Information Alert: The End of the World?

Victoria Cobb, President
November 7, 2007

In 1938, Americans were frightened into total hysteria by a radio broadcast that claimed aliens were invading earth. The famous Orson Wells "War of the Worlds" broadcast is a good lesson in understanding the context of everything we hear before jumping to conclusions - especially important in the aftermath of yesterday's elections.

I don't think anyone is surprised by the election results. Republicans lost control of the state Senate, losing four key seats, and leaving the Democrats in power 21 to 19. Considering that the hostility of Senate Republican leadership to the pro-family agenda suppressed enthusiasm for nearly any Republican running, its really surprising the results weren't worse. The nearly flawless campaign of pro-family advocate Ken Cuccinelli in retaining his Senate seat proves that a principled leader can overcome the odds and win, even in Northern Virginia, while former Senator Jeanne Marie Devolites-Davis abandoned every conservative principle she could to try to stay in office - and was crushed.

Its also important to remember that former Senators Russ Potts and John Chichester are gone, and while Democrats now hold power in the Senate, with people like Potts and Chichester running the show, conservatives were never in power anyway. The interesting thing will be to see how those so-called moderate Republicans who have remained respond to losing power. Will they simply abandon principle as they have in the past and join Democrats to pass massive tax increases and thwart reasonable pro-life legislation, or will they return to their base with their tails between their legs hoping for forgiveness. Time will tell.

Of course, how Virginians are going to react to Senate Majority Leader Dick Salsaw, who makes Nancy Pelosi look right wing, is another story. Famous for his curmudgeon-like appearance, Salsaw once made the comment on the floor of the Senate regarding tax hikes, "There will never be enough money for me," and has dismissed the death of a woman in NOVA from a botched abortion as irrelevant.

In the House, Republican control continued to trickle away, losing 3 more open seats previously held by that party. On a positive note, Brenda Pogge, who with her husband Roger helped lead va4marrige.org's campaign to pass the marriage amendment, and former Family Foundation board of directors member Jimmie Massie won their elections. Also, Katherine Waddell, the former head of Republicans for Choice/Abortion lost in her first attempt at reelection.

All of the Republican losses have translated into the partisan pundit's pronouncement of the demise of the conservative movement in Virginia. Just the way the same pundits claimed the death of the Democrat party in Virginia just a few short years ago.

Despite the hysterical commentary you will hear, like the claims heard every election cycle when Republicans lose, the demise of the pro-family movement in Virginia is completely exaggerated. Much of what we hear is just pundits having to fill time on talk shows and in news stories. Some of it is wishful thinking. The fact is that sometimes our issues dominate elections and sometimes they don't.

Certainly, yesterday's elections were disappointing for pro-family Virginians, but no election is the end of the world. Despite what the pundits and partisans will say, no single election dooms any particular party or movement. Just one year ago pro-family voters proved their strength - winning the marriage amendment in a landslide.

Regardless of what took place yesterday, you can be assured that The Family Foundation is here to defend your values when our new legislature rolls into town in January. We will be here because our existence is not dependent upon who sits in office. We are not here to make Republicans happy or Democrats look bad. We are here to advance a pro-God, pro-family, pro-life agenda - regardless of the obstacles.

That is because our battle is not about power or majorities or partisanship - it is about the principles of our God and the reality that those principles are threatened. If that isn't enough to make you want to continue the fight, I don't know what will.