Earlier today, my friend Shaun Kenney posted about the political release of state Senator, once possible Republican, and wannabe Democratic LG candidate Ralph Northam.
One gets the sense that Northam has reached desperation mode in his LG race against one-time Obama adviser Aneesh Chopra – and is attempting to “out left” him.
Justin Higgins is spot on when he noted in his post that Northam is doing this for nothing but politics. And, as Higgins states, that’s “ridiculous.”
We’ve since learned from a BD contributor that the main person behind today’s “spontaneous” vigil is attempting to politicize today’s activities.
“People do not want this to happen,” writes one student who was a freshman at Tech during the shooting. “[S}he will be holding the event at the 4/16 memorial, which is practically the campus memorial head stones. They literally will be standing on the graves to promote a political opinion.”
See the Facebook organizing page.
According to this student, the Student Government Association, Student Affairs, the 4/16 Student Committee, and the faculty all have not had a say in whether this vigil should move forward.
When you combine this political activity with Northam’s behavior, you get the sense we’re a long way from when then-Gov. Tim Kaine and Atty. Gen. Bob McDonnell worked together to truly make Virginia safer, hold the guilty accountable, and preserved liberty in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
Is what happened today the legacy that 32 people lost their lives for? Absolutely not.
We live in a dangerous world. Knee-jerk reactions based on emotional response without examining the consequences of such behavior serves no one – and certainly does not honor the sacrifice of those lost.
Update: An eyewitness tells us that tonight’s vigil was lightly attended.
