Letters to the Editor for Thursday, October 22, 2009

Races grab the spotlight

Ends and means
What started out as a respectful, issue-oriented delegate’s race for the 23rd District has suddenly turned very ugly. I am afraid that the saying “the end justifies the means” has rung true for one of the candidates.

For some reason, Scott Garrett has decided to take the low road and has resorted to deceptive means to get elected. His recent campaign mailings have insulted the intelligence of voters by concentrating solely on smear tactics attempting to discredit his opponent.

Grossly distorting and misrepresenting the facts may be politically fashionable, but it will not get my vote. I, for one, prefer to know more about where the candidates stand on specific issues and their vision for the future.

Most elections come down to a matter of character, and I don’t feel very comfortable with a candidate who has resorted to negative attacks to promote his political ambitions. A seemingly nice man has become part of a nasty, mean-spirited political process that is all too common today. His true colors have come through and demonstrated his inability to represent his constituents in a civil, bipartisan manner.

In keeping with Garrett’s recent campaign theme, I also have a little “secret” for him: You may be a retired surgeon, but there is something terribly wrong with the way you operate. Your deceptive and misleading campaign tactics have completely turned me off. You have lost my respect, my confidence and my vote.

The folks in Central Virginia deserve much better, and we are very fortunate to have that in Shannon Valentine. She is a class act who continues to take the high road and a proven leader who represents us well in Richmond.
DAVID J. HOFMANN
Lynchburg

For Garrett
Our current delegate from the 23rd District, Shannon Valentine, is willing to increase taxes and take even more money out of my pocket and send it to the politicians in Richmond.

Scott Garrett, if elected as 23rd District delegate this November, will work to cut taxes.

That will take my money out of the pockets in Richmond and put it back in my pocket where it will do the most good for me and for the local economy.

That’s why I plan to do everything I can to help Garrett get elected in place of Valentine. He knows where my money belongs.
JAMES ELDRIDGE
Lynchburg

The politics of fear
Saturday, I received a four-page mailer from the Scott Garrett campaign. The cover featured a frightening face holding a finger over his lips, whispering “Shannon Valentine has a secret.” Let’s disregard the misleading contents and look at the mailer itself. That scary picture on the front cover, also repeated on the back, is an example of the politics of fear. The message is clear. “Shannon Valentine is someone we should fear.”

A Newsweek science article (Dec. 24, 2007) explains how our brains are hardwired for fear to overcome reason. The author summarizes 50 years of research with these words: “The evolutionary primacy of the brain’s fear circuitry makes it more powerful than the brain’s reasoning faculties.” Karl Rove and other political operatives working directly and indirectly to shape Scott Garrett’s campaign have become experts at fear-mongering to win elections. In the same article a political psychologist warns that “… the skillful use of fear is unmatched in leading to enthusiasm for one candidate and causing voters to turn away from another.”

It’s a simple strategy. Make voters afraid of a candidate and whatever the truth, it has no chance of being heard. No wonder the latest Garrett mailer features a face almost hidden in the shadows whispering “Shannon Valentine has a secret.”

I hope that in the few days remaining before the election, Garrett will repudiate his handlers and speak the truth about himself and his positions on the issues with no more fear mongering attacks on Shannon Valentine.
MEL WHITE
Lynchburg

Negative campaigning
You know the campaign of Scott Garrett has gotten too graphic when I have to screen my mail before one of my 9-year-old grandsons sees one of his ads.

It was bad enough when one of them asked why their neighbor was “being so mean” to Del. Shannon Valentine when viewing the “apples and oranges” television ad.

I had to draw the line at their seeing my mail, though, when one of them asked “What secret does Shannon Valentine have?” “Is it bad?” “What is going on?”

No one should have to explain to an elementary school youth that the “nice man” who lives down the street from them is telling lies so that he can win an election.

Garrett’s continued deliberate misrepresentation of Del. Valentine is self-serving and reflects the limited integrity he possess, as well as a drive for power that is truly disconcerting.

If, for whatever reason, you choose not to vote for Valentine, perhaps you should consider whether you really want Garrett representing Lynchburg in Richmond. Who’s to say he will do what’s best for us? It seems he only wants to do what’s best for himself, where she has a proven record of communication with her constituents and action in Richmond clearly in the interest of our district.
MARY JANE DOLAN
Lynchburg

Uncivil debate
Monday night, I was very bothered by the lack of decorum at the League of Women’s Voters debate between Del. Shannon Valentine and Scott Garrett.

Her supporters were rude with snickers and cat calls while Garrett was speaking. At times, they were “high-fiving” each other. Garrett didn’t seem to be affected by the childish behavior of Valentine’s supporters; nonetheless, their behavior was impolite and distracting to others in the audience.

If my children were to ever act in this fashion in public, I would certainly correct their behavior immediately. To exemplify her call for everyone to work together, I had expected Valentine to demonstrate leadership and ask her supporters to be polite and respectful of Garrett while he was speaking.

As it was, many of us in the audience had to try to focus on the dialogue between Valentine and Garrett in spite of the distractions.
DENISE PALYS
Lynchburg

For Valentine
It has become standard practice in an election for challengers to attack the incumbent rather than trying to sell themselves.

That is clearly the case in the race for the 23rd District since the challenger has nothing to sell.

Instead he has repeatedly harped on a non-issue that has become increasingly boring.

Seeing no reason to vote for him and every reason to vote for her, I will vote for Shannon Valentine.
JOAN MacCALLUM
Lynchburg