Neo, it was a lot of fun!
The Other Washington
A Seattle talk-show host faces an uphill run for governor. If enthusiasm counts, he may win.
opinionjournal.com
Tuesday, August 29, 2000 12:01 a.m. EDT
PUYALLUP, Wash.--In an era when political rallies are usually only large enough to fill the lens of a television camera, it's hard to remember what old-fashioned American politics used to be like. This year, you had to go to one of the major-party conventions to see a really excited crowd cheer their champion. Or come to the Western Washington Fairgrounds on Saturday, when an estimated 40,000 people turned out for a GOP rally featuring gubernatorial candidate John Carlson and radio host Rush Limbaugh, making his first political endorsement in eight years.
The cheering, foot-stomping crowd was so big that the overflow had to watch it on jumbo TV screens mounted behind the stage. When Mr. Limbaugh came out from behind a huge American flag, the crowd roared. They roared again when they were told that they were attending the largest political rally in the state's history, eclipsing the 25,000 who greeted Bill Clinton in Tacoma four years ago.
The crowd was not only large but diverse. Longhaired motorcycle riders stood next to Spokane grandmothers who had traveled 300 miles by bus. Most were there because of Mr. Limbaugh or fellow headliner William Bennett, the former education secretary. But Mr. Carlson, who heads the free-market Washington Institute Foundation, has his own devoted following, thanks to his years promoting successful ballot initiatives such as a "three strikes and you're out" sentencing law and an end to racial preferences.
Until this spring, Mr. Carlson was also a talk-show host in Seattle. In fact, it was his defense of Limbaugh in 1995 after the Oklahoma City bombing that drew the two together. President Clinton decried the "hate speech" that he said had led to the bombing, and the White House implied he was speaking about conservative talk radio. Mr. Carlson found the fireman who was pictured on the cover of national newsmagazines cradling a dead infant and asked him what he thought of such criticism. The fireman replied by saying that everyone in his unit listened to Rush and he thought that was ridiculous. So much for Mr. Clinton's attempt to vilify talk radio.
But that hasn't prevented Democrats in Washington state from reviving the old complaints. "The Republicans are showing their true colors by hosting Rush Limbaugh, who has shown outright hostility toward women, gays, African-Americans and Native Americans," huffed Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt. But when the state Democratic Party was asked to provide specifics about this alleged hostility, none were given.
"Those who criticize talk radio the most are often the ones who listen to it the least," says Seattle talk-show host Michael Medved. "They presume there's some kind of angry, white male thing going on, when all that's happening is the lampooning of individual liberals who do or say stupid things."
While the giant rally featuring Limbaugh and Bennett certainly provided a boost for the Carlson campaign, he still faces an uphill fight against incumbent Democratic Governor Gary Locke, who has quietly presided over four prosperous years. Still, Mr. Locke doesn't clear 50% in most polls, the usual benchmark for a vulnerable incumbent.
Although Washington state has gone Democratic in the past three presidential elections, recent polls have shown George W. Bush leading or tied with Al Gore, because the rural eastern part of the state is upset over Clinton-Gore environmental policy while the Seattle area is filled with Microsoft investors who have watched their stock tumble as the Justice Department pursues the company in court.
Washington state Republicans recaptured some of the spirit of their 1994 political earthquake last weekend--and they had a great time. "It was awesome," said state Rep. Cathy McMorris, who chairs the GOP's effort to take a majority in the state Legislature. "Just imagine what could happen if each of these 40,000 people just got their friends to vote this November."
There used to be a lot more of that kind of grassroots enthusiasm in American politics. It's encouraging to see that people will still turn out for events like the Carlson rally and leave convinced they can make a difference. |
