LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Capital Letters |
by Hastings Wyman |
If Gores Number One, Whos Number Two? Although Vice President Al Gore may get a run for his money for the Democratic presidential nomination, hes still the odds-on favorite to beat upstart Bill Bradley before next years Democratic convention in Los Angeles. So theres lots of speculation about Gores choice for the No. 2 spot. The gay community has a big interest in Gores choice. The veep spot is often used to balance a ticketfor geography, philosophy, ethnicity or gender. That could work to our advantage or not, depending. If, for example, Gore should pick former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia (and we saw him on one pundits list) to shore up his Southern flank and contribute some defense savvy, it would place Mr. No-Gays-in-the- Military a heartbeat away from the White House. I cant see Gore picking Nunn, but heres a gay spin on some other second-spot prospects. Bill Bradley. Gores only Democratic challenger has to top his list of potential running-mates. Bradley is drawing support from every Democratright, left and centerwhos not for Gore. By picking the former New Jersey senator, Gore could, in one fell swoop, welcome all his old foes into the fold. While Bradley has not been out-and-proud on gay issues, he rated 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaigns legislative scorecard when he was in the Senate. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. California is essential to Gores prospects for beating Texas Gov. George W. Bushor any other Republicanin next years General Election. Polls show Feinstein wouldnt help Gore in the Golden State, but dont believe them. Shes got a network of home-state enthusiasts who would be energized if she were on the ticket. She would also appeal to lesbians and gay men; in the Senate, shes an HRC 100 and has been upfront and vocal on virtually every gay issue. Indeed, according to Out for Good, a new history of the gay rights movement by Adam Nagourney and Dudley Clendinen, in 1975, while Feinstein chaired San Franciscos Board of Supervisors, she performed a marriage ceremony for two lesbian friends in her backyard (but how will this play in Peoria?). Feinstein might also help Gore with womenespecially if Bush picks Elizabeth Dole as his veepand solidify Democratic support among Jewish voters, who expand the impact of their small numbers with a very high turn-out. The Rev. Jesse Jackson. Dont be surprised if theres a Jackson-for-Vice-President boomlet. His successful retrieval of three American prisoners from Yugoslavia gave him prime-time coverage, appealed to most of the public, and reestablished him as the nations premier black leader. Jackson is gay-friendly and would have lots of support on the queer left. But Gore isnt likely to pick him, and if Jackson decides to play rough, Gorelike Mike Dukakis in 1988could have a problem on his hands. Sen. Bob Graham. Florida is the fourth largest state and the vote there has been close in the last two presidential elections. If next summers polls show the Sunshine State is competitive, Graham might be just the ticket. Hes rich, well-connected (of the Washington Post Grahams), extremely popular in his home state, and has always wanted to be president. Grahams HRC score is a tepid 67 percent, but Ill bet hed come around fast. Sen. Evan Bayh. Indiana is a Midwestern industrial state that normally votes Republican but makes an exception for Bayh, who is the son of longtime Hoosier politico Birch Bayh. Evan, who served two terms as governor, is young (44its all relative) and handsome. He had a relatively conservative record as governor, and though he appointed gay people to his administration, hes never had to takenor has he volunteereda stand on gay issues. In Indiana, voters expect to see him on a national ticket sooner rather than later. Gov. Jeanne Shaheen. She hasnt been on anybodys list, but New Hampshire Gov. Shaheen could be a major asset for Gore. Shes an able and experienced politician, having managed Gary Harts 1984 victory in New Hampshire. Shes a woman, a Northeasterner, and a fiscal conservative who boosts education, which polls show is a major voter concern. She would also appeal to lesbians and gay menher pro-gay record includes signing the states recent legislation to void a ban on adoptions by same-sex couples. Sen. Jay Rockefeller. Scion of one of the great families of American business, Jay Rockefellers name I.D. and wealth far outweigh his geographic insignificanceWest Virginia has five electoral votes and goes Democratic anyway. Moreover, on our issues, Rockefellerwhose Republican relatives were, after all, in the partys liberal winghas earned an eminently respectable 83 percent from the HRC. Sen. Russ Feingold. Hes young (46), handsome and bright (a Rhodes Scholar), and hails from the nations heartland (Wisconsin). Feingold has the sort of quirky political historyhes for campaign finance reform, against welfare reform, against hate crimes laws (they punish opinion)that appeals to those with independent minds. Hes an HRC 83. Sen. John Kerry. Massachussetts is the most Democratic state in the nation, so Kerry on the ticket wouldnt give Gore something he couldnt get on his own. But Kerry might help with party liberals, the Kennedys and Catholics, especially Irish voters. On our issues, HRC gives him a 100 percent rating. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson. Gore, like Bush, is fluent in Spanish, but Bush gets more credit for it. So Gore could use a running-mate who is a bilingual New Mexican of Hispanic descent. Richardson has good foreign policy credentials and, when he was in Congress, rated 100 percent with HRC. But China stole atomic weapons secrets on Richardsons watch (his energy portfolio includes nuclear labs), so hes unlikely. Urban Oases Good for Gay Candidates Usually, once a constituency goes gay, itlike most of usstays that way. Now, theres a growing phenomenon in which big city neighborhoods with lots of gay men and lesbiansand with lots of politically active gay organizationsare becoming strongholds for gay office seekers. Spurred by ambition and/or term limits, the first generation of openly gay and lesbian officeholders is now moving from local to higher office, and other gay contenders often take their seats. To wit: Wisconsin. In Madison, when lesbian Tammy Baldwin got elected to Congress, Mark Pocan, another openly gay politico, was elected to the legislature to replace her. Moreover, gay men and lesbians have become a fixture on the Board of Supervisors of Dane County, which includes Madison. New York. In New York City, when Tom Duane won election to the state senate, Christine Quinn, who is also gay, was elected to replace him on the City Council. The district, which includes Manhattans Chelsea neighborhood and part of Greenwich Village, is so gay-heavy that Quinns office recently denied she is a closet heterosexualrumors were flying because she took a trip to Mexico with a gay male friend. California. In San Francisco, local officials have been elected citywide, thus providing no districts that could be predominantly gay or straight. Nevertheless, the gay presence in the city is so strong that a series of gay politiciansincluding Assemblywoman Carole Migden, ex-Supervisor and ex-mayoral candidate Roberta Achtenberg, County Treasurer Susan Leal and Supervisor Mark Lenohave been moving up or out or trading places and generally making room for gay successors. The city is moving to single-member districts, which may or may not increase the number of gay officeholders. In San Diego, when Christine Kehoe moves upas expectedto the state Assembly next year, her successor on the city council is likely to be another open lesbian, Toni Atkins. In Los Angeles, City Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, who is openly lesbian, has announced that next year she will seek the Assembly seat of Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, who is term-limited. This is a district where gays are a significant minority and the voters are cosmopolitan. Goldberg has Villaraigosas support and is the early favorite. Whether shell win and the district will elect other gay candidates remains to be seen. Goldberg currently represents Hollywood and other parts of LA (though not tres gai West Hollywood, which maintains a gay majority on its City Council). Vermont. This oasis isnt urban; moreover, in the Green Mountain State, its not a constituency, but an office, that may stay in gay hands. State Auditor Ed Flanagan, a Democrat, is running for the U.S. Senatewith the Gay and Lesbian Victory Funds endorsementand openly gay state Rep. Steve Howard, 26, also a Democrat, will seek to replace him. Montana: Burns Tough to Beat Ex-auctioneer Conrad Burns has been a Republican U.S. Senator for 12 years and, despite a 1988 pledge to limit himself to only two terms, is running for reelection next year. Two Democrats are likely competitors in the primary to take on Burnswealthy rancher Brian Schweitzer, and Billings Mayor Chuck Tooley, who has managed to get elected in a GOP stronghold. Both would be respectable challengers, but aside from term limits, the issue is that Burns once referred to Arabs as "ragheads," resulting in Pakistan canceling a contract to buy Montana wheat. On gay issues, Burns rated 33 percent on the Human Rights Campaign legislative scorecard in the last Congress, 11 percent in the Congress before that. Theres not a major gay political presence here"Theres a small human rights group thats very pro-gay," says a gay Montanan, but it focuses mainly on American Indian concerns and "doesnt have much clout." With this once- Democratic State trending toward the GOP, Burns is the early favorite. If theres a gay spin to Montana politics next year, its more likely to be in a nasty congressional race thats developing for the states only congressional seat. Republican Congressman Rick Hill attacked his opponent, state Superintendent of Instruction Nancy Keenan, 47, for being unmarried. "Im a family man," Hill said; "Nancy has never been married." He vowed to focus on Keenans "lifestyle." Keenan, a former member of the legislature and one of the top vote-getters, has denounced Hills attacks, adding that she is "single, period." Montana newspapers have also criticized Hill, noting that his own marital historyincluding a divorce and a remarriagewould now be open for discussion. Hill won reelection last year by a less-than-comfortable 53 percent to 44 percent. Stay tuned. Hastings Wyman has been a D.C. insider for more than three decades. He publishes Southern Political Report, a nonpartisan biweekly political newsletter. He can be reached in care of LETTERS from CAMP Rehoboth or at HwymanSPR@aol.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 7, June 18, 1999 |