As soon as I heard that Allen was going to be holding a press conference at the Jeffrey Wilson Community Center, I was certain who one of the endorsers would be.
Here is a photo I took at the McCain rally that was held in Norfolk a while back. On the right is Portsmouth Mayor James Holley.
The other “endorsement” is a little strange, at least to me, for a couple of reasons. First, in an op-ed piece today’s Pilot, Bishop Gerald Glenn of Chesterfield says:
I’m not writing with the intent to influence members of my congregation to vote one way or the other in Virginia’s upcoming U.S. Senate race. I do hope my comments will spur their interest in this election and cause them to examine both candidates.
Does this sound like an endorsement? Or is this just legal mumbo jumbo to keep your church out of trouble with the IRS?
Secondly, the press release says:
“I am neither a registered Democrat nor Republican.”
And neither are any of the other voters in Virginia. The reason you felt it important to mention this was … ?
Expect more of these kinds of endorsements over the next few weeks as Allen attempts to get as many black folks as possible to say that he is not a racist.
I guess the question is how well will this tactic work?
UPDATE: Glenn’s “endorsement” was not an unequivocal one:
But in a letter to Allen, Glenn also said that the endorsement could be affected if the senator continues to run attack ads against his Democratic opponent, Jim Webb.
[…]
“The reason I endorsed him was because I thought he was being unfairly attacked about things that might have happened back then. How can I tell people that they should forgive if he attacks his opponent about something that happened to him 27 years ago?”
h/t HL
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Well, your endorsement one way or the other would certainly help whichever candidate you support. I’m looking forward to seeing in print Bobby Scott’s endorsement of Webb.
Just to be clear: Pastors are free on their own to endorse, give money, and volunteer for candidates, as long as they do it on their own and do not get their church involved.
Wow! Bobby Scott will endorse a Democrat! What news! Walls will shake and shatter!
What a political earthquake that will be!
“Expect more of these kinds of endorsements over the next few weeks as Allen attempts to get as many black folks as possible to say that he is not a racist.”
Sort of how like James Webb is trying to get endorsements from as many women as possible to say that he is not a sexist?
Thanks for posting that link. It’s apparently not available from the Pilot online.
hr – bottom line for me is that pastors need to stay out of politics, pure and simple. Talking out of both sides of your mouth is certainly not a characteristic that I appreciate in anybody.
CR – so has this race devolved into a racist v a sexist?
Ward – a number of items appear in the paper that never make it to PilotOnline. However, the entire paper is available in electronic format to subscribers (one of the few reasons I continue to subcribe.)
I’m not certain why people react so suspiciously against individuals – whom we would otherwise respect – when they exercise their conscience and do something contrary to what we would have them do.
These two gentlemen did precisely that. Why the incredulity, vjp? Why the insistence that this is some sort of Allen publicity stunt?
I’d like to believe these individuals made a conscious choice and felt Allen better represented their views than Webb. Sure there are political motivations to cast aspersions on their character or judgment, but the made a decision to support the best candidate (as we all should).
Does it wash out the “racist” allegations? You bet it does, and I think it points to the fact that the allegations are precisely that — allegations and insinuations alone. Despite this, these gentlemen exercised their conscience and chose Allen as the one who represents them.
I respect that. We all should.
Suspicious? No. Publicity stunt? You bet. Wash out the “racist” allegations? Not in my mind.
Americans with African Heritage have never appreciated the clergy getting involved in poltics… ask Leonadis Young, (former Mayor of Richmond).
It’s just uncool, the clergy tell how to lead your lives..from the Pulpit… That’s enough, then it’s how to vote?
I agree with that sentiment for the most part…
Bobby Scott still hasn’t formally declared for Webb? Is he not happy with the candidate or taking a page from Wilder’s play book?