Hindsight from The New Gun Week October 10, 1998
Many Ways to Play Political Game
by Joseph P. Tartaro
Executive Editor( Part Two: See October 1, 1998 for Part One )
In the last issue I began a discussion of participatory politics, mentioning why gunowners particularly should never sit on the sidelines in an election. I plan to conclude this two-part discussion by exploring ways in which someone-even with a lot of money-can become a serious player, the kind of person who has access to elected officials.
A person of considerable personal wealth can always be a player; that's easy. The best example of this is the Hollywood set, who not only give parties and candidates money, but lend their celebrity status to gain easy access to the media, or to host fund-raisers where others make contributions. Steven Spielberg and partners are just a few who have gained notice with their help to the Clinton-Gore crowd.
In the past few weeks they have hosted fund-raisers in the major "ATM" states, California and New York, as well as other key places where the rich and famous hang out. They've also contributed the $10,000 maximum to Clinton's personal legal defense fund. It's not surprising then that they become invited guests at the White House and even sleep over in the Lincoln bedroom.
Their contributions to Clinton, particularly as he struggles with the consequences of his indiscretions, make a lot of headlines, but I'm not sure that their support is limited just to Democrats. After all, they have enough money to buy access with both major parties, and they are people who need access to those in power.Spreading Support
Earlier this year, there was a flap among gunowners and gun groups about the contributions by the chairman of the company that controls Colt's Manufacturing to Rep. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), the arch anti-gunner in Congress, and to the Democratic Party. When confronted with this seemingly oxymoronic behavior, the executive in question noted that he was in business and contributed to Republicans as well as Democrats, pro-gunners and anti-gunners, to insure that he could talk with whoever won.
I had evidence of this approach years ago when a prosperous and influential businessman I knew, who was an avid hunter and gunowner, explained that he made substantial contributions to both major candidates for governor. I learned this on one of two occasions when he was able to place a call directly to the anti-gun New York Gov. Mario Cuomo to intercede successfully on behalf of two different gun/hunting related friends who had gotten crosswise with state regulatory agencies. I, on the other hand, was specifically excluded by Cuomo from a sportsmen's organization conference with him in the capital.
Money and celebrity status, however, are not the only currency of politics. Votes are the other major coinage. Indeed, if you stop to consider what the money is needed for-to gain votes-there are other ways to build access to powerful political figures. You don't have to be a Chinese-American restauranteur in Little Rock.
This brings us back to the many ways one can have a direct personal involvement in a campaign. And bear in mind, that the town council member, mayor, state legislator, or whoever you help today, may be the gubernatorial, congressional, senatorial or even presidential candidate of tomorrow. If not that, then perhaps secretary of the treasury, or even undersecretary.Upward Mobility
Politicians are usually ambitious and upwardly mobile. Clinton's first campaign may have been when he ran for class president at Georgetown. President Harry Truman started out as a local judge. In fact, all of the big guys in politics started out as small guys.
And it is pretty easy to help the small guys and gals in politics, especially when they are small and need as much help as they can get.
Sen. Alfonse D'Amato was a county official in Nassau County on Long Island when he made his bid for the US Senate. That might seem like a big leap, but it his is certainly not an unusual story.
He needed to win the endorsement of the Conservative Party, a third but influential party in New York politics that had already been the only springboard for former Sen. James Buckley's leap to national politics. (Buckley by the way is now a member of the federal court of appeals for the District of Columbia.)
D'Amato, who wanted to replace an anti-gunner in the Senate, sought help from gunowner activists across the state-members of the NRA and other gun groups-to circulate nominating petitions to get on the statewide primary, then to distribute yard signs, bumper stickers and other campaign materials, to man phone banks and address envelopes, and to do the countless other tasks that must be done, either by paid workers or by volunteers.
Each of the volunteers were important to D'Amato as he won a surprising victory in 1980, but think how much more important to the freshman senator were the people who helped him find and recruit the thousands of volunteers across the state. Certainly D'Amato has strayed from his original pro-gun stance once or twice, but not on big issues like the Brady Act or the "assault weapons" ban. Politicians are, after all, a lot like puppies. In D'Amato's case, he was quick to respond when reminded of the important base that helped him get elected to his first term in the Senate. On Nov. 3 this year, he will be squared off against the prince of the anti-gunners, Rep. Charles E. Schumer (D-Brooklyn).
The Democrats have a large enrollment edge in New York state, although that edge is most prominent in New York and other major cities in the state. Elsewhere the Republicans have an edge. How well D'Amato does against Schumer may depend on how well the Republican governor, George Pataki, and other GOP candidates do.
Strong Showings
A strong showing by GOP candidates in congressional races, in the state attorney general's race, on state senate and assembly races, even in local races, will help D'Amato. It doesn't matter whether each of those candidates wins, just that they pull a lot of votes on the GOP line. That's what makes politics so interesting. A candidate who loses but makes a strong showing for his party, particularly against the enrollment odds, becomes a valuable player because he or she helped contribute to the success of the party, and perhaps to other candidates.
For that reason, every single race in the state is important to the major and minor parties. And the help you provide for each candidate you choose to help-regardless of party-whether at the local, state or federal level, will win you friends, respect and access in the political party of your choice and among office holders.
How much you help is up to you.
You've got to be registered to vote, and you have to actually go to the polls on election day and cast you ballot. Frankly, if you haven't done at least that, you have no right to complain about the outcome afterwards.
Then you have to decide who to help and how much help you'll give. Of course, if you're like Spielberg or some of the other Hollywood moguls, you just write a big check. But most Americans will donate in smaller amounts and volunteer various levels of their time.
One thing you can do is help get others to vote, either by phoning people on a checklist to remind them to vote, or better yet, giving friends, neighbors, club members and co-workers a ride to the polling place. This is particularly important for seniors, shut-ins and others who may have difficulty getting around.
You might even want to host a backyard or living room coffee-hour for a candidate, to which you invite neighbors for a one-on-one with the candidate you support. I attended one of these held for a county judicial candidate years ago. He was someone I already knew from his counselor job in the state Senate in Albany. The man didn't win that race but he helped his party mightily. That is why I was not surprised when he was later appointed undersecretary of the treasury for enforcement during the Reagan Administration.
It doesn't matter so much how you help in politics, but it does matter that you become a player in the process. If you volunteer, you will not only help elect the people or party you support, you will be remembered, and have access to discuss issues in the future.
Volunteer! It's good for you and good for America!
The New Gun Week is published three times a month by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) on the 1st, 10th, and 20th. Hindsight is a commentary written by SAF President and Gun Week Executive Editor Joseph P. Tartaro. This commentary may be reprinted so long as credit is given to the author and the publication. For more information or to subscribe, write Gun Week, PO Box 488, Buffalo, NY 14209, or call 716-885-6408 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, or inquire on Compuserve to John Krull, Production manager-JohnSAF@Compuserve.com or gunweeksaf@broadviewnet.netAlso, check out the New Gun Week at http://www.GunWeek.com