Professor didn’t insult anybody

Tom Faulders Charlottesville
Published: November 19, 2008

In response to the letter to the editor published in the Nov. 7 Daily Progress concerning remarks by University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato (“Sabato insulting to GOP voters”), I would like to comment as an individual who attended the lecture.

Professor Sabato covered a wide range of election related topics ranging from the presidential contest to local elections. His remarks concerning his presidential outlook pointed to a substantial Democratic win based in large part on the performance of the incumbent Republican president. His point here was that U.S. electoral history shows that no candidate from the incumbent party has successfully succeeded an unpopular president.

In a humorous attempt to mollify the Republicans in the audience on this point, he made his remarks about liquor stores. There was no suggestion or connection made between the consumption of alcohol and political party membership. It is indeed unfortunate that The Daily Progress article (“Polls say McCain win a long shot,” Nov. 2) singled out this small portion of an exceedingly interesting talk to feature to its readers and that it, in turn, caused some readers to reach an inaccurate assessment of Professor Sabato’s intent.

Professor Sabato is an objective and, as it turns out, accurate observer of our political scene. He calls them as he sees them without bias, but through hard and basic research. We are fortunate to have him at the University of Virginia and in Charlottesville.