Blogger “Tom” found a transcript of the Jerry Kilgore radio spot that inspired charges from the Kilgore camp that the lieutenant governor is “mocking” his Southwest Virginia accent. Here’s the relevant portion of what the ad said:
“I’m Tim Kaine and I’m running for Governor. If I have something to say I’m not afraid to say it myself. But Jerry Kilgore has been making things up about me and letting slick radio announcers do his dirty work. Virginia deserves a leader who says what he believes himself. …
What’s so offensive about that? It reads to me as if Kaine were criticizing Kilgore for hurling charges at him while distancing himself personally from the actual accusations. Sounds like fair game to me. What, then set off the Kilgore camp? I received this response from J. Tucker Martin, Kilgore’s deputy press secretary:
The Kaine campaign may be many things, but they aren’t dumb when it comes to how to spread a risky political attack. Quite simply, they know better than to just flat out say “Kilgore talks funny” and leave it like that. Their strategy is one that builds on several levels, and with the hope that no one will be able to put 2 and 2 together. Honestly I think they have significantly underestimated the press and the public’s ability to see through the lines.
How have they done this? Easy. On one hand they air an ad specifically commenting on the absence of Jerry Kilgore’s voice. Then on the other they launch an attack site, jerrytheduck, that includes a soundbite of Jerry Kilgore. Why is this important? Because the ostensible purpose of that website is to highlight Jerry Kilgore’s seeming disinterest in debates (a completely incorrect assertion that I will leave for another time). So why include a soundbite of Jerry Kilgore taken FROM A DEBATE between Kilgore and Kaine in 2003? That soundbite, on its face, would seem to undercut the entire point of the website. The fact that it is there, and highlighted, demonstrates that there must be another purpose. That purpose is evident when one combines the radio ad with the website.
Futhermore, any member of the Richmond press corps can attest to the jokes and off the record comments made by the Kaine campaign and its surrogates when it comes to Jerry Kilgore’s accent. Combine that with the posts found on the Kaine echo chamber blogs, and you have a completely coordinated and craven attempt to demean Jerry Kilgore’s native accent for political points. Just like most political rumor mills, you will not find one smoking gun. You have to put the pieces together. Larry Sabato has had no problem doing this, nor have other political observers. …
