|
in the Minneapolis Star Tribune 11/02. Thoought I'd share today...
PAUL WELLSTONE AND THE NORM
Eric Ringham’s column of 10/6 described his visit to Paul Wellstone’s grave on Election Day. Though I didn't make a trip to Lakewood cemetery, I thought of Wellstone much of the day—feeling the same dull ache as the sole visitor Eric encountered. I carried this hazy funk to my polling place, where I discovered polling booths are pretty dull now that there’s no more Paul Wellstone on the ballot. On my way out, I told them they could keep the little sticker this time.
Its quite possible Wellstone would have lost anyway. He was tough to package: He was bald. And short. Didn’t he know all the arm-sawing was too over-the-top? He spoke up when it wasn’t appropriate. He ranted. He got too loud in small union halls, and too close. He hugged. When a handful of Twin Cities union actors went on strike a couple years ago, Wellstone showed up in support—hollering through a megaphone about fairness and wages and dignity. There was virtually no press, certainly no TV cameras, and it sure wasn’t a powerful voter demographic. Come on, does anyone really care about a few striking actors? He did.
His voting record frustrated his colleagues. As one of the only dissenting votes on the resolution against funding a war on Iraq, he wrecked a perfect show of support for the president. He was obviously not a team player. Hey, his sport was wrestling. Paul Wellstone was a kook.
Future ballots will offer the Norms. The McCandidates. The Norms are all polished up, with the rough edges removed. Committees make sure potentially sensitive remarks have been edited out, and sound bites well rehearsed. Never out of line, never out of step, the Norms’ campaigns use proven strategy, shrewd planning, and peak right on cue. Focus groups can tell them the right tie, hair, or social policy. Their debates are great theater, with just the right doses of earnest concern, outrage, and, with any luck, an opportunity for a slight tearing up. This is not to say it always works perfectly. Sometimes there are scandals, illnesses or airplane crashes. The Norms are saddened, but press on bravely. The party handles the tough stuff. Spin is spun, but carefully, respectfully. Since Paul Wellstone’s death, political analysts will conclude that there’s now a right way—and a wrong way—for the friends and family to react, to carry on, to grieve. Consultants will cite the GOP’s winning strategy in Minnesota, keeping future parties mindful not to “pull a Rick Kahn” if tragedy strikes, no matter how profound their personal loss. It stops momentum. It loses points.
The day after the elections, the winning Norm was modest and thankful. Candidate Mondale was disappointed but conciliatory. We were reminded again by the media that this was democracy in action, and that despite Wellstone’s unfortunate passing, the process works.
Cable network news shows quickly switched their focus Wednesday from “Decision 2002” to “Countdown to Iraq.” Of course, they would have hyped the war-to-be anyway, even if there’d been no airplane crash, no Wellstone defeat or victory. All the experts, the consultants and the Norms are in agreement about Iraq. It’s a done deal. And there was really only one noisy opponent to the plan. Just Paul Wellstone.The kook.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
