing is happening" quote - but the Post buried this quote near the end of the story. In fact, the first hint of something wrong doesn't come until the tenth paragraph:
But getting both sides to compromise after more than five years at each other's throats is proving difficult.No kidding? I'd say things are difficult when one side is refusing to budge an inch!
The Virginian-Pilot does even worse in their recent article, never mentioning the intra-party acrimony and only barely acknowledging the doomed nature of these meetings in third-from-last paragraph:
Del. John Welch, R-Virginia Beach, recently announced that he was re thinking his opposition to a gas tax increase. He serves on a key committee that killed all tax increase proposals this year.Again, the intractable position of the House Republicans and their firm resolve not to compromise with Senate Republicans is nothing more than a sidenote.[But Sen. Thomas] Norment said Welch's shift is "more isolated than contagious. I don't see the House Republicans as a caucus retreating from their position on tax increases on a statewide basis."
But, my, doesn't Bob McDonnell look nice in his statesmanlike close-up?
The other problem with these articles is their utter lack of balance - how about a quote, just one, from the other side? No, not the two feuding sides of the Republican party. I mean the other party - the one that controls the governorship and a large minority of Senate seats.
Sure, hearing from the Republicans about their feud is an important part of the story. But these journalist are simply letting these GOP leaders spin a story of unity and cheer. Getting the perspective of some non-GOP leaders like, I don't know, the Governor would've been the fair thing to do. Readers deserve to hear what the gentleman who would have to sign any legislation - or anybody from his party, for that matter - has to say about the prospects of intra-party compromise from the GOP.
But, my, doesn't Bob McDonnell look so mature and leader-like! Don't forget to get his good side! Sheesh.