Belated grace
It took nearly a week, but finally one of the losers in Ventura County's two most contested partisan races took a stab at being gracious on Monday. Republican Bob Pohl, who lost by about 7,000 votes to Democrat Pedro Nava in the 35th District issued a formal statement last Wednesday evening that sounded like, but wasn't quite, a concession statement. He lauded his campaign staff and his supporters, but made no mention of Nava.
On Monday, however, he issued another statement with this brief acknowledgement: "I congratulate Pedro Nava on his election to the State Assembly. I wish him the best of luck."
Not effusive, perhaps, but a considerable step up from Democrat Ferial Masry's reaction in the 37th District after losing to Republican Audra Strickland. Masry said Strickland "didn't deserve what she got" and vowed to run against her again in two years.
Both losing candidates were personally offended by campaign activities of their opponents. Pohl took offense to a Nava commercial that challenged his record as a member of the Santa Barbara School Board and Masry was enraged over a recorded phone call that talked about her alleged support for a law to provide driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. The phone call noted security concerns over issuing such licenses and mentioned the word "terrorism."
Masry, who was born in Saudi Arabia, assailed the phone calls as an ethnic smear on Arab-Americans. Pohl believed the TV ads distorted his record.
Neither the TV commercial nor the phone call were examples of enlighted public discourse. But given the loose ground rules for conducting partisan campaigns these days, both were certainly within the bounds of partisan warfare.
Masry's reaction is understandable, and a case can be made that the calls used code language to call attention to her ethnic origins. But while Strickland's phone calls were dark and threatening, it is true that the 9/11 Commission recommended that states develop uniform rules for issuing driver's licenses.
The pique is particularly difficult to understand in Pohl's case: If a candidate can't make his opponent's record as an elected official part of the campaign debate, what else is there to talk about? Pohl could certainly challenge the criticism, but how can he legitimately be offended by it?
As they say, politics ain't beanbag.
Somehow John Kerry, who was subjected to far worse, found the resolve to be civil and gracious in defeat. Other defeated candidates should take note of his example.
What do you expect from Masry?
No class!
And Tim give me a break about Kerry. He should have conceded in the early morning hours of the election and didn't.
The President had the class to wait for him to make up his flip flopping mind!
Four more years....Yeah!
Tim and flap your off your rocker!
Masry, a military mom, has her patriotism questioned by a cowards like the Stricklands (famous for stealing signs and last minute smears) and you expect a graceful congratulations. Looks like sissiness is evident here.
Oh Please.... military mom so what?......my mom was a military mom too
No CLASS LOSER school teacher candidate = Masry.
Audra = WINNER!!
What exactly is it you love about Audra:
Her extreme stance against abortion. Easy for her given shes' had no kids. Should we just start giving out coat hangers and "vacations" to Puerto Rico if she gets her way.
Her willingness to work with others? only people that seem to like her are Phillip Morris, Miller Beer, a few toxic waste dumpers.
Heck a good number of republicans choose a democrat over her...
Her "values"? i.e cowardly attacks on someoones patriotism and apparent cheating on campaign finances? Heck its well known she and her husband are quite the heavy drinkers, known to stumble around the Westlake Village Inn.
Her cute flyers showing her standing with the Gov. Heck shes against stem cell research, for vouchers, against the state bond, voted against school construction. She's like shes out of step with the governor, whom i do respect.
Your moms loyalty was never questioned but then again you sound like a spoilled little boy from this end. Try eating your wheaties and you'll be a big boy soon.
This is what I love about you Lefties.
NO CLASS
And, wrong on the issues and wrong on life.
Hey Debbie move to San Francisco if you don't like the election result.
AUDRA = WINNER
tsk tsk tsk...flap, what a cute little boy you are. In fact I am a Republican who cant stand San Francisco. Then again this immature reactionary line of "dont like it, so move" is befit more of some line out of a country western movie. Then again maybe you like to pretend your the sheriff in town and play quick draw with the TV.
I'm just kicking myself in the butt though for not giving more support to real candidates like Gorell.
Hey, I don't think anyone is arguing IF Audra won, therefore your Audra=winner is pretty lame.
What the arguement is about, is how she won. In a Republican skewed district where she stood little chances of losing she phoned callers with what should be described as a racially charged call.
Ferial Masry is a Arabic woman for Saudi Arabia. Her son Omar served our country in Iraq. Instead of showing how we are different and better, The Stickland campaign brought out the worst in politics. If it was a close race, I wouldn't be shocked. But if you are winning in a landslide, why stoop down to this level.
In Nava vs. Pohl I would understand. In Bush Vs Kerry I would Understand. But In Audra vs Ferial I don't understand why Audra would do it. Part of me hopes her campaign did it without her knowledge.
Brian Dennert