Friday, February 23, 2007
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Vilsack Drops Out
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Posted by:
Patrick Ruffini at
11:07 AM
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Tom Vilsack, the former Iowa governor, has dropped out of the race after three months.
It's easy to ascribe this to the oxygen being sucked up by HillaryObamaEdwards. The incredibly early start to the campaign is a double-edged sword for the back of the pack. Their ability to raise fast money online if they catch on late in the season is a potentially game-changing opportunity. At the same time, conventional wisdom about who's up and down is congealing earlier, creating potential cash-flow problems for a candidate like Vilsack, who had already hired 50 staffers in Iowa.
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Doesn't this say something terrible about our "democracy"? By the time the PEOPLE get to have their say, the moneymen have already limited the choices to those acceptable to the rich. I honestly couldn't care less about Vilsack, but I do care that even to make it to the first primary a candidate has to raise something in the range of $100 million. This means we will never have anyone running for high office accept those who a) have spent a lifetime catering to the uber-rich; b) spend most of their time raising money (which means little of their time talking to average people); and c) will always side with the few rich over the masses. Imagine that -- there is no way, for example, Lincoln could be elected today -- an unknown congressman? He couldn't raise the money and would get swamped by his far-better-known, insider opponents like Seward and Chase. |
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He really hired fifty staffers? That sounds nutty. They were not doing a very good job. |
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Lincoln was not some unknown congressman by 1860 - he was a prominent attorney who was something of an advocate for the rail industry. Lincoln's relation with rail was created when he represented them in various state court cases in Illinois.
Here's a Wikipedia link on the subject
http://tinyurl.com/yqvl2n
Here's a far longer treatment of the relationship.
http://tinyurl.com/ynqmr5
I do share your concern that electioneering at the highest levels is turning into a fundraising race.
But the Executive branch wields great power, and it's no mistake that powerful interests put a lot of money supporting their favored candidates. This was true in Honest Abe's time as much as it is today.
DU
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I actually think it's a bummer that Vilsack is dropping out...it annoys me that the "biggies" get more glory without really being that much better.
The more competition the better, I say. |
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I'd play a violin for him, but alas I am out of rosin. |
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...is probably why he had no money; 50 staffers in one state (even a home state) is absurd this early. Someone that wastes money shouldn't be in the White House anyways. Good riddance!!! |
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Personally, as long as there was mandatory full disclosure, I support no limits on funding of candidates.
What if Warren Buffett was a Vilsack fan. Why not allow him to give 50 million or so to keep him in the race (at least past Feb. 2007!) so people could hear his message.
And if Buffett wanted to give 500 million, it would still be no guarantee of victory - and if anything might work against him, since the whole nation would know who was giving how much to whom.
It sure seems to make more sense to me than this ridiculous soft money scam that takes place today.
The significant candidates all turn away matching funds - since they undercut what they will otherwise spend. The lesser candidates are dependent on matching funds, but anymore they are not enough to even keep them at the table. |
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The Vilsack campaign buttons look way too much like the "V" caucus buttons. We don't need to be sending out mixed messages. |
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Hey, Tom,
It's OK. Keep Iowa steady for the Democrats. Could be a political future for a guy like you. When Rudy and McCain and Newt and Mitt come a callin', you know what to do. |
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Tom Vilsack was Governor of Iowa. Governors usually have a big advantage in Presidential elections because of the major executive experience. However, there were some clear strikes against Governor Vilsack:
1. Tom Vilsack is a white Catholic man with a wife and two sons, and was Governor of a fly-over state, which is not exactly glitzy.
2. Vilsack took generally liberal positions on the big issues. However, he is not a political showman. Thus, he was overshadowed by the much more showy Senators Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama, both of whom are able to get Hollywood support.
3. Vilsack was born before Roe v. Wade and placed in a Catholic orphanage at birth. Today's Democrat party is the party of abortion on demand. There is a significant level of anti-Catholicism among the nation's cultural and intellectual elites, the overwhelming majority of whom are Democrats. The mere presence of a Presidential candidate who started life "in the hands of a stranger" would effectively challenge their credibility as a pro abortion party.
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Diane nails it. There is no room in the Democratic party tent for a guy who is
a)religious b)an orphan c)a moderate with little name recognition and not much money.
The tilt of the modern Democratic party toward the secular progressive movement simply won't allow a guy like Governor Vilseck to emerge.
What was he thinking when he first entered into the race?
Won't we all be sick to death of all these early candidates who entered into the race far too soon with far too much exposure and far too little name recognition.
Let's hope they destroy each other long before more serious and better qualified candidtes step into the fray, Hillary and Obama included. |
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Why?
Because its one less string that can be pulled. Think John Kerry could be swayed by an offer for a million bucks? Far from it.
Either of the George Bushs? Far from it.
Money is plentiful in America, and leaving that as another possible way to personally sway a President is irresponsible.
Even if you do "fix" that problem, theres still lobbyists and special interest groups.
In the end, just be -glad- you have a CHANCE at leaving the social class you were born into here.
We didnt even have that in the middle age Europe most of us came from. Middle class is fine for me, and far better off than the rathole Europe my ancestors left from the 17-19th centuries. |
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Tom Vilsack throws his support behind the Clinton campaign. The Clinton campaign announces it will help pay off a $400,000 Vilsack campaign debt. The Clinton campaign says there is no connection. And pigs were reportedly seen flying over the Capitol! |
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