Endorsement #7.1: CD2 — Why we’re not endorsing Heller
Prince Dean of Carson. Dean Heller is the golden boy who, if this were 2002, 2004 – or 2008, would win the second congressional district without remark. He hand his “team” (Slanker, Inc.) have managed to turn this one into a horserace. Through a series of awful missteps, Heller gave away a landslide primary victory to a wingnut state legislator and… well, Dawn Gibbons.
Dean Heller has been Nevada’s Secretary of State for – get this – twelve years. Before that, he was a two-term assemblyman from Carson City. And over the years, he’s been the kind of republican that Democrats would ordinarily love to love. A moderate, Heller supports the good stuff and, generally, rejects the bad stuff.
Heller was going to be an amazing upgrade from the north’s previous representation – Congressman Jim Gibbons. And he should have won this race in a landslide. Now, by many accounts, he’s in the race of his life. Derby released a poll yesterday that showed her and Heller tied.
Heller had to push hard to the right to get through his Primary. And to keep the RNCC and the money keep flowing in, he has to stay there. Heller drank the rightist Kool-Aid, because he believes that it would win an election. And for that, he loses major points. If Heller had run this race as Dean Heller – the hardworking Secretary of State and pro-choice moderate – he would’ve had a much easier race.
The race is still Heller’s to lose. Derby may have polls showing the race in a dead heat, but the truth is the independent polling is showing Heller’s lead to be building. A last-minute momentum shift toward Heller’s campaign would be the end for Derby, who despite all of her success, has yet to show a lead in even her own polling. Sure, bang the drum in our comments section, but you have to get more votes to… you know… win the election.
Longtime reader and Derby supporter Chris had this to say: “Dean Heller really is a career politician.” This doesn’t really matter – though we acknowledge that the message may resonate (ridiculously) with the voting public, which often votes against its own self-interest.
We don’t really care that he’s a career politician. Frankly, somebody with the acumen to navigate Washington’s political complexities would probably be more beneficial to the rural district. Heller as secretary of state has been accessible, which breaks his Career Politician mold. He’s been effective in his office. He has worked with people on both sides of the aisle. Dean Heller has done everything that Derby is claiming to do.
Another reader, Jake, says:
A year ago, I would’ve voted for Heller. I was never that impressed with Derby, early on. But now the Dean Heller we see on TV isn’t the same Dean Heller I’ve voted for in the past. He was a good guy and a great secretary of state, but his Bushiness scares me. I’m still undecided at this point, but may hold my nose and vote for Dean out of hopes that the one we know and love comes back.
We do care that Heller has wrapped himself in the GOP flag in an attempt to win public office. That sort of radical change in trajectory for Heller may end up being his fatal flaw. Nobody can be certain what sort of line Heller will walk when he’s in congress, and it’s disingenuous to pretend we do. But, his recent swerving to the Bush wing of the Republican party is disturbing.
Similar Posts:
- Endorsement #7.2: CD2 - Why we’re not endorsing Jill Derby
- Dean Heller Gets Roasted over The Coals
- MMP’s primary endorsements, round 4: advice for the north.
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Let me clarify a couple of things about my position on “career politicians”. First of all, I don’t think there is anything wrong with making your career serving the people. I can vaguely remember from one of my classes in college that the goal for all politicians is reelection. Reelection means that you are doing your job well, and that hopefully you have learned enough to gain seniority and possibly power with the other politicians. Why would you want to elect someone that is going to have to be taught everything once they get into office when you can pick someone that already knows the ropes?
A good reason to not vote for the career politician is when they lose sight of the needs of the people they are supposed to be serving. Too many politicians, in part due to term limits, feel like they deserve to move up the ladder once there term has been served. I want someone who is passionate about what they do and understands the people that they serve. I know that you and I may differ on whether Jill has made a career out of being a regent…6 meetings a year is BRUTAL…but what do we really know about Dean’s work besides prosecuting those evil telemarketers? It seems like the level of scrutiny for Jill’s part time job is much greater than Dean’s full time paid position.
Bingo