NORFOLK
Commissioner of Revenue Sharon McDonald, a Democrat, strongly objected to a flier passed out to voters Monday, saying it implies that President Barack Obama and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds support her opponent.
McDonald's campaign found fliers distributed in the Poplar Halls neighborhood with "Doug Knack for Commissioner of the Revenue" underneath a photograph of Obama and Deeds. With a headline that says "Leaders We Can Trust," the flier urges voters to support Deeds and fellow Democrats Jody Wagner and Steve Shannon in today's election, along with Knack.
He is running as an independent.
The flier was produced by a political action committee named People First, headed by Vivian J. Paige, a former Democratic candidate for treasurer who writes a popular political blog.
Paige is a Knack supporter. Knack's wife, Kathy Knack, has contributed to the PAC.
Knack said he did not know about the flier, but after The Virginian-Pilot provided him a copy, said: "I don't have an issue with it.
"It doesn't say anything about the Democratic party," he added. "The way this is written, I honestly don't see a legal or ethical issue.
"I can't disagree with what it says as far as leadership and change."
McDonald, the Democratic nominee, said the flier was clearly intended to mislead.
"It implies that he is being endorsed by our president and the three Democratic candidates listed there, and that's untrue," she said.
"A real leader has integrity. It's clear by allowing his name to be put on this ballot, by saying he doesn't have a problem with it, that he lacks integrity."
Paige defended the flier, noting that she did not use the word Democrat. She said it is unlike a flier produced last November in Virginia Beach in which Obama was pictured with Will Sessoms, a candidate for mayor who was supporting Republican John McCain. The Beach flier did not identify who paid for it, a violation of state law.
"I'm just trying to drive voter turnout" for the candidates she supports, Paige said. In doing so, she used an Obama quote from his visit to Old Dominion University last week, in which he said, when speaking of Deeds, he needs "a partner... to help us finish what we started." The quote is just above Knack's name.
"Isn't that what he said?" Paige said of Obama.
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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Well
I guess this whole argument has been settled by the ballot box and the best qualified candidate won. I wonder if Vivian Paige as an African-American Woman really felt that African American Voters where that stupid to fall for her little ruse? If I were an African-American Voter I'd be seriously offended by her assumption that just because Mr. Knack appeared on her home-made flyer with President Obama that somehow Mr. Knack’s leadership in any way compared to President Obama's.....
Applying the "reasonable
Applying the "reasonable person" test to this flier...a "reasonable person" reading a flier with the names and pics of three prominent dems at the top would infer that the candidate was (1) endorsed by the pictured people and (2) was a democrat.
To state or pretend to believe anything else is disingenuous.
disingenuous*
*see bobby mc's transportation "plan"
My comment was not intended
My comment was not intended denote support (or not) of any of the candidates, their plans, proposals, or trackrecords...
I'm just saying that a "reasonable person" would make certain inferences based on the way the information is presented on the flyer.
If you look at it from a neutral perspective, I think you will agree.
point
your point was understood, we agree on it
maybe not the most pc example on my part given today's climate but politics by its very nature is disenginuous---tell em what they want to hear to get elected
Get Over It
Freedom and rights. Everyone cries. Who cares, if your good, you win, if you're a crook, you win. Let the people decide, does a piece of paper make that big a difference? What are you affraid of. Politics, Ba Hum Bug, S O *.
Somewhere ...
... Brian Kerwin is laughing.
doing you a favor
They were doing you a favor associating the competition with bozobama! You should be appreciative. Come on now.
important fact
jfr, you've overlooked an important fact---
this position is in Norfolk where these Democratic party leaders are very popular
That's why McDonald is so upset, she knows it won't help her
Reads
Paid for and authorized by People First PAC. Not authorized by any candidate. Printed in house.
Archie, get a grip!
We all know that you are Sharon's neighbor. You have no handle on the issues - just a personal agenda that is not in the best interest of the citizens of Norfolk.
JustJane, get a grip
Well, we both live in Norfolk, if that makes us neighbors. If you look at the record, it is clear that McDonald is by far better suited, and proven so, for the job.
Help
"The Beach flier did not identify who paid for it"
I have 20/20 vision, but can't possibly read the tiny, tiny print at the bottom of the flyer?
For that matter, can't read most of the small print, it's a bit blurry?
Small print on flyer
At the bottom of the full-size flyer it says "Paid for and authorized by People First PAC. Not authorized by any candidate. Printed in house."
Setting the Record Straight
Since when is it misleading for someone to actually think for themselves and publicly support the candidates of his or her choice? Are printed materials purely the domain of political parties? Sharon is just teed off because a fellow Democrat had the audacity to break party lines. Then again, with Sharon it's always about politics. That approach is what continues to hold Norfolk back. As it stands today, party politics represents two groups of people: those who want to control whose turn it is to run and extremists who are way off the reservation.
What ever it takes
If it gets her out of office(McDonald)it would be well worth it.
It will sort itself out.
Hitching your wagon to a double-point underdog and a President whose popularity are in a free fall would not be a winning strategy and will most likely sort itself out.
Poor Vivian
We can all say what we want but any decent person realizes this is a trick to get folks to vote. I was voting for Doug Knock anyway so this doenst mean anything to me. Vivian Paige is an instigator who has not gotten over being being defeated for public office in the past. Viv, get a real job and stop shaddowing your "hate" at the keyboard!
Sad, Isn't It?
When someone with a decent mind goes and does something like this deceitful act.
Paige needs to find positive things to do; why waste a good mind? I don't know if she had much to do with Knack's campaign, but what really turned me off on Knack was his single, negative campaign issue which was really more sour grapes than an issue.
Took a page
Just took a page from Will Sessoms campaign playbook.