Editorial

A time worn way to fend off opposition to a political policy is to allege that the opposition's arguments constitute personal, not political, attacks. By charging something is a “personal attack,” attention is drawn away from the merits of a political argument and further serves to justify the resort to a truly personal counterattack. That clouds the political issue even more while intimidating the opponent to recoil in fear. In other words, the real personal attack comes as a reaction by the first to cry it, done in an attempt to deflect political criticism. This is a common demagogic tactic in politics, and not beneath some who would use it even in little old Falls Church.

The News-Press sometimes gets unfairly accused of “personal attacks” in just this way. It is different from being accused of bias, which is a bane of most newspapers. And it is different from an honest misinterpretation of something written. When, in an editorial in this space two weeks ago, we wrote that if the Falls Church City Council acted in a certain manner, it could be construed as a case of collective political "cowardice," some on the City Council asserted we'd called them all cowards as individuals. We did not, although apparently some honestly felt it inferred that, and for that we’re sorry. But when we wrote that an action by the City Council in 1994 (which involved none of the current members) was the worst since the City delayed integrating its schools in the late 1950s, some claimed that amounted to charging current individual Council members with racism, and that was way off base.

The News-Press has never intentionally engaged in personal attacks on members of the Falls Church community and has no desire to do so. We've applauded everyone's right and resolve to advance their views even when we've adamantly opposed those views. We've published many a letter and commentary reflecting views different from our own. It's a dialogue we value, but we refuse to be intimidated by anyone who would suggest we muzzle ourselves because we've allegedly engaged in personal attacks. We haven’t.

Once, the News-Press was accused by a Council member of a personal attack for simply identifying the “day job” of a member of the community pushing her political agenda in a local situation. We did it because her high-level employment for an advocacy group was directly relevant to the issue she was advancing, and not otherwise disclosed to the Council. That was not a personal attack, it was important public information.

We caution everyone in Falls Church to watch carefully to see where the line is really crossed between the political and the personal. It is too easy to make an allegation of personal attack, especially against someone who is not afraid to express their views even when they're contrary to the powers that be. The News-Press, in this editorial space, will never shy away from its civic responsibility to engage passionately in the political debate over what's best for this community and it's never our intent to “get personal” in the manner some may accuse us of.