As we approach 24 days until the election I sense a change in
More disturbing is the fact that the so-called antiwar group known as MoveOn.Org has endorsed Senator Bill Nelson, the war hawk, for re-election. Their endorsement dances around his fight against the Medicare bill, allowing Canadian drugs to come to the US more easily, and to guard the everglades and offshore drilling ban by compromising to no closer than 125 miles offshore. They say no word of Nelson's support for the war resolution in 2002 and his ongoing support of funding the effort right into 2006. Nor of his endorsement of the Patriot Act and limitations on or rights and freedoms. Nelson, along with Harris, wishes to remain in Iraq until “we win.”
And worse, are my own antiwar colleagues. They are quiet. They do not show their faces, become involved or contribute, and in some cases, even stick to their support of the Democratic Party, right or wrong! They have lost courage so they can gain power.
I cannot imagine a worse scenario, and a worse time. The silence is deafening.
With regard to my own candidacy, the “blackout” is complete. The press especially, has decided that third party candidates have not “earned” their right to participate nor to be given any recognition. They have written minor party or independent candidates off, not even acknowledging that they are in the race. Most, if not all major newspapers in the state only talk of Nelson and Harris in the US Senate race. The Tampa Tribune finally had to acknowledge that there were “the others” in the race, only because the Mason-Dixon poll said so, so they had to record the 2% figure---just once, though, it must have been painful.
Why the rough treatment? Because we were able to “buy our way in” with a nominal fee of $6,484? Plus, they say, we are not “permanent” incumbents, we do not hold any office, we have neither statewide recognition nor a national reputation. Had we collected 120,000 signatures, then they would have “felt” that we earned some recognition. We are nothing but “gold diggers,” people who want free publicity and we are going to use the press for that. Thus, they refuse. They know better. They’ll teach us. Don’t even acknowledge that these candidates exist, don’t answer or return their telephone calls, and don’t ask them to fill out a profile application, nor put it in the paper. No editorial board interviews, yes sir! No debates for them! We’ll show those SOB’s. We’ve got the power. They are not going to show us up or use us!
They are not going to embarrass us about not getting behind the criticism of the war early on, say like 2002! No, we did make a mistake, but we will not have to acknowledge it, by not reporting on it. We will not have to say that this antiwar candidate did show good judgment four years ago, when all of us remained silent. That he did demonstrate some courage, some wisdom, but if we don’t acknowledge his candidacy then we will not have to admit that we made mistakes, and he knew better.
Beside, these independent candidates don’t have any corporate money, they don’t have the millions of dollars that Senator Bill Nelson has, like $18 million was the last count three months ago, maybe he is over $20 million by now. And Ms. Harris has big family bucks too. They can buy ads, space; they will “earn” their way for some recognition.
Never mind that the Florida voters passed a referendum in 1998 with 63% of the vote that expressed their desire to have third party candidates and independents on the ballot in an easier fashion, so that they could have a broader selection. No, the voters won’t tell us how to run our show either. We still refuse to acknowledge their presence! We will still refuse to treat them equally and fairly, even though they are legitimate and qualified candidates on the ballot. No, besides, six candidates are more cumbersome to report, more difficult to deal with, more complicated and harder work. So let’s keep it simple and easy and traditional, let’s just say that there is a Democrat and a Republican running only. Ah, that is much neater, it’s not fair, but no one will notice. To hell with those freeloaders!
We’ll show them!