Mrs. Clinton Comes to Virginia
No one could say that Leslie Byrne is running from her Democratic roots as she campaigns for LG this fall.
The one and the only Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has sent out a letter to Byrne's supporters asking them to support the former congresswoman and state senator on Tuesday.
"My friend Leslie Byrne is running for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Leslie has long stood up for Virginia families - now it's our chance to stand up for her!" Clinton wrote in an e-mail to Byrne supporters.
But given that Clinton has been painted by national and state Republicans as being liberal as liberal gets, the e-mail also appears to be playing into the hands of Byrne's Republican opponent, Sen. Bill Bolling. Since the primary in June, Bolling has been branding Byrne with the "too liberal" for Virginia moniker. In his latest radio ad, he calls the platform of "liberal Leslie Byrne" an "extreme agenda."
On the final weekend of the campaign, looks like the e-mail is a way of helping generate some excitement among core Democrats. Byrne is, after all, well known in Northern Virginia, where polls have shown that there's some voter concern about the recent troubles of President Bush and the Republican majority.
"As the first woman elected to Congress from Virginia, Leslie cast the crucial vote for President Clinton's budget reform package - the bill that put our fiscal house in order," the e-mail goes on to say. "With her experience, her tested commitment, and her fresh ideas, Leslie Byrne will be an outstanding Lieutenant Governor who will keep Virginia moving forward.
By Chris Jenkins |
November 4, 2005; 12:16 PM ET
| Category:
Democrats
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Posted by: Mark | November 4, 2005 05:31 PM
Chris,
You say liberal like it's a bad thing. Is it? Just asking.
Posted by: phinky | November 4, 2005 09:32 PM
Saul Alinsky, the late and great grassroots organizer extraordinaire, was once asked by an interviewer if it was ok to refer to him as a "liberal."
Alinksy replied: "Hell, no. When push comes to shove, liberals always become conservatives. Call me a radical."
SAUL ALINKSY
*(1909-72), U.S. social reformer, born in Chicago, Ill.; studied archaeology and criminology, worked as criminologist; helped organize Back of the Yards Council and Industrial Areas Foundation to stimulate community involvement in industrial and social reform; created The Woodlawn Organization in Chicago to help organize inner-city blacks to solve problems.
Alinsky is one of the few people who ever challenged Chicago Mayor Richard Daley -- and won.
Posted by: SoccerMom | November 4, 2005 09:47 PM
The title of this post is misleading. Mrs. Clinton never actually came to Virginia; she just attached her name to an e-mail.
Posted by: Omar | November 5, 2005 03:40 AM
I don't get why BOTH the far left and far right still consider Sen. Clinton a liberal, as she continues to slip further towards the center with an eye on 2008.
I agree that the appearance is still 'lib', but I think we're going to learn a lot about Hillary during primary season, and a lot of eyes are going to open.
Posted by: William Edwards | November 7, 2005 08:48 AM
I think most Democrats are more moderate than conservatives give them credit for. Dean is seen as an über-liberal by most Republicans, yet as governor of Vermont he was very moderate, almost conservative. These labels in general seem more a reflection of partisanship than actual ideology.
Posted by: Omar | November 7, 2005 04:12 PM
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I don't get why conservatives are so afraid of liberals or why "liberal" has become such a dirty word. Standing up for the middle class shouldn't be a mortal sin.