So the other day I submitted this diary (
http://www.dailykos.com/...) to the collective masses in support of Marcy Winograd who is challenging Jane Harmon in California's 36th.
Now, as the final push is on, I'm curious if there are folks here who are still Jane Harman supporters and... if so.. would you be willing to share your reasons and give me an opportunity to engage you in a discussion.
I'm NOT looking for a fight, as I respect your right to vote for anyone you want.
I am looking for every vote I can find in a race that might come down to the wire.
From my viewpoint there are only 2 reasons to vote for Harman and I'll share them after the flip.
1) Seniority. Jane Harman has been a long time and WHEN Democrats take control of the House she'll be in a leadership position.
The problem, of course, is that her position on the political laqndscape is significantly RIGHT of her constituants, specifically her stance on the war and the President's assault on civil liberties.
So, yes, Harman would ascend to a position of power, but who knows if we'd get any better than more of the same.
But now imagine if Marcy Winograd were to win on Tuesday. Since this is a DEAD SURE Democratic district, her promary victory would all but assure a win in November. The headlines in California, and in DC, would be that a true progressive Democrat has defeated a centrist imcumbant, and that the 2006 rout is on.
Marcy would be one of the first sure signs that the landslide was on and she would be seen as a star. Who was the last star of the Democratic patry... Barak Obama... and things are looking pretty good for him. (Yeah, yeah, there's a vast difference between Senators and Representatives, but suffice to say she'd be the Barak Obama of the House.)
So, while the 36th would lose SOME sway in the house, we'd be gaining a true voice for the district and a voice who'd be seen as a real force to be recond with.
2) Jane Harman is a really nice person. If she is... great... she's had a good run... she'll land on her feet. She'd be a PERFECT representative for a district in Nevada or Virginia or even parts of the Valley, but she's not in line with OUR politics and so we must (nice person be damed) make a change.
Is there another reason? Is there something I'm missing?
Step up to the podium and let me know.