Virginians’ choice: Two life stories, but what a difference

Two very different people are running to be the governor of Virginia.

The Democrat on the ballot, Ralph Northam, is the present lieutenant governor of Virginia. This is a job with little political significance. The only reason anyone seeks it is if they take an unreal pleasure in breaking ties. They surely don’t do it for the money. The office pays a modest $33,000 a year.

You run for lieutenant governor of Virginia because you want to be the governor of Virginia one day. The post is a stepping stone.

{mosads}Many Virginia lieutenant governors become governor of the Old Dominion — Chuck Robb, Doug Wilder, Tim Kaine, John Dalton, Linwood Holton, to name a few in recent history. Both Republicans and Democrats use this title to advance in the political world.

Northam has had another life besides politics. He is a doctor. A pediatric neurologist. He spent eight years on active duty in the U.S. Army. During that time he treated many injured troops in Operation Desert Storm.

Before that he graduated from Virginia Military Institute. He was voted by his classmates onto the honor court; there he was selected to be the president of the court.

He got into politics late in life. In 2006 he ran for the Virginia state Senate and beat an incumbent Republican. This native of Virginia’s Eastern Shore has a soothing bedside manner. He speaks softly with a pronounced, southern, small-town drawl.

He says repeatedly that he can bring “both sides to the table” and solve problems.

During his time in the state Senate, he led the effort to ban smoking in the tobacco-friendly state. He also fought the Republican effort to require women to get an invasive ultrasound procedure before receiving an abortion.

His Republican opponent, Ed Gillespie, has spent his life being a party operative and full-time lobbyist for a collection of corporate interests, including promoting the tobacco industry.

His political experience included working under Karl Rove. Some of that time was spent raising millions of unregulated donations that went to GOP candidates. This money is commonly and deservedly called “dark money.”

Gillespie almost lost to Trump lover and conservative firebrand Corey A. Stewart in a Republican primary earlier in the year. Gillespie desperately wants to attract Trump supporters but doesn’t want Trump to campaign for him. He knows that would repel moderate independents that he needs to win.

So, to incite one faction of his party, he has decided to utilize a Willie Horton media strategy. He has aired TV ads showing scary images of dark, hooded men with tattoos. The voice-over ominously talks about “letting illegal immigrants who commit crimes back on the street.”

This is a brazen attempt to tie Northam to “sanctuary cities.”

Gillespie, who made millions of dollars being a lobbyist before he decided to run for elective office, conveniently omits listing his company in his official biography. Instead, he puts forth a phony Horatio Alger TV ad of being a grandson of a janitor.

Northam is not afraid to continue to call Trump a “narcissistic maniac” while Gillespie wants it both ways.

Northam has led a life caring for others.

Gillespie has led a life lining his pockets for corporate clients and serving under the likes of Newt Gingrich.

This is a clear and obvious choice for Virginia voters. Let’s see if they choose the “quality candidate.”

This election on Nov. 7 will be so important. Will the voters of Virginia send a clear signal that they reject the mediocrity and corporate opportunism of Gillespie?

Will the voters of Virginia say they have had enough of appealing to the dark side, and instead vote proudly for Northam?

The country will be watching the Old Dominion — this election could very well be a predictor of what is to come in the 2018 mid-terms.

Mark Plotkin is a contributor to the BBC on American politics and a columnist for The Georgetowner. He previously worked as the political analyst for WAMU-FM, Washington’s NPR affiliate, and for WTOP-FM, Washington’s all-news radio station. He is a winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in writing.