Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Democrats: Nothing to like about our candidates

I read with great interest the Party Line (D) column of the 2/26/08 edition of the Jeffersonian. Once again, it started with a tease that it there would be positive information about the current presidential campaign. Once again, it disappointed by spewing out more than 400 words of rumor, innuendo and attack against two well qualified Republicans and patriots, Senator John McCain, and Senator Andrew Harris, men whose service under arms to the United States is well documented, as is their energetic representation in the Congress and General Assembly, respectively. The only favorable words from the columnist about the Democrat candidates: These are two highly qualified candidates. He goes on to state that only the Democrat candidates care about the best interests of the United States.
In a sister publication, The Northeast Reporter, of the same week (2/28/08), a letter to the editor from Shannon Lowe decried Republican Delegate Joe Boteler III for commenting on Democrat Todd Schuler for his leftist views, and criticizing Governor O'Malley for reversing the action to close the Hickey School in opposition to the majority of the people living in Cub Hill. It further objected to partisan Republicans blaming the Democrats for bad things happening in Maryland. I agree that nasty partisanship degrades the discussion of political issues and has a negative effect on our community. I am not as certain that giving credit where it is due is partisanship. My recollection is that Democrats have dominated the General assembly, and get credit for all of its actions, good and bad, for more than one-hundred years.
I agree with Ms. Shannon that it would be nice to hear from elected officials about how we can unite and face issues, but her party is dedicated to burying the Republican Party for at least ten years. I doubt that the Democrats intend to join the Republicans in that nasty, partisan grave.
It is saddening that the Democrat party in Baltimore County cannot find someone to write positive articles about Democrats. I would like to repeat my plea that the Democrats find a spokesman who can tell us why their candidates are worthwhile of our consideration, and compare and contrast them with Republican Candidates. If that isn't possible, perhaps we could read about what makes voting for Democrats a positive thing.
James Kehl, besides being a member of the Democrat Party Central Committee, is a CPA and the author of a book on tax law. In short, all non-political indications are that he 's a bright guy! I have to wonder what impairs his ability to promote positively his party's candidates.
I hope other readers of community newspapers will join me in calling for raising the political discourse to a civil level that permits honest criticism and discussion that honestly informs.

No comments: