You see, I live in Illinois. Illinois voted overwhelmingly
for Gore in 2000. As a resident of a non-swing state,
my vote is not being courted — in fact, it seems
of little consequence. The Republicans have given up
on my vote and the Democrats expect it. I am supposed
to vote for John Kerry in November and ultimately, I
will.
Yet I am not voting for John Kerry; I am voting against
Bush. Since the 2000 election debacle was settled,
I have been saying that I would vote for a monkey
in roller skates before I voted for Bush. John Kerry
may as well be a monkey in roller skates for as much
as his campaign has told me about his positions, career
history and goals for America.
I was not privy to the Swift Boat ads that much of
the rest of the country got to see. As much discussion
as these ads sparked, I only got to see snippets of
them on the evening news. I find it difficult to care
and to form an opinion about something (in this case,
the validity of John Kerry's military career) when
I have not been exposed to the primary sources (in
this case, the televised ads).
All that I know is that the Swift Boats, where Kerry
undoubtedly was, were a lot closer to the Vietnam
War than Alabama, where Bush may have been, in the
1960s and early 70s. Still, a girl likes attention.
It is not an act of ego to desire courting. I am
resentful that the Democratic Party expects my vote.
I think that they are showing a tremendous lack of
foresight by ignoring me. Until recently, I was energized
about the idea that the Democrats were going to take
back the White House. It made me smile to think that
there was a chance that we could return to the prosperity
and hope of the Clinton years.
At the Democratic National Convention, when John
Kerry said, "Send me," I was cheering for
him. His enthusiasm made my heart soar. I genuinely
wanted to send a Democrat — John Kerry in particular.
After the convention, though, my idealizations began
to sour. I began to wonder why this was the first
time that I was seeing Kerry speak. I began to wonder
if it were possible that Kerry had been actively reclusing
himself from my state. It dawned on me that his campaign
schedule was bloated with swing states — Ohio,
Tennessee, Washington, and Iowa.
In a burst of painful truth, I realized that Kerry's
energy is focused on others. Illinois was not even
granted a pity visit.
As a member of a non-swing state, I am not alone.
There are other states that are firmly Democratic.
Most are being ignored as thoroughly as Illinois.
Going by numbers from the 2000 election, there are
164 electoral votes in firmly Democratic states that
are being taken for granted (Vermont - 3; New York
- 33; Massachusetts - 12; Rhode Island - 4; Connecticut
- 8; New Jersey - 15; Maryland - 10; Illinois - 22;
California - 54; Washington D.C. - 3; and Delaware
- 3).
Meanwhile, there are 96 electoral votes that have
a fairer chance to swing Democratic than Republican
that are being actively courted by Kerry (Washington
- 11; Oregon - 7; New Mexico - 5; Minnesota - 10;
Iowa - 7; Wisconsin - 11; Michigan - 18; Pennsylvania
- 23; and Maine - 4).
With all of this extra courting, the Democrats are
still left 10 electoral votes short of a presidency.
No one hopes more than I do that the Democrats glean
those 10 precious votes and win the White House. In
the event that they do not, however, perhaps it is
time to take the long view. When a party begins to
alienate its own members by actively ignoring them,
greater problems are created.
I think that John Kerry or John Edwards or any of
their family members owe us, the non-swing states,
some attention and, at the very least, a visit. In
olden times, younger sisters could not be married
before the older sisters were married. That was a
gesture of respect. As the older sister, the non-swing
state, I would like a gesture of respect before I
give my life long blessing to the member of the family
who is clearly preferred — the little swing
state sister.
In the American family, we are all relations; the
Kerry-Edwards branch needs to make sure today that
no fences will need mending in the future.
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