Va. leaders: Smart move

BY TYLER WHITLEY
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Aug. 8, 2000

Although he is unknown to many Virginia Democrats, the choice of Connecticut Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman as Al Gore's vice presidential running mate was seen by some party leaders as a smart political move that could help Gore nationally.

"It speaks volumes about the vice president's agenda to have chosen the chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council," said Rep. James P. Moran, D-8th. "A Gore-Lieberman ticket ensures that successful policies of centrist governance, fiscal responsibility and social inclusion will be continued."

Marjorie Clark of Chesterfield, the 7th District Democratic chairwoman, saw another plus.

"It actually gives us an indication that Gore feels very strongly about the moral implications of being president and wants to convey that message on the ticket," she said.

Lieberman was one of the few Democrats to publicly upbraid Clinton in strongly moral terms during the Monica Lewinsky affair, though he later voted to acquit the president in his Senate impeachment trial.

State Sen. J. Randy Forbes of Chesapeake, the chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, said he did not see how Democrats could reconcile a contrast between Gore and Lieberman. "Lieberman [criticized Clinton] and Gore said he was the greatest president ever."

But Del. Kenneth R. Plum of Reston, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said, "This tells us that Gore is his own man. Efforts by the Republicans to link Gore to the Clinton administration are not going to work. This is a clear message that this is a new day and a new presidential candidate who can stand on his own and speak for himself."

Plum, D-Reston, dismissed suggestions that Lieberman's centrist image will do little to help Gore with the traditional Democratic base of organized labor, which has been slow to get behind the vice president. "When Election Day comes, they will come home," he said.

"I don't know that Gore needs help with labor; we are aware of his record as opposed to his opponent's," said Sheryn Seffu of Richmond, an organizer for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. She will be a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles next week.

Virginians dismissed suggestions that Lieberman's faith would hurt his chances.

Rep. Norman Sisisky, D-4th, who is Jewish, said, "There is not a predominance of Jews in my district and I've never had a problem. I think people vote against someone for many reasons; they may be too short, or too tall. I think both parties have gotten to the point where they are inclusive; certainly the Democrats are."

This fall, Virginia likely will elect two Jews Sisisky, who is unopposed, and Del. Eric I. Cantor of Henrico, running as a Republican in the 7th Congressional District. A third Jewish candidate, Virginia Beach Democrat Jody Wagner, is running in the 2nd District.

About 2 percent of the potential voters in Virginia are Jewish, according to political analyst Larry J. Sabato of the University of Virginia.

"Democrats had the first Irish-Catholic candidate and now the first Jewish candidate; I'm proud that we are leading the way," said Pixie Bell of Alexandria, a delegate to the party's national convention.

"He represents the party's commitment to diversity; 10 to 12 years ago this would have been unthinkable," said Craig T. Fifer of Roanoke, another convention delegate.