The past few weeks one of the local blogs has been waging war on behalf of Jeanine Lawson who is running for Brentsville District supervisor. She wants to take Wally Covington’s place. That’s fair. Ms. Lawson has been active in the community and supports many things this very blog holds dear.
Bloggers often have their favorite candidates. What isn’t fair is the usual half-truths, lies, and derisive pictures being posted against her opponent, Scott Jacobs. I am reminded of some of the nasty tricks that have been done to local candidates in the past.
For starters, a picture of Canadian Mayor Rob Ford, a large buffoon known for excesses and drug use, is being posted along side, or in place of Scott Jacobs. This derisiveness and mockery is unacceptable. Ford isn’t even an American and has nothing to do with Brentsville. The use of his picture is an immature propaganda attempt to smear Jacobs and to ridicule him. Absolutely the facts should be debated, sans lies and mimicry.
I call on both Jeanine Lawson and Pete Candland to contact the blog owner(s) and demand decency during this campaign. Pete gets named as culpable because of his close connection with the blog in question. He is its favorite son. If they do not insist on ethical behavior, then count on me to call them out–all candidates. We need to stick to the issues of Prince William County. Let’s not vilify other candidates or those who support them. Yes, I recall what was done to Jeanette Rishell and her campaign manager. I recall what was done to Sharon Pandak when she ran for chairman, I remember what was done to Elena as she supported the Rural Crescent and a candidate who did not win. If the politician stands to profit from unethical, derogatory blog behavior, then they will quickly own the problem and must step up to the plate to demand decency.
I have had political candidates tell me that there is nothing they can do to stop various bloggers. Bull. I bought that nonsense once and I will not buy it again. At a bare minimum, the candidates should publicly denounce inappropriate blog behavior when they stand to gain from it. That is just the kind of person we want representing Prince William County.
I don’t have a dog in this fight nor do I have a favorite candidate. I live in the Gainesville District. I do have a dog in the decency fight, however. I want issues debated–real issues that reflect how the candidates really feel.
Let’s stop with the nastiness right here and now. It is unbecoming and reflects badly on Prince William County. Both Ms. Lawson and Mr. Jacobs are decent people. I have friends who speak highly of both of them. Both candidates deserve much better than to be used like this by the local blogs. PWC has lots of issues. Brentsville has issues unique to the magisterial district. Jacobs and Lawson need to concentrate on county issues. Let’s hear what they are really saying, even if we can’t vote for them. They at least deserve that much.
The candidates need to understand that if you lay down with the dogs, you get fleas.
or worse…..
Hear! Hear!
This morning’s article on Inside Nova confirms that Scott is fair game for almost anything, at least in my mind. He threw down the gauntlets in that piece and I suspect things are getting to get a lot hotter as a result.
I have not seen it. He gets called out also if he is unprofessional in his campaigning techniques.
This is the same song I have sung since I have been reading blogs. Lying, name-calling and politics of personal destruction.
I have called out at least one politician over what I consider really trashy campaign techniques. He told he couldn’t control the blogger who was doing it. No, he couldn’t control him but he sure could denounce what that blogger was doing. Doing that was not without risk. He didn’t step up to the plate publically.
I decided after that, never again.
One of the reasons why I’ve pretty much retired from active politics, although the reasons are legion.
It definitely is why I decided 20 years ago not to work any more campaigns. I went toe to toe with the campaign manager defending the opponent who I hated. They were lying about him and using weasel words to attribute something to him that I knew he didn’t say. My theory is, if the opponent is that bad, then the truth should be used against that person, not lies and distortion.
I was furious. We don’t have to lie and ridicule people. Ever.
I believe the appropriate comment might be something on the order of: Strike while the iron is hot. Why do you persist on not calling out these fools? I know-some sort of honor code between bloggers. NOT! Those guilty of maligning others obviously have no honor code. I’m not saying wrestle with a pig, just call them out-idle threats are meaningless. Just ask Greg Letiecq (or however he spells it)!
George, I have no honor code with other bloggers. The only honor code I have with is with myself.
Its pretty obvious which blog I was referring to.
I will not even click on that blog. The person behind it (my opinion) is a vile man who is close to Candland and has a sketchy past – even orchestrating smear campaigns in political battles – so, he is right in his element. I could be wrong but think not.
@Moon-howler
You may want to read it because his position affects everybody in PWC including you and I
I did read it. Just finished. Ok, here’s my answer. He told the truth about his vision of growth. Now, I might not like it but he was upfront about how he felt. I think you or I either one (although Elena would do a far better job than I would) could disagree with him without making fun of him or calling him derisive names. Its ok to disagree. Strongly.
I was equally put off by Ms. Lawson more or less dismissing the notion of affordable housing, even more so by her talking about divorced women. If we are trying to attract businesses we might want to make sure that there is housing that isn’t half million dollars and up housing only going in. Affordable housing isn’t just about rent-assisted and HUD housing.
Moon, sorry, this is largely internecine warfare among Republicans and pseudo Republicans of Convenience. Much like a spat between siblings, there are few rules or pleasantries expected or invoked. This is for lack of a better term, a death match and is no holds barred.
What it doesn’t just affect Republicans. All the in-fighting has been going on for over a year. Everyone needs to clean it up.
@Mom
Mon – it is not among Republicans – it is a public side and a ‘terrorist’ side that hides behind anonymity which will publish any crock of crap that it wants with no repercussions for deceiving or spinning lies. I do not go to that blog, as I think the author plants anonymous responses just to get things going – and just generally disagree with the tactics.
I was told a bunch of relatives get in the act also. True or not, there is definitely some planting.
Mom, the complaints about proposed housing developments are valid points which would find support among independents and Democrats also. Concerning the Gainesville/Haymarket areas, one local blog deals overwhelmingly with facts and the other with personal attacks which merely make the blogger look like a salivating groupie of one BOCs member.