No endorsement here.
As editor and publisher of Appomattox News, I receive many press releases that often are biased. The writers for these press releases may use many adjectives to modify nouns or pronouns throughout that document. While adjectives are important, as they can be helpful in describing a person, place or thing, the use of adjectives in some political press releases often goes overboard.
In one exercise that focused on two press releases from Bolling and Wagner received in one day, I removed all the adjectives in those missives and discovered that both candidates for lieutenant governor had nothing of substance to say. Hence, I did not publish those press releases. The last press releases I published from the Bolling and Wagner camps were in an effort to show readers how childish the campaigns from both sides have been over this past few months.
You can read those releases here:
- Bolling Threatens No-Show for Scheduled Debate, according to Wagner Camp
- Bolling Camp Responds to Wagner
- And, Jody Wagner Responds to the Bolling Camp
Since Appomattox News is a small new venue with the aim of disseminating validated news rather than rely heavily on investigative reporting, the desire for reputable, informative and interesting commentary that is helpful to readers is important.
So, I could have published the releases that followed the debate, where Bolling declared himself the winner of that debate, followed by a release in the Wagner camp where Wagner declared herself the winner of the debate. Outside of comic relief, however, there was no reason to waste bandwidth on commentary that was invalid and that was not informative.
While I could have published those releases as an attempt to build readership, I could not cross my own ethical line. I do have respect for political offices. In this race, however, both candidates held little respect for the honor that can come to a high political office. This matter is of some significance, since Bolling now holds the office for this race.
To be fair, Bolling has provided Governor Kaine credit for making allowing Bolling to make this office one of some significance. On the other hand, Bolling also allowed McDonnell to run over him in the bid for this year’s gubernatorial race. While Virginia’s lieutenant governor’s office often is granted ‘figurehead only’ status, it is a grooming ground for future governors. Bolling somehow let his past efforts be relegated to background status. But, he has done nothing to lose his job as the Republican candidate for this office.
Jody Wagner, as Secretary of Finance under Governor Kaine, has proven her salt as a person who has helped manage this state financially during difficult times at Governor Kaine’s side. But, she has never held elective office and she ran a weak campaign. Other than the press releases shown above, she spent a majority of her campaign defending her stance against Bolling’s attacks rather than spending valuable time touting her strengths.
When it all comes out in the wash, neither candidate shows a strong proclivity for standing in as governor should that need arise.
With that said, this race comes down either to political affiliation or to gender. Since the Appomattox News format is based upon the belief that gender should not be an issue under any condition when spotlighted under Civil Rights, then the candidates’ political party affiliations become the election issue argument.
At that juncture, since Appomattox News does not lean toward political affiliation – but does endorse candidates based upon merit and their willingness to look to the future and to the well being of Virginians – the lieutenant governor’s race remains open for debate. Therefore, Appomattox News offers no endorsement for this race.
Good luck to both candidates during the election. The candidate who wins will be followed in this news format after the election and during his or her entire tenure for the benefit of our readers.
