I'm busy this morning, but I wanted to touch on this topic.
In a cross-party display of animosity against [Pennsylvania Senator Arlen] Specter, volunteers for the Democratic candidate, U.S. Rep. Joseph M. Hoeffel, helped Constitution Party Chairman Jim Clymer collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
I don't like this. Spefically, what Jesse says.
I'd like to be among the first to thank Hoeffel for immediately shooting any credibility Democrats might have had in pointing out that Republicans are doing this with Nader right in the foot. Hoeffel may not be against what Republicans are doing, in which case he at least runs into no internal contradiction. But I don't support this. Helping run candidates for parties you don't support isn't quite the democratic ideal. Or, in my opinion, honest.
What the GOP is doing with Nader is wrong. What Hoeffel supporters did is wrong. I have a feeling that this type of effort to split voting bases just signifies the end of modern political parties. For more info on this idea, read Joe Trippi's piece at MSNBC.com.
Comments (2)
What Hoeffel did made my stomach lurch a little bit too, but I can be a bit of a purist. (I'll never forgive Clinton for the Welfare Reform Act for isntance) I got over my discomfort fast when I remembered that it's kill or be killed. I can't expect my guy to be the only perfect one in the room and still be left standing after the rest of the candidates let loose. In the case of Hoeffel's race, he's running against a man who votes right and runs left, which is dishonest to the moderates who get suckered in every year he plays this game. There's a sincere block of wingnut voters in PA. Specter should be forced to show his colors when he's out begging for votes. I understand it's a slippery slope when you get involved in the other team's business, but helping the enemy of your enemy get sigs to get on a ballot is at the tippy top of that slope. He's got a long way to go before the sliding starts.
Posted by eRobin | August 4, 2004 4:35 PM
Posted on August 4, 2004 16:35
Duh - I goofed up my left and right and wrote moderate instead of wingnut. Specter runs right and votes moderate of course. That's why Toomey came so close to knocking him off in the primary.
Posted by eRobin | August 4, 2004 4:38 PM
Posted on August 4, 2004 16:38