Discouraging political tactics
Elected office isn’t for everyone; it takes a lot of personal commitment. So it’s disappointing to find out Virginia’s Democratic Party is financing an effort to discourage people from stepping up to perform public service.
In an email —later posted on the DPVA blog— their research director outlines a project to nit-pick ‘opposition’ candidates, find gaffes, and belittle candidates with petty, irrelevant criticism. Their goal is to find more ‘macaca moments’ and exploit them.
Neither party is wholly innocent of these tactics; this is clearly the most blatant and the first case of mainstreaming such low tactics. In this case, the Democrats see themselves winning because of Republican mistakes —perhaps even simple blunders or social embarrassments— so they have no incentive to offer their own solutions.
Quibble - To evade the truth or importance of an issue by raising trivial distinctions and objections. (Am. Her. Dict.)
There aren’t oodles of people who are both capable of the job and who are willing to give up so much personal time, effort, and money. Fewer are willing to expose themselves —and their families— to ridicule over irrelevant criticism. In Shenandoah County alone, there are many competent, knowledgeable and capable leaders who will not step forward for this precise reason. It is a shame, and a loss to our community.
Hatred, malice and spite are real, but we should be campaigning on and promoting the best; we should be disapprove and suppress the worst. Democrats everywhere should be ashamed of this so-called ‘initiative’.
Virginia is best served by those who understand our issues and problems; those who are willing to pursue solutions to make the Commonwealth a better place. We are not served by giving more control and spin to folks who are best at playing “gotcha” as opposed to talking real issues.