10/19/98
What if David Sarasohn's suggestion (The Oregonian,10/18/98) proves true, that Molly Bordonaro's conversion, from extremist right winger in the 1996 campaign into a made-over moderate for the current race, is just her "pulling the wool over your eyes?" Will all the sanctimonious Republicans who have recently excoriated Bill Clinton for lying to cover up personal weakness then step forward and damn Bordonaro for lying, if and when she votes in favor of vouchers for private schools, extreme restrictions on abortion rights, and supports the widespread availability of assault weapons?
From one point of view, Molly's hypothetical lies could be dismissed as mere campaign rhetoric: "politicians always lie to get elected," etc. . On the other hand, such deliberate, calculated lies, concerning matters of official policy could be regarded as of far greater public significance than the lies told by President Clinton to cover up his personal misconduct.
Finally, there is the question of The Oregonian's endorsement of Bordonaro (10/19/98), which appears to accept her conversion as a necessary qualification. If Bordonaro returns to toeing the hard-line policies of the religious and political right wing, will The Oregonian step forward and condemn the lies and apologize for its mistaken endorsement?