Brian Patton

Brian January 7th, 2006

The Bristol Herald-Courier’s editorial board has taken the unusual step of responding to a candidate’s comments that were made in response to their endorsement of his opponent. Now will we get a counter-response from Dan Bowling?

It started here, when the BHC said:

[Bowling] is to be commended for offering himself as a candidate, but his lack of enthusiasm lends some credence to rumors that he was nudged into the race by party leaders rather than entering it of his own volition.

I pointed out here, that this “rumor” was nonexistent before the BHC’s endorsement.

Then on election night, after Bowling received 60% of the vote, he said “[t]hat’s pretty good for someone who wasn’t interested.”

Yeah, I would have to agree with him on that.

Then, to be sure and get the last word, the editorial board responded to Bowling’s comments here, and said:

As in any election, the newspaper’s editorial page can make recommendations, but it is the voters who make the final judgment call. We didn’t endorse Bowling. The voters disagreed with us. The democratic process worked.

We congratulate Bowling on his victory. We wish him no ill will, although he appears to harbor a grudge against us.

. . .

During elections, we chose sides. When it is over, we are all part of the same team. Endorsing a candidate isn’t an attempt to pick a winner.

I guess this falls into that category of “don’t tick off people who buy ink by the barrel.”

Regardless, Bowling is going to be a great Delegate and a strong advocate for Southwest Virginia.

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• Politics , Virginia