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Unity Won't Happen Without Work
Posted 10-20-1999
Recent news stories based on my last Campaign 99 article, are the exact
reason I continue to update this site. They only tell a part of the story
and do not reflect the real issue.
My writing about the actions
of other Democrats is not controversial; it is their actions that are
controversial. If they weren't doing what they're doing I wouldn't be
writing about it. Burying our heads in the sand doesn't make disloyal
actions by some Democrats go away; it actually allows them to fester more
and more. The fact that no one has wanted to confront our party's problems
is why they have persisted for so long. Too many people either want no
confrontation or they believe if they pretend something isn't happening,
somehow it isn't going on.
Dick Vidmer's response to my
criticism is exactly what I am talking about. Here is a guy that for many
years has teamed up with Terry Marolt, now he's pushing Maryln Davis, and
he's calling me a disloyal Democrat. He said he's never had anyone challenge
him like I have done. That is true because for too many years, no one would
hold him accountable for his actions and he could go around telling
Democrats he was their guy but behaving in a contradictory manner.
This time we have a chance
for something different. We have a slate of candidates preaching unity, and
two commissioner candidates pledging to work together. However talking about
it isn't enough. Also, the message cannot come just from the candidates,
other Democrat leaders have to support and promote the message. We also must
have the courage to confront the people trying to subvert the unity and most
certainly ask why.
Unless we work at it, unity
won't happen. It takes a day in day out effort, not just standing up at
rallies saying, "we are united" and then letting things happen like they
have for many years. Time after time we've seen politicians stand up and say
one thing and then act completely different. That is what promotes cynicism
about politicians, and justifiably so. The only way we are ever going to
prove that all politicians are not the same is by living up to the words we
say during campaigns.
I'm optimistic about the
future but it is going to take work. Tom Ceraso has pledged to work together
and so have I. But it matters most is when we are governing, not
campaigning. I don't expect us to agree one hundred percent of the time, but
to make substantive change; it will take cooperation that hasn't existed in
the Commissioners' Office for many years. We can make it happen but it will
be much more difficult if other Democrats are trying to subvert our
cooperation. |
