Democrats of all stripes should admit an unpleasant truth: the Democrats have put some weak candidates on the national stage.
What's odd is that the party so often puts up a weak candidate in the name of "electability." What was so "electable" about John Kerry? Turns out not much. His voting record is a bit spotty, but truth be told he had only a few shameful votes. In the end the Republicans attacked his record on military appropriations, and rather than offering unequivocal language he gave us the infamous "I voted for it before I voted against it." We lost 2004 when we nominated Kerry.
If the party gives Hillary Clinton the nomination, how will she defend her record? Why aren't "mainstream" Democrats challenging the disconnect between her rhetoric and her service record—now, in the primary season, when we're supposed to discover our own candidates? Where is this elusive "electability" of the frontrunner candidates? They all fall seriously short on the major issues people care about: Iraq, health care, labor rights, civil rights.
Money silences dissent.
A Rassmussen Report from late July claimed that "[a]lmost 40% of all voters, including 40% of Democrats, don't know Congressman Kucinich well enough to have an opinion of him." These same people often dismiss Kucinich as "unelectable," despite knowing little or nothing about him.
Obviously many voters accept the cynical if accurate notion that money wins elections. Let's be honest, money indeed wins a lot of elections. Most of them, it turns out. People usually choose their candidates like they're picking out a pair of shoes they've never even worn. This is the reality of our political context.
But here's where cynical notions of "electability" fall short: the big money candidates of our two-party system can only ever count on the straight-party ticket votes, like mine. My vote and votes just like it on both sides of the isle will only ever ensure that the default results of any general election come in at about 50/50 D and R. That's what the primary wins for any candidate with the D or R brand: about a 50/50 split unless you do something really stupid (and often if you do). What happens beyond the default position depends entirely on the candidate.
And frequently Democrats put up candidates even Democrats have a hard time getting excited about. We put up candidates who sell out labor as readily as any Republican, who are as beholden to corporate money as any lobbyist, who won't even stop the escalation of the Iraq occupation, much less end it. We elect Democrats whose actions on immigration and on the phony "war on drugs" make felons out of would-be Democratic voters. Our Democratic Party doesn't need many enemies. It's doing a splendid job of sabotaging itself and alienating its own base. In the name of "electability." This is insane.
Did you catch Kucinich at the AFL-CIO debate? Who were those ordinary American workers whose raucous cheers gave Kucinich the clear victory that day? Those were cheers from labor, the traditional base of the Democratic Party.
Take just another minute to reflect on the previous paragraph. The "unelectable" Kucinich won the debate, hands down, before the traditional base of the Democratic Party, the working class and middle class people whose labor generates the profits that accrue to the capital that finances the big money, "electable" Democrats who gut worker rights and privatize our communities at every turn.
The traditional Democratic base isn't stupid. They haven't been driven away from the polls because they are lazy or apathetic. They are painfully aware of the huge disconnect between Democratic Party rhetoric and the official behavior of many Democrats. They don't appreciate being lied to, and maybe they have grudging reasons to go to the polls just to vote against some Republican. Maybe they don't. The traditional Democratic base doesn't always turn up at the polls. They need more than transparent rhetoric. They require a real candidate who actually represents their interests.
And they love Kucinich.
That means we who support Kucinich, if we take our work seriously, have two huge tasks before us. We have to educate that 40 percent of the voter base about our guy, and we have to try and convince the Democratic Party that it's on the same losing course again unless it backs the only candidate who inspires and motivates the Democratic base.
That's us, and if we want to pull off the statistically unlikely task of handing our guy the nomination, we can't sit on our thumbs and lament his unfair treatment by the media and the shills who take every opportunity to discourage us. We certainly cannot wish our guy would compromise his principles (our principles) and take some corporate money. We actually have to stay motivated and determined to deliver much more than our single vote for Kucinich. We have to answer "you can't do it" with "you can't stop us." We have to back it up with action. We have to talk to each other and coordinate our efforts, give each other ideas, and encourage each other.
We have to behave like a community that deserves a Kucinich presidency.
I could not have said it beter! Our local newspaper (I live just north of Houston) ran an article on the front page last Sunday reporting how much more money has been given to the candidates for President than ever before at this date. In this very strongly conservative area of Texas, the Democratic candidates have received almost as much cash as the Republicans! Things are changing, and it is exciting to be part of it!
I agree that talking to folks about him is very important. I have copied several pages from his campaign--one page about Dennis; his history, who he is, a copy of his Prayer for America speech, a copy of his 12 point plan for Iraq, his Universal Healthcare plan and his Jobs Programs. I will give these to people who tell me what the Democrats aren't doing and how disillusioned they are. And I will give them to people who tell me they have no idea who Dennis Kucinich is. We must speak out and get this man elected--he IS electable when he has the support of those for whom he speaks--true believers in Democracy! That is how we will take back our country!
by
treehugger (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 24 comments)
on Saturday, August 25, 2007 at 4:34:30 PM
In the 2004 campaign season, I took a survey of my opinions on the issues that compared them to the candidates running at that time. Dennis Kucinich and I were in 100% concurrence. Ever since then, I have been an ardent Kucinich supporter.
I hope Dennis wins the Democratic nomination, otherwise I will write him in. I will vote, and I will vote only for Dennis. He's the only one!
by
agapi (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments)
on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 1:54:10 PM
In the 2004 campaign season, I took a survey of my opinions on the issues that compared them to the candidates running at that time. Dennis Kucinich and I were in 100% concurrence. Ever since then, I have been an ardent Kucinich supporter.
I hope Dennis wins the Democratic nomination, otherwise I will write him in. I will vote, and I will vote only for Dennis. He's the only one!
by
agapi (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments)
on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 1:54:10 PM
How can anyone, in view of the state of our Nation, the killing of millions to further corporate greed, the death of our Constitution, the destruction of our economy for the average individual, the dumbing down of our educational system, the rewriting of U.S. history and the constant continual lies and distortions of it all coming out of the White House and the mouths of those they have stuffed into every nook and cranny of everything you could name (supreme court, CIA, FBI,Pentagon, military commanders etc etc etc).. with any amount of common sense, even consider putting another republican in the White House? And that holds true of a lot of the Democrat contenders also.
Do they not look into the voting records or these people? Do they not look up their contributors? Or are they just a bunch of sheep... brainwashed, propagandized by main stream distortions, laboring under the delusional rhetoric of their campaign hot air? Are they not willing to take the time to research?
I have, many days for 10 hours at a time and that is why I will vote for Dennis Kucinich whether he is on the ballot or not. I, for one, want Truth and Integrity in the White House, and someone who has the good of the People coming first, not Corporate greed...
That person is Dennis Kucinich.
He doesn't get the attention of the others because they fear the reform he would bring so they dismiss him and pretend he is unimportant. That, in itself, should be a wake up call for thinking people. This is not the time for 'crowd mentality'. This is a time for realistic, deep thinking and judgement by the facts not the bull.
by
Rae (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 211 comments)
on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 4:59:19 PM
This is a great article. We need to find more ways to help spread the word about Dennis. Viral marketing is the key. Talk to friends and neighbors. Leave literature at local coffee shops and laundromats.
In addition, many Democratic voters tend to be suppressed from the polls by such tactics as posting the wrong information about poll dates in neighborhoods. We need to help get the correct information out there and encourage people to register and to vote.
He's the only Democratic candidate with integrity. My friends and I have created a website that compares the voting records of each of the Democratic candidates on various progressive issues. That website is in my profile if it won't show here... http://www.knowyourdemocrats.com
by
Ed Buffey (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments)
on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 6:44:03 PM
