The following is an article from John H. Arundel, Publisher of the Alexandria Times, Gov. Warner's home town newspaper.
My View - Politics or parenthood?
John H. Arundel
October 19, 2006
Having hosted one of Mark Warner’s teenage daughters as an intern here at The Times last summer, we saw the former governor’s devotion to family close-up, and accept why he’d want to bypass a run for The White House to spend more time on the home front, and perhaps why his family might want nothing of the ever-present glare and scrutiny of national politics.
While it has been euphoric as the hometown newspaper of two potential presidential candidates to see them move so swiftly to the top of the 2008 poll positions, it has been deflating for us to see one drop out of the running, and the other, George Allen, get grounded up by the media’s ever-whirring macaca blender. Allen’s reputation has been scalded beyond recognition as the thoughtful person we know and cover day-to-day, and whom we host regularly on our op-ed pages discussing local issues germane to our readers.
Luckily, Allen has decided to soldier on, suffering as Hamlet put it, “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” Mark Warner has chosen the honorable path of retreating from campaign trail absentia to his wife, growing daughters and aging father, all of whom need him now. The big White House can wait.
Such a pity, as Warner represents many of the best aspects of the New Democratic Party, rabidly pro-business but sensible about social issues and spending priorities.
But we too, are parents with lots of pulls on our time, and every moment spent with our children is fleeting and private. Mark Warner is no different.
This came into focus for us this past summer, when Warner’s daughter joined The Times, enthusiastically wanting to learn every aspect of the gritty newspaper business and never vocalizing the need to be treated as anyone marked for kid-glove responsibilities. She politely answered the phone, conducted research, delivered stacks of newspapers on publication day, and wrote several splendid articles.
When not working for us, she worked for minimum wage at an ice cream shop in Old Town. Undoubtedly, the driving work ethic which made her father $200 million had rubbed off.
The staff here was instructed not to acknowledge that she is the daughter of a famous father, which of course was violated on day one when a staffer inquired whether we’d all be invited to the inaugural balls. She could only muster a polite, but blushing non-response.
Then one night in July, as the clock struck midnight and we were rounding the corner to press time, a back-up paginator on loan from The Washington Times decided to make small talk about the front page he was designing, which prominently featured Warner. “So, do you think this Mark Warner has a chance of winning The White House?” he asked of Warner’s daughter, innocently oblivious to her connection. Again, a polite non-response.
Warner was on the hustings of Iowa that day, but a late flight home still allowed him the chance to pick up his daughter from work at the local newspaper. He arrived alone, exhausted but seemingly energized to spend a few fleeting moments with his child during the ride home.
In our newsroom, we optimistically keep a coffee can piggy bank tucked into the corner, in which we occasionally add a few bucks as a travel fund to Iowa and New Hampshire.
We imagine one day the can will be depleted.
