University of Virginia Library

Rawlings For Senator

Election Day next Tuesday provides the
people of the State of Virginia with the nearly
unique opportunity to choose between three
Senatorial hopefuls; the incumbent Senator
Byrd, his Republican challenger and
Holton-protege, Ray Garland, and the
nominee of the Democratic Party, George
Rawlings. We feel the choice is clear: Virginia
can have six more years of Byrd reactionary
politics, six years of Garland who seems to
have the support of the Vice-President but
not that of Mr. Nixon, or six years of
progressive — enlightened leadership in the
person of George Rawlings. Without
hesitation we endorse the candidacy of Mr.
Rawlings.

Operating on almost a minuscule budget,
Rawlings has carried his self-characterized
"Populist" message throughout the state. He
has spoken out forcefully against the pace of
the withdrawal from Indochina and has the
support of numerous anti-war Senators as a
result. He has indicated his opposition to the
SST, the ABM, and other military
boondoggles, while still maintaining a deep
and reasoned concern for the national
defense.

Rawlings has stated his support for student
— representation on the governing boards of
the state — supported universities-real
students, that is, and expressed his belief that
all citizens of the state, regardless of age, sex,
occupation or race deserve representation in
the United States Senate.

The most cursory examination of Senator
Byrd's voting record should be enough to
convince the enlightened voter that Virginia
has passed out of the Byrd behind.

While professing to be an economic
hawkeye, Byrd has voted against lowering the
oil depletion allowance, for high military
expenditures, and against those programs
which will benefit the majority of the State's
populace. The Senator's radio, television, and
newspaper advertising have been in many
ways a true reflection of his positions. For
this he is to be congratulated, but not
re-elected. They play on the worst fears of the
electorate in much the same way that Spiro
uses his alliterative phrases and
"radical-liberal" appellations.

Last Spring a group of University students
went up to speak with the Senator at a time
when the Capitol was crawling with college
students. One would have hoped that Senator
Byrd would have gotten some sort of feeling
for the position of the young and others who
oppose the war. The unanimous reaction of
the group upon returning to Charlottesville
was that Byrd was just too far gone. One was
reminded of the famous Mills Godwin
"Thanks for coming to Richmond, boys. Now
go back to the University and study."

Ray Garland is certainly better than Byrd,
but one can't really be certain. His positions
are more enlightened on some matters and he
expects to get some 30 per cent of the black
vote, but does not appear to have the forceful
conviction of his beliefs that will make for a
truly active and representative Senator.

George Rawlings has his faults (anyone
who wears a bow tie all the time has got to
have some), but considered with respect to his
two opponents comes out looking like the
best potential Senator the nation has ever
seen. We don't expect Mr. Rawlings to match
up to that billing, but we do expect him to
vote to get the boys home from Vietnam
soon, provide equal opportunity and justice
for all citizens, and finally put an end to the
Byrd era. He has spoken to the issues that are
and will continue to plague the nation and the
state and does not represent those forces who
would like us to believe that there are simple
solutions for the myriad of problems we face.
We urge your support for George Rawlings
next Tuesday.