The true value of endorsements (re: Dean)

[eileen from OH]

Obviously, some endorsements translate into votes, money, & volunteers (i.e., the unions.) But I don't know that individual endorsements do a lot more than deliver a cachet or news story and provide another spokesperson for the campaign. And the game of dueling endorsements between candidates can be kinda dumb.

All that being said, I've been troubled by the number of people here at DU that not only oppose Gov. Dean for issue-related reasons or electability, but use words like "slimy" or "liar" and "detestable."

And that's where looking at individual endorsements might be beneficial. And right now I'm looking at Dean's: Paul Simon (almost literally from his deathbed), Al Gore, Tom Harkin, Ann Richards, Molly Ivins, Carol Mosely-Braun, Martin Sheen, and Jimmy Carter (not "official" but you know what I mean.) There's more - those are just off the top of my head.

You may take issue with one or more of these, but this is a list of pretty respected folks. I just can't see all of them attaching their names to a candidate without really knowing something about him, character-wise. Nor do I see all of them attaching their names to someone who wasn't honest and principaled. A few of 'em have other agendas, I suppose. Or support him for different reasons. But the one thing they have in common, I think, is that they would not give their endorsement lightly.

I thought of this last evening while watching Martin Sheen on C-span at the Dean rally. I've followed his activism over the years (and no, I do NOT confuse the actor with the character he plays on tv.) He's a deeply spiritual and honest man, with a steadfast commitment to justice - even in the face of scorn and derision. There is NO WAY that Sheen would have endorsed Dean if he wasn't convinced of his honesty and integrity.

Campaigning is rough and tumble and I imagine if we look hard enough we can find tactics at certain times that do not reflect well on any candidate (although the larger the campaign organization the more likely it is a reflection of organization/volunteer than directly on the candidate.) And endorsements don't automatically cancel that out. And, of course no one should ever support a candidate because of endorsements.

But it IS part of the picture, at least for me, in trying to find out what a candidate is really like, as a person. We're all on the outside here - we'll never have a chance to truly get to know any of 'em. So maybe there is something to be learned by looking at the company they keep.

eileen from OH

[windansea]

1. what was Sharpton's quote about endorsements?

can't remember but it was funny

[thedudeingeorgia]

5. Sharpton's quote on endorsements

Sharpton said in the last debate with reference to Dean's endorsements:

You shouldn't need co-signers if you have good credit....

[eileen from OH]

7. "sigh"

Cute. Especially since Sharpton not only doesn't have good credit (ask all the people and companies he's stiffed) but he also doesn't seem to have any co-signers of note either.

eileen from OH

[9119495]

2. That is interesting. I too am at a loss as to

how Dean became so evil. Are all these endorsers just idiots? Does that mean that Kerry's endorsements--of which he has a heap--are of more value? For what reason? Somewhere, people seem to have lost sight of the fact that just about all are candidates are good people--even Dean. Even Lieberman's voting record is pretty liberal--even though I can't stand him recently.

[Ripley]

3. Nice post. You forgot Bill Bradley.

I agree with your sentiment. I think the big names are jumping on Dean's bus because they see how he fires up a crowd... Every other candidate has at least one quality that Dean doesn't that is positive for them to run on. But I have never seen people respond to the others the way they do to Dean.

The endgame is where we need to be looking and frankly I can't see any of the others being anything but polite to Smirk face to face, and we don't want that!!

[Hep]

4. What helped

was thousands of Dean supporters writing letters to Bradley and Gore explaining why they support him.

[eileen from OH]

6. Oh, I'm sure it did

or, at the very least it showed them the power of his grassroots. But I still don't think they would have extended their own credibility and reputations if they weren't positive that Dean was a good and honest man. That is, if you believe that THEY are good and honest men, and I happen to think so.

eileen from OH

[Ripley]

8. Who could say anything bad about Martin Sheen?

I mean he is a national treasure! I've always loved the fact that he has the courage to let himself be handcuffed and booked for protesting a nuke facility while he is starring in TV's number one show in America! A true liberal.

[Jerseycoa]

9. Okay, good test

Selected Clark endorsements:

Mary Frances Berry, Chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Barbara Lawton, Lt. Governor of Wisconsin
Former U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day
Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz, Dean of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Michigan Congressman Dale Kildee
Michael Moore, Activist/Author/Filmmaker
Theodore C. Sorensen, Ex-Counsel Pres. John F. Kennedy
Sherron Watkins, Enron Whistleblower
Andrew Young, Ex-UN Ambassador & Civil Rights Leader
Robert Rubin, Ex-US Treasury Secretary
Abenaki Nation, Vermont
The Native American Times
California Democratic Council (CDC), Los Angeles - California

[eileen from OH]

10. I really didn't mean to start a contest

and I was talking specifically about well-known, respected individuals and how their endorsements reflected on character issues. NOT groups or newspapers, or political organizations.

I also did not mean to suggest that other candidates did not also have endorsements that reflect well on THEIR character, BECAUSE all of them (well, I have one exception) ARE good, fine and decent men.

What I was trying to address - and I'd be interested in your reply - was that endorsements from Sheen, Gore, Carter, etc., are an effective answer to those who cast aspersions on Gov. Dean's honesty and integrity.

eileen from OH

[Jerseycoa]

11. And I'm sorry if I offended you

I was trying to do the same having come from several annoying threads this morning casting aspersions on my candidate's character or policies. But I shouldn't have interrupted your thread and I do apologize. In general, I would say that endorsements do serve as character references, so I would say we agree. I would add they are worth more in this way than they are in vote-getting. I believe the Gore endorsement, for many, is too loaded to use as an example, but, if Dean does get Carter's endorsement, that would do it, I think.

[eileen from OH]

12. Oh, you didn't offend me at all!

Just thought you'd missed my point. No prob.


eileen from OH

[Jerseycoa]

13. I'm glad :)