Bloggers, The greatest power of the blogging community is to subject the claims of politicians and the press to close scrutiny. We now have an excellent example before us.
The Kilgore campaign has attacked Tim Kaine for his record on tax increases while mayor of Richmond. According to the Kilgore crew, Kaine claimed in Roanoke today that he cut taxes for the city of Richmond — but, in fact, he raised them. In a report released today, the Kilgore campaign argues that while city council may have cut property tax rates, rising assessments meant that tax bills actually rose. It’s a legitimate point if true… in context… and doesn’t leave out pertinent exculpatory material.
The blogging community needs to analyze and either verify or reject charges like these. If the Kilgore campaign has a legitimate point, we can help validate it. If campaign researchers are playing fast and loose with the facts, we should hurl the charges back at them. I have read the the document, “Tim Kaine – Day of Deception” and found it — once you cut through the high-pitched rhetoric — to be a reasonable recitation of facts. But will it withstand the examination of the bloggers?
