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convention’s end.
On Tuesday he met with the governor in Richmond, and immediately after the meeting announced his resignation from the commission.
Huffman told reporters he found himself in a “no-win” situation. He said if he disagreed with whatever findings and recommendations the panel made, he would appear to be a partisan critic. On the other hand, if he agreed with the commission’s actions, other Republicans would charge that he had caved in to the Robb administration.
Both Robb and Williams said they understood Huffman’s predicament. They praised him as a man of integrity and ability but agreed that, at least from his perspective, he had been placed in an awkward position.
If Huffman’s position is awkward, however, some capitol observers believe it was made so by the over-zealous partisans in his own party. The commission had been carefully crafted by Williams to deal with a question which transcends - or should transcend - partisan politics. It was designed to address a problem of profound public concern.
That some Republicans have apparently opted to treat it as a political football is unfortunate on several counts.
By pressuring, or at least strongly nudging, Huffman to step down they have denied the commission the services of an able and public spirited citizen who is both widely respected and familiar with the penal system.
They have, in effect, served notice on the Robb administration that they will not participate in bi-partisan searches for solutions to problems if their partisan political interests would be better served by staying on the sidelines.
They have, at bottom, made it clear that they would prefer to continue their pastime of Robbbashing over the corrections issue. It is an enterprize many - but by no means all - Republicans enormously epjoy and which many believe will yield handsome dividends at the polls.
Was Huffman actually in a “no-win” situation? If he was it was only in the most narrow and politicized sense of the term.
Indeed, had the GOP demonstrated the good sense to encourage him to serve on the panel, and he had contributed to its success, there is not much doubt both he and his party would have been in a “no-lose” situation in the view of their fellow Virginians.
The choice, really, was between a show of statesmanship and preserving the political option of Robb-bashing.
The GOP chose the latter, and the view here is that, in doing so, they blew it.
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