Dear Bob,

I am a college student in the Ozarks.  While I was visiting your website I noticed several links to websites related to Dick Gephardt.  I was wondering if you were supporting his campaign for presidency in 2004.  If so, I was just wanting to know your reasoning on selecting him over the other eight candidates.  What stuck out in your mind about him?  I am personally a fan of Dennis Kucinich.  I am a fan of his health care plan over Gephardt's, and I also like the fact that he has set out several specific plans of action for various issues.  To the best of my knowledge, he is the only candidate that has set out a specific plan of action for his presidency.  If you would kindly reply with some information about Gephardt and his plan of action, it would be greatly appreciated.  My e-mail address is jarinredman@hotmail.com.  I am just trying to gather information so that I can make a more informed decision on the matter.  Your help is appreciated.  Thank you very much.

Jarin Redman
 

Jarin,

It is nice to hear from a concerned Democrat. The run up to a primary election and the process of selecting a candidate for our party is paramount. There is little coverage in the news for the minority party and the administration in office controls much of the media’s attention.

I am 68 years old and am semi-retired. I have been involved in Democratic Politics most of my life. I’ve served as local Committee Chair, Chair of our Senatorial District, Chair of our Congressional District, and presently serve on the Executive Committee of the State Party. I also hosted a radio show for several years dedicated to Democratic issues. The reason I am telling you this is to put my opinion in perspective.

In a true Democracy, the people should have the final say! In reality, we do not. Over my lifetime I have witnessed the “Body Politics” evolve into a monster driven and fueled by money. It has become a process of little more than who can raise the most and who hires the best PR. Few if any facts ever make it to the public at large.

In a perfect world, we should be able to find out where every candidate stands on issues and if they have the knowledge and ability to lead. Since the information we have to work with is limited by which “Sound Bite” we like the best or who’s spin sounds reasonable, the only way to find out is to check the record. Facts don’t lie and reveal the intent.

Of the nine candidates in the Democratic Party only one passes the test. They all are talented and knowledgeable people, however, are they leaders with a proven record?

The present administration is an example of the electorate (or courts) putting an unqualified individual in office. Many people view the Washington insider as corrupt. In some cases I agree, but the present administration proves that those with an agenda, not a plan, will fail most of the time.

In 1992 Dick Gephardt was Democratic Leader of the House when Bill Clinton attempted to pass a National Health Care Plan that would have insured every American. Republicans with the help of a few Democrats defeated that initiative. That same year Bill Clinton asked Dick Gephardt to get a budget passed that he (Bill Clinton) believed would put our nation on the path to a balanced budget and begin to pay off the enormous deficit. As Speaker of the House, Dick Gephardt worked and refined that piece of legislation until it was acceptable to every Democrat in the House. It passed with NO REPUBLICAN VOTES!

The budget then went to the Senate where is passed with NO REPUBLICAN VOTES and Vice President Gore cast the deciding vote passing the bill. This single act of leadership resulted in eight years of growth and prosperity for America. Over 22 Million jobs created a balanced budget and enormous projected surplus.

I have not always agreed with Dick’s decisions over the years. In fact as Chairman of the Eighth Congressional District we crossed swords many times. In the last election I served on Bill Bradley’s Committee because he had a health care plan for our country that I thought had the best chance of becoming law. This has always been the deciding factor for me, will it work and can it become the law of the land?

Dick Gephardt has a plan that will work. It will only work if it can pass and can only be passed if we elect a Democratic House and Senate. Dick has fought this fight for many years. He should retire and take a break from this madness but he won’t. He knows that someone like himself is the only one that can lead our country out of this mess. He has proved that he is a leader, that he has the compassion (not conservative) to understand just how desperate most Americans are today. I know Dick Gephardt and he is my choice to lead us out of this mess.

All of our candidates will agree and band together after the primary is over. A true leader will take from the primary the ideas and views of the other candidates and accommodate them is their own plan. This is Democracy, working, as it should. 

Please keep in mind the Republicans will not have a primary, will not spend millions to make democracy work in their party, and have already decided how to split up the pie if we give them another four years.

I hope this helps. Best of Luck!

Bob Jones

Let me hear from you, bobj@rollanet.org