Not all attendees ‘adored’ Warner

Dennis Holder Kents Store
Published: July 28, 2008

In reporting U.S. senatorial candidate Mark Warner’s stump speech in Palmyra on July 19, The Daily Progress described listeners as “125 adoring supporters.” As one of those in the audience, I take exception to this bit of journalistic hyperbole.

A more careful report might have noted that many who attended the event did not wear the “Warner for Senate” stickers that promoters urged upon us. It might have noted, too, that several who heard Warner kept their hands in their pockets when others applauded. Some who listened did so to collect information as they weigh their vote for senator some four months from now.

I can’t speak for others, but I joined the audience to take the measure of the man who hopes to represent us in the Senate for the next six years. I came away sorely disappointed. At a time when our country desperately needs leaders with vision and commitment, Warner comes off as a disinterested observer out of touch with issues.

Warner’s strongest positions, as presented on that day, related to energy. He advocates more investment in alternative fuels, including nuclear but excluding corn ethanol. He contends that states ought to decide about offshore drilling, an idea that disenfranchises landlocked states and fragments our energy policy.

At the same time, though, Warner hardly mentioned the war in Iraq, the flagging U.S. dollar or the crippling credit crisis. He told us nothing of what he would do to work toward solutions to these problems.

I’ll vote for Mark Warner because I have no choice. In 2008, it is vital that we reduce Republican numbers in Con-gress in hopes that Democrats will undo some of the blunders of the past eight years.

However, Warner will have to perform in the Senate at an unusually high level to win my vote when he stands for re-election six years from now.

Call me a backer, but don’t call me adoring. When it comes to Mark Warner’s Sen-ate campaign, I am best characterized as a reluctant supporter.