Jack Carter's challenge to GOP Sen. John Ensign in Nevada is often called quixotic, impossible, a long shot -- at best -- that will require -- at least -- a national Democratic wave, etc., etc., etc.
But however long the odds against Carter, his first speech as an official candidate for the U.S. Senate Monday possessed something that Democrats from coast to coast often say they'd like to have but rarely, oh so rarely, do they manage to deliver effectively: a simple narrative.
First, "Americans share a special common core of values;" second, Republicans and the Bush administration have drifted from those values; and third, Sen. John Ensign is way, way too tight with the Bush administration that has drifted so far from America's core values.
After the 2004 elections, squawking about "values" became even more fashionable than usual among the political industrial complex -- but the "values" in the context of that conversation, if memory serves, tended to revolve around George W. Bush's solemn promise to never marry a gay man.
Carter's discussion of values Monday was a little more, oh, relevant. Personal freedom. Democracy, "the idea that all are created equal, and, to the extent that we need a government, everyone should take responsiblity for it." The rule of law. Family and community values "like helping our neighbors in need." Initiative, hard work, competition and free enterprise. Cooperation, "that in banding together...we can reach unbelievable heights of accomplishment." Common sense, honesty, integrity, and a desire for good government. Those are the values "that have brought us to the pinnacle of world power," Carter said.
Carter then ripped into the decision to invade Iraq and the subsequent "series of shocks revealing inept political planning"; the appointment of political cronies; the administration's "cloak of secrecy"; the "contorted" Medicare prescription drug program and the way the administration "has encouraged industry lobbyists to write laws"; and all "while piling up the largest budget deficit in history -- in sharp contrast to the sound economic judgment we Nevadans practice in our homes and businesses.
"These are not the kind of activities we Nevadans value."
As he did in an op-ed piece he published last month, Carter hammered the White House Monday for its eavesdropping program. "We Americans live under the rule of law. Before my president eavesdrops on me, I want my representatives in Congress to have an open debate about whether it's necessary or not. I want the Supreme Court to rule that it doesn't violate my personal freedoms...and then I want the president to execute that law under judicial review. That's the American way. I don't want any president to decide on his own that I need to be watched."
From Iraq to cronyism to Medicare to wiretapping to Katrina, Carter used a rhetorical refrain to explain how the administration's ineptitude could be overcome and the nation put back on a more reputable course: "All we need is a return to our American values, and new leadership."
And as for Ensign, well...
"And how does my opponent fit into these issues? Does he bring an independent and inquiring mind to these matters, standing up for Nevadans and demanding answers?
"During his tenure, he has voted with this administration 96 percent of the time. He's tighter with the administration than Tom DeLay...
"The singular difference between the current junior senator from Nevada and me is that he works for the Bush administration, and I am going to work for Nevada."
Carter of course is not the first Democrat to attempt to stake out ground in the "values" discussion -- especially since the 2004 election. Harry Reid takes values out for a spin on occasion. Howard Dean appears to have settled on pattern of frequency, or perhaps a quota, wherein "values" must be muttered on an interval not to dip below twice each 45 seconds. Carter and his team assuredly are well aware of the hand-wringing within the official Democratic Party to somehow connect with the values-totin' "real Americans" in the heartland, blahblahblah.
But we humbly submit that there is a difference between Carter's discussion of values and the way the card is played by Reid, Dean, Kerry and all the rest. It's unfair, and no doubt it's due in part to the relentless caricaturing from the wingnut echo machine, but so often, when Democrats on the national stage talk about values, they seem to be doing it because they feel they have to.
Jack Carter, on Monday morning, in Henderson, Nevada, conveyed the impression that he's talking about values not because he has to, but because he wants to.
Maybe it's a family trait.
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Speaking of which, Carter's announcement in Henderson (to be followed later in the day with an announcement in Carson City) was to a packed house at the AFL-CIO complex, and yes, no doubt many well-wishers were there because Jack's parents were there. While the cameras swarmed over the ex-president following Jack Carter's address, neither Jimmy nor Rosalynn addressed the crowd. Smart.
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Harry Reid wasn't there, but sent a missive which was read by state party spokestress Kirsten Searer. The letter from Harry was carefully worded to praise Jack to the skies while not actually endorsing his candidacy. Mustn't take positions lest media darling Oscar Goodman decides to enter the race, s'pose.
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On the squirrely amusement front, Democratic candidate for governor Dina Titus was at the announcement, and managed to get herself seated on the dais with, you know, a former president. Her "Democratic" opponent in the primary, Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson, was there too, but somehow didn't finagle a seat on the dais -- or a seat at all, for that matter, instead leaning up against the wall on the side of the room as if he was, oh, a blogger. And at an event in his own town, too. In fairness, maybe he had misplaced his wallet or something, and it caused him to arrive late.
Love me some Carter!
Great start to a hopeful race. If I were JC Jr. (that's jack carter not jesus christ) I would not go out looking for help from the national Democrats. I would get some traction, as he will with the name and support of JC Sr., and let the Dems come to him. He'll do better waiting for the Dems to come crawling as a potential future leader with something to say and some messages to rally around. The Dems need leaders worse than JC Jr. needs dem. At least at this point.
To our Jr. Sen., "the empty chair with the perfect hair", get ready to have more time for golf, and no I don't mean more congressional hearings to ignore, I mean retirement. Ensign's campaign slogan should be "Scratch by '08!" (a scratch golfer has a zero handicap, Ensign's currently a 4 or 5, which is still very good)
Posted by: Sr. Bojangles | 02/06/2006 at 03:01 PM
Sounds like Nevadans got a breath of fresh Demo air at 10 AM this morning. Hope the Demo leadership can start breathing that fresh air, instead of sitting on the sidelines with their beltway oxygen mask on.
Posted by: Diogenes | 02/06/2006 at 03:14 PM
Nevada Democrats best hopes are Georgians? I don't like it, it doesn't excite me and it doesn't make me hopeful for November. NV Dems need to focus on some homegrown talent if they want a chance to win statewide.
Posted by: CollegeStudent | 02/06/2006 at 06:23 PM
To College Student, "What homegrown talent?". The guys that made the movie "Casino" more fact than fiction and those folks that represented Vegas in the 80's. By the way what "excites" you? Maybe you should consider running for office. Remember over 50% of the residents didn't live here ten years ago, do you rule out anyone who wasn't born here?
Posted by: Diogenes | 02/07/2006 at 07:02 PM