Smith's no centrist

Posted in Ralph Smith on 10/10/07

In case you missed it, Senate candidate Ralph Smith tried a novel new approach in a forum last week, comparing himself to “centrist Democrats” Mark Warner and Doug Wilder:

“In his opening statement before the Kiwanis Club of Roanoke, Smith said that although he has been painted as an extreme ‘no government guy,’ he actually supports many of the recommendations issued in a report on government efficiency that was commissioned by Warner and carried out by Wilder.” (Roanoke Times, 10/4/07)

While we Virginia Democrats appreciate Smith’s praise, we’re also quick to agree with the Roanoke Times’ subsequent editorial, which says “it was rather surreal for Ralph Smith to portray himself to the gathering as being Warneresque.”

“Remember the primary? Smith was the Republican Party’s answer to complaints that incumbent Brandon Bell wasn’t rabid-right enough.

Even weirder: While proclaiming his newly fashioned moderate self, Smith was also recruiting Oliver North to anchor a fundraiser later this month. Now, there’s a true centrist.” (Roanoke Times, 10/6/07)

Indeed, Oliver North isn’t the only right-winger to occupy Smith’s circle of friends. Here are some samplings from his web site:

But who knows, maybe Sean Hannity isn’t the rabid partisan we’ve always assumed. And we can at least take solace that Smith appears to be more out of the loop with the likes of George Allen:

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