Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Getting a Wedgie
Wedge Issues Play Big Part in Campaign.
Just as a box of Crackerjack (tm) is hopelessly incomplete without a prize, a story on 'wedge issues' is fatally lacking without a reference to Pete Wilson and immigration. Or so I thought. But reading the above story I began to doubt. No, the reporter was analysing how the 'republican controlled' congress was dividing the nation over burning issues like gay marriage, flag burning, and 'keeping God in the pledge of allegiance'.
As is typical in these stories, a couple of academics were trotted out, one (if not misquoted) saying ''The traditional wedge issues are designed to make voters feel that their traditional lifestyle is somehow under attack and that things are moving way too fast in the wrong direction." Which begs the question: What is the acceptable speed for moving in the wrong direction? Then we were treated to a few remarks by the ever media friendly Gary Bauer. I began to doubt my hypothesis.
I should have had more confidence. Scrolling down...down... and arriving at the antepenultimate and penultimate paragraphs, I hit paydirt.
Oh, me of little faith.
Ten years, and they still won't leave the guy in peace.But how many times does it have to be repeated. Pete Wilson won! No other Republican even vaguely broached the immigration issue until Ahnold with his promised veto of driver's licenses for illegals ... a promise he kept in a very clever way, knowing that his political future depended on it.
Meanwhile, why do the Republicans feel free to be 'divisive' over issues that will make about an once of difference in 96% of peoples lives, while letting communities, states, and the whole nation be crushed by the weight of an insane immigration policy?
Just as a box of Crackerjack (tm) is hopelessly incomplete without a prize, a story on 'wedge issues' is fatally lacking without a reference to Pete Wilson and immigration. Or so I thought. But reading the above story I began to doubt. No, the reporter was analysing how the 'republican controlled' congress was dividing the nation over burning issues like gay marriage, flag burning, and 'keeping God in the pledge of allegiance'.
As is typical in these stories, a couple of academics were trotted out, one (if not misquoted) saying ''The traditional wedge issues are designed to make voters feel that their traditional lifestyle is somehow under attack and that things are moving way too fast in the wrong direction." Which begs the question: What is the acceptable speed for moving in the wrong direction? Then we were treated to a few remarks by the ever media friendly Gary Bauer. I began to doubt my hypothesis.
I should have had more confidence. Scrolling down...down... and arriving at the antepenultimate and penultimate paragraphs, I hit paydirt.
In recent years, especially at the state level and in some congressional races, candidates have also used wedge issues to pit white voters against Hispanics or blacks by using issues such as immigration, affirmative action, crime and drugs.
For instance, in 1994 Republican Pete Wilson managed to turn around his campaign to win re-election as governor of California by backing an anti-immigration ballot initiative. He won but the issue left many Hispanics angry and they took it out on Republicans in later elections.
Oh, me of little faith.
Ten years, and they still won't leave the guy in peace.But how many times does it have to be repeated. Pete Wilson won! No other Republican even vaguely broached the immigration issue until Ahnold with his promised veto of driver's licenses for illegals ... a promise he kept in a very clever way, knowing that his political future depended on it.
Meanwhile, why do the Republicans feel free to be 'divisive' over issues that will make about an once of difference in 96% of peoples lives, while letting communities, states, and the whole nation be crushed by the weight of an insane immigration policy?
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