Democrats have been making gains in Virginia by reaching out to those who may not fall in line with the traditional "liberal Democratic matra. Mark Warner reached out to Blue Collar Virginians. Tim Kaine reached out Religious Virginians. And Jim Webb is reaching out to our Fighting Virginians. All of these groups were solid Republican voters no longer than eight years ago, making our home nothing more than another red state on the map. Today, we are a true battleground in the American Political Arena. The last thing we need is a step back. I'm not upset that George Burke posted under a pseudonym, although I personally believe that if you are afraid to claim a post with your real name in the blogosphere, you shouldn't be saying it. And while I am upset over the things he said to my friends Ben Tribbett and Lowell Feld, I believe that those insults are a personal matter between those three, and it is not for myself to get involved.
What really bothers me is the content of Burke's comments as Thomas Paine Patriot. It is this style of "thought-policing", this close-minded view that all Democrats must think exactly alike and must follow some line of succession of power, that will rob all of us of the chance to take back the Commonwealth. This is a man who said, ?Too many of the Webb supporters on and off the blogs, I say good riddance to you. We don't need your kind in the Democratic Party. Go back to the Republicans who have made an artform out of internal bickering.? We must welcome moderate and different-minded Democrats and independents, or face certain devastation at the hands of the Republican Party. Burke's comments against Webb, for whatever reason, show an inherent fear of both differing opinions and party-crossover that should not be welcome in leadership positions within our party; not with our chances of a takeover increasing amongst the infighting of Republican factions. And we certainly don't need a coward who posts pseudonymous commentary criticizing loyal and dedicated activists in brutal, unbecoming ways leading us in the Eleventh District, a growing base for our party.
If George Burke is truly Thomas Paine Patriot, and judging by his silence one must assume that he is, than George Burke has revealed to the Virignia Political World that he is nothing more than a cowardly shadow-boxer who would see this party thrown back to the days of post-Mark Warner leadership. Now is the time to strike, and now is the time for real leaders to stand up. George Burke is clearly not one of those leaders. I believe that it is time for George Burke to resign as chair of the Eleventh Congressional District committee. We are at a very important time for our party; a crossroad, if you will. The last thing we need is a man like Mr. Burke in charge of a District as important as the Eleventh.
"who would see this party thrown back to the days of post-Mark Warner leadership."
I hope that really should read:
"who would see this party thrown back to the days of pre-Mark Warner leadership."