Anonymous Posting, Vic Sprouse, and Gary Abernathy

What once was old is new again.

Look back at the newspapers from the 1790s. Few of them actually reported much news. For the most part they hurled accusations back and forth between the dominant parties and personalities of their times. Occasionally they produced some literary gems, such as the Federalist Papers, but more often they gave to posterity some really fun scandal and insult filled stuff.

In those days no one gave their actual name. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers under the pseudonym "Publius." Most who paid attention could discern through the writing style and ideas who was who. Certainly this was fine in the 1790s, but how about today?

This subject has come up in the debate over the State Republican Party and its hiring of Gary Abernathy as executive director. An anonymous blog called Not Gary Abernathy.com appeared almost immediately to blast the selection and hiring process. State Senator Vic Sprouse on his own blog, Change West Virginia, fired back on Abernathy's behalf. Both of these blogs allow reader commentary. The opinions stated have ranged from thoughtful to vicious.

The question is, how legitimate in this day and age is a blog or a comment from a person that refuses to reveal their name? The author of Not Gary Abernathy.com has cryptically promised that his identity will be known in good time, kind of like a B movie super villain. Why not now?

Others have taken the opportunity to level anonymous cheap shots at Vic Sprouse and Gary Abernathy. When a person does put their name to something, they take a risk and open themselves to attack. That certainly takes some guts when there are so many waiting in the dark simply wanting to tear down. No name posting does not help the case of anyone indulging in it.

Should Republicans with complaints stifle their concerns? Of course not. We are a big tent party and will always have disagreements. It is obvious why those with solely a personal axe to grind do not show themselves. They will always lurk in the shadows. Should "Not Gary Abernathy" reveal him or herself? That is for that individual to decide. Except in the case of Lisa Peana, he or she has not often descended to the level of personal attack. Regardless, credibility will always be more favorably conferred upon those that take their political battle into the light of day rather than hide behind fake names or no name at all.

Dignity

During George Washington's first term as president, his old friend Governor Morris of New York came to the capital city to visit. Washington's close adviser, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, met Morris on the street. Morris asked where he could find Washington, who happened to be strolling away from them down the street as they spoke. Hamilton told Morris that President Washington would like nothing better than for his old pal to come up behind him, slap him on the back and jovially greet him.

Morris did just that, earning a stare from Washington that must have frozen his very soul. Washington then walked on without a word. When he looked back at Hamilton, he saw his fellow New Yorker laughing uproariously at the practical joke he just pulled. George Washington understood that as president an individual must show not only ability, but also dignity.

Where has that dignity gone? The Democratic presidential candidates seem to have lost all pretense to it, subjecting themselves to online debacles. Questions are asked in ridiculous ways. Certainly the famous "boxers or briefs" question posed to Clinton was a milestone in the loss of respect for the presidential office, then again so was the scandal of Watergate.

That being said, dignified is as dignified does. Despite the avalanche of satire, most of it extremely trite and shallow, directed at the current president, few can argue that George W. Bush does not handle himself with dignity. He expects respect and gets it as well as any president in the past hundred years. The Republican frontrunner's Fred Thompson and Rudolph Giuliani have acted similarly, not exposing themselves to silly requests. Credit Hillary Clinton with at least looking uncomfortable in the situations in which the Democrats expect her to perform.

Certainly we must expect our presidents to conduct themselves with strength. We must also understand that a certain amount of personal dignity is necessary to maintain respect. These men and women are not here to sell used cars, but to lead the free world. Republicans understand this, Democrats at this point do not.