Here we go again: Cardin 2006 = Kerry 2004

[jackbourassa]

I get the sense that people in Maryland are jumping on the Cardin bandwagon because a couple of polls (14 months before the election) have him leading Steele. People seem to ignore Cardin's very DLC-esque voting record. His recent opposition to ending the war or setting a timetable. His support of corporations over people. His opposition to national health care and his support for a "employee based system" which is DLC code for NO NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM. Etc. Etc. Etc.

I remember when Democrats abandoned all kind of debate and other potential good candidates when a couple of polls showed Kerry leading in 2004. The establishment rallied behind him and we "followed the leader." Yet, he too supported all those things that Cardin does and we just bit our tongues and made excuses (perhaps to convince ourselves). But we were all fixated by a small lead in the polls.

Well, that election showed that we can just as easily lose elections as well. So isn't it better to go with a candidate whom we actually support rather than allow the establishment and a couple of polls, 14 months out, dictate who our nominee should be?

Personally I support either Mfume or Lichtman - because I mean what I say when I say CHANGE IS NECESSARY. I know you all will say, "well they trail in the polls." True, but consider this: Mfume barely trails (and Steele is at a pathetic 42%) and Lichtman just entered the race and has little name recognition at this point. I believe that when it comes down to it, either will defeat Steele by virtue of being a Democrat in a mostly Democratic state, in what is expected to be a Democratic year. So why not go with the guy who actually agrees with our politics?

Or do we support Cardin, and then two years from now when he is in the Senate (I believe he will win too) and starts voting the DLC line, we will complain about it. Then the DLC will tell us to "shut up" because "ONLY" they can win elections. Why? Because we give up on our candidates so early in the game.

We have a chance to do something about it now.

Please spread the word.

[DaveinMD]

1. whatever

Cardin has been a good Democratic for many years. You want to support another candidate in the primary. That's great. There are a ton of great candidates running. But don't tear down what Cardin has always stood for.

[Frances]

3. Good advice

Vote your conscience in the primary, but don't vote for Steele in the general election

[LocalDem]

5. I tend to think you're right

but the articles about how well he's done with African-American churches makes me anxious.

[nickshepDEM]

6. Meeting with Steele and saying he is a good man does not =

a vote for him. A lot of African Americans admire Steele, but do not agree with his politics. History has shown blacks do not vote for blacks... Just because they're black. Steele will need to earn their vote by proving he is the best man to represent their views in the U.S. Senate.

Cardin is polling 50 points ahead of Steele among African Americans btw.

[safi0]

7. How's Cardin

Doing among whites

[nickshepDEM]

9. Down 3%.

Hotline has the internals from the Gonzales Research poll, but you need a membership to access them.

Down 3% Among whites and up 50% among blacks. Those numbers sound good to me. Actually they sound great considering Cardin's name ID is significantly lower than Steele's. As issues become more important in this race I expect Cardin to begin to pull away.

In an interview with the Washington post yesterday Steele said...

1. He supports the war in Iraq.
2. He supports the President.
3. He is anti-choice and anti-death penalty.

Im beginning to think this may be easier than originally anticipated. :)

[safi0]

12. If he can maintain

A 3% deficit on election day, he will win. Bush beat Kerry by 11 in MD among Whites yet lost by 13 overall because he couldn't even crack 15% among minorities. If he can keep that 3% deficit steady or even cut into it, he will win easily.

[nickshepDEM]

13. Lets hope.

The recent actions on Gillard's blog and the publicity it has received on the local news WILL NOT help among African Americans. I really wish we could keep this race focused on the issues rather than Steele being a African American Republican.

[safi0]

14. The only way

Race is a non-issue is if both candidates are of the same race. I think that in TN eventually Ford's race will come into play at some point or another

[nickshepDEM]

2. Cardin is not DLC. He's far from it.

Since 2001 Cardin votes on major bills were the following

1)HR333- Bankruptcy Ovehaul,-sponsored by Rep Sheila Jackson Lee- TX. -allows debtors to deduct medical and child care expenses being filing for bankruptcy-. ADA position was Yes. Cardin voted yes.

2)SJRes 6-Ergonomics Rule Disapproval -Reverse Workplace safety rule set by the Clinton Labor Department. ADA position was NO. Cardin voted NO.

3)HR 3 Income Tax Reduction-Bush 2001 Tax Cut plan. ADA position was NO. Cardin voted NO.

4)HJRes50- China Normalized Trade Relations- deny the Bush Administration request to provide normal trade relationship with China. ADA position was Yes. Cardin voted Yes.

5)ANWR Drilling BAN- ADA position-Yes. Cardin voted Yes.

6)HR 2566 Patient Rights/HMO liability sponsored by Rep Charlie Norwood-TX. Limits liability and damage awards when a patient is injured by denial of health care. ADA position is No. Cardin voted no.

7)HR 3000, Trade Promotion Authority/Fast Track. ADA position was NO. Cardin voted NO.

In 2001 Cardin recieved a 100% rating from the American's for Demcoratic Action.

In 2002. Cardin vote on major following legislation were the following

1)Cardin sponsored the Welfare Renawal amendment- HR 4737, that would increase childcare funding by 11 billion dollars in the next 5 years, maintain a 30 hour per weak work period,and allow legal immigrants to be eligible for benifits. THE ADA was for that legislation.

2)Andean Trade Resolution-ADA position was No Cardin voted NO.

In 2002 Cardin recieved a 95% rating from the American's for Democratic Action.

In 2003 Cardin recieved a 90% rating from the American' for Democratic Action.

In 2004 Cardin recieved a 95% rating from the American's for Democratic Action.

He also voted against the IWR (2003) and the Bankrupcty bill of 2005.

Oh yeah, change your sig.

[Frances]

4. Thanks for the good info

nt

[jackbourassa]

8. Why would I change my sig?

Those votes make me feel better.

But his posiition on the war is still terrible. Also, he hasn't been a strong advocate for reform.

I never called him DLC. I said, he was DLC-esque. I know he isn't DLC. I checked.

But I would still rather have someone like Mfume or Lichtman. I think both would win, and I believe either would make a better Senator.

[DaveinMD]

10. Mfume

would have a very tough time winning. Not sure about Lichtman. He's kind of an empty slate right now.

[aintitfunny]

20. You keep saying that, but I don't see why you

would. It seems rather presumptous of you to condemn Mfume's candidacy so out of hand. I think he would take the seat handily over Steele in the GE.

[nickshepDEM]

21. Mfume's personal problems would be a huge liability in the GE.

My dad is a die hard blue collar democrat. Socially conservative, but very economically liberal, and he says he will not vote for Mfume under any circumstances. He's just completely turned off by the out of wedlock births, ethical issues while at the NAACP, and the race baiting. I think a lot of blue collar 'populist' dem's like my dad would stay home.

Then again, he's a huge O'Malley supporter so he may turnout.

[aintitfunny]

22. I think there will be a few, and more

who would never have voted for Mfume in the first place. Then again, we will have those who would not vote for Steele or Mfume due to the color of their skin. Conversely there are those who will be moved by Mfume's story of achievement and overcoming hardship.

This seems to be a refrain I hear from Cardin's supporters and it actually did effect my leanings early on. I was going to get on the Cardin bandwagon and ride it through the GE. Now I am going with my heart and my head and I believe that Mfume can take Steele in the GE.

[Ignacio Upton]

11. Mfume has his own problems to deal with

He is also losing to Steele in recent polls.

[jackbourassa]

15. Mfume is down by a couple of points - nothing given name id.

You guys are making my case. These polls are too early to mean very much right now.

With the exception of one poster, every one brings up polls. Not issues that might win or lose this election NEXT NOVEMBER. I think we will win with any and all candidates. So why not nominate the one who agrees with you, rather than getting another Washington-establishment type in there.

That was my point. We get too distracted by polls and miss the bigger picture.

[yellowcanine]

16. First of all you slander Kerry. He was a great candidate. He nearly

upset a sitting president during a war with a growing economy. That is no small feat. A shift of 70,000 votes in Ohio and it would be President Kerry. And you rewrite history a little also. As I recall it it was Dean who was being touted as the front runner before a single primary vote was cast and people were writing Kerry off. I supported Dean but Kerry beat him fair and square.

As for Cardin - I don't see any bandwagon effect. I don't accept your unsupported contention that he is DLC and even if he were, so was Clinton and I don't see anyone here saying that it was a disqualifying factor for him. I do see some drawing back from Mfume for good reason - there are some questions about how he treats women and his management style at the NAACP - maybe these questions can be overcome but let's not just ignore the fact that Cardin seems to poll better against Steele. Lichtman is a cipher at this point - that is what primaries are for. Let him make his case if he can.

[aintitfunny]

18. Just a clarification

Kerry was the designated front runner prior to a vote being cast in the primary. It was not until Dean actually started winning the votes that he became the front runner. It was not until that time that Dean came into my consciousness, this is why I remember it as such.

[formernaderite]

17. I'm an Mfume supporter

full stop.

[aintitfunny]

19. Since Cardin's support of the Patriot Act

I have moved out of his camp and back into Mfume's. That is where I really wanted to be from the get go. I think Cardin is a good man, and I will support his election in the General should he be the candidate. I no longer consider him my candidate for the Primary.

[Stinky The Clown]

23. You and I are in complete agreement

Although, with the way things look, it will be Cardin, not Mfume in the general. And that's too bad. Mfume has soooooo much to offer. Too bad he took those shitty hits from WaPo and others and is now clearly running way behind.