Shame on you, Gov. Douglas
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Published: November 4, 2008
An open letter to Gov. Jim Douglas:
Shame on you, Gov. Douglas, shame on you. It is not simply that I disagree with your priorities. We are all entitled to our individual views. However, you and I know each other on a first name basis. We have always been friendly across party lines and have respected each other's individual attempts to represent Vermonters in the best way we knew how. Not anymore. Your negative ads are reprehensible, and your defense of them is abhorrent. You have spent six years as governor creating a body of work that is the poster child for "cronyism." Innocent Vermonters have been duped by you time and time again thinking that you do no more harm than cut ribbons and remember the names of newborns. They don't see the appointments you have made to boards, commissions and agencies of Republicans who have lost elections and unqualified individuals representing big business. Until recently, not one member of the state Board of Education was an educator.
Your recent mailings are a disgrace of negativity. You twist the truth about your opponents in a way that you know is deceptive. You invoke fear in your ads when you know it does not belong. You stated on VPR on Friday that Vermont voters are smarter than your two opponents. This may be so. What I know is that Vermont voters are smarter than you.
I implore Vermont voters to recognize that there are two gifted individuals seeking the office of governor of Vermont this year, Anthony Pollina and Gaye Symington. Please join me in returning Vermont to qualified positive leadership.
ANDY SNYDER
South Burlington
(Former House member representing Pittsford and Brandon)
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