Bob Was Ready – or Was He?
2012-02-04 - by
Bob Etheridge was ready to run, but not ready to take a stand.
The old cager was poised to jump into the governor’s race the moment Erskine Bowles announced he wouldn’t suit up. But Etheridge wasn’t ready to say whether he supported the gay marriage amendment or the school tax.
He could have gotten away with finessing the tax hike this way: “We have to restore the deep cuts the legislature made in education. But I need to know more about the state’s budget situation before I make a decision on taxes.”
But there’s no excuse on Amendment One. And a Democratic candidate has to oppose it.
Etheridge’s caution shows why there’s an opening for Brad Miller: He would own the party’s liberals. That’s huge in a primary. No other candidate or potential candidate has that kind of base. But Miller could be the Democrats’ George McGovern plus 40 years.
Bob Was Ready – or Was He?
2012-02-04/
Bob Etheridge was ready to run, but not ready to take a stand.
The old cager was poised to jump into the governor’s race the moment Erskine Bowles announced he wouldn’t suit up. But Etheridge wasn’t ready to say whether he supported the gay marriage amendment or the school tax.
He could have gotten away with finessing the tax hike this way: “We have to restore the deep cuts the legislature made in education. But I need to know more about the state’s budget situation before I make a decision on taxes.”
But there’s no excuse on Amendment One. And a Democratic candidate has to oppose it.
Etheridge’s caution shows why there’s an opening for Brad Miller: He would own the party’s liberals. That’s huge in a primary. No other candidate or potential candidate has that kind of base. But Miller could be the Democrats’ George McGovern plus 40 years.