The charge against Delegate Watkins Abbitt, Jr (I-Appomatox) is led by Democratic Central, and echoed loudly by Raising Kaine. Basically, they're using the age-old arguments of how Abbitt is controlled by lobbyists (isn't any opponent to a Democrat controlled by lobbyists these days?).
Side Note: I've always found the "don't vote for this guy, he has been influenced by lobbyists" argument a bit funny, because aren't all politicians influenced by lobbyists of some kind? That's what lobbyists do, ya know? They attempt to influence politics so things favor the industry they represent. Whether it's gun lobbyists, free trade lobbyists, environmental lobbyists, oil lobbyists, automotive industry lobbyists, union lobbyists, pro-abortion lobbyists...I could go on. All politicians have lobbyists of some kind that have their ear, no matter what their party affiliation is. That's politics in America, and it's been that way for a loooong time. But I digress...
They've gone so far as to remind people that Abbitt's father was part of the Byrd machine way back when, and was a leading segregationist (no mention of the fact that he was also a Democrat). This same post cites a 1985 newspaper article that is supposed to prove that Abbitt Jr. is a "habitual mudslinger", however the article cited seems to paint Abbitt as much less of a mudslinger than his primary opponent at that time (at least the way it read to me).
That same article also pointed out that Abbitt did not share his father's views on race.
I think there's still some sour grapes over the fact that Abbitt Jr. left the Democratic Party and became an Independent. It seems that as the Dems went left, he decided to stay center. Now, he'll always have a big target on his back.
Too bad for the Dems, Abbitt will pretty much keep this district for as long as he wants to...there's quite a few reasons as to why he's been there for over 20 years, so far.
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