Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Susan Paynter today wonders what happened to anti-Iraq War activist Mark Wilson. He dropped his pointedly critical, left-wing primary election challenge to incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, after Cantwell's campaign "hired" him at $8,000 per month to do, uh, community outreach. Basically, writes Paynter, Wilson is nowhere to be seen; won't even return phone calls; and the pay-off suspicions seem truer than ever. Of course, this was evident from the get-go. Anti-war primary challenger Hong Tran fared poorly against Cantwell yesterday; and Aaron Dixon's Green Party candidacy was stillborn. Yet Cantwell's political deal stands - to continue into the November general election paying Wilson roughly double a campaign manager's monthly rate for his silence on her pro-Iraq War vote. It's a matter of principle. She's Senate material, alright.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at September 20, 2006 08:33 AM | Email Thishttp://www.legistorm.com/
Just check under Senate and her name.
Or check on other Political figures, house members etc.
Posted by: pagar on September 20, 2006 09:02 AMPaynter says, "She was the Senate candidate and Seattle legal-services lawyer who held Cantwell's feet to the fire on the war throughout the primary."
As I look at the returns currently posted on the PI's own web site, Cantwell is sitting with 91% of the vote to Tran's 5%. Given that Cantwell has not made a significant retreat from her votes for the war, I'm not sure there was much of a fire. A hot water bottle perhaps?
Paynter goes on to say, "Anti-war and pro-choice people turned increasingly to Tran for their voice..."
I don't believe it is a stretch to suggest that Democratic primary voters in Washington - particularly those in Seattle/King County - are among the most anti-war and pro-choice voters in America. Nor do I believe it's stretch to suggest that the war is at the top of the list of federal issues this cycle.
Yet with a smart, committed and capable woman (as seems to be the general take on Ms. Tran) carrying a strident anti-war message, 91% of very liberal, very anti-war, very pro-choice voters chose a candidate who Paynter suggests they were turning away from.
Oh, call me cynical, but I suspect Democratic voters are not quite so anti-war as they or the press claim. Anti-Republican, is I think a better guess.
When the U.S. was in the Balkans or when we were lobbing missiles into Iraq and Libya during President Clinton's term, I don't recall seeing a single "Stop the Bombing!" sign being dangled over bridges by "peace activists" during my daily commute along Aurora Avenue.
Perhaps anti-war is really code for, "anti-war - unless our guys are calling the shots."
Please keep in mind 91% of WHAT.
I heard today on radio, only 18% of voters Voted.
So 91% of the 18% of total voters voted for ms cantdowell.
Don't toot that horn too loud just ye.t
Posted by: Chris on September 20, 2006 06:03 PMWe need to be careful, folks. The truth is bad enough for the Ds. We don't need to make sh*t up and make them look better!
Rosenberg, tell us your source for the salary information!
Posted by: BMack on September 21, 2006 10:44 PM