Why bother with endorsements?
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 3:04 pm
The Dem club had a couple of really good years that coincided with the decision not to endorse. So they are endorsing again this year and we have Sam O'Leary making a claim that implies he has the endorsement of the Lakewood Democratic Club. Trouble is, he did it before club's endorsement vote, which will happen this Thursday. The Dem club is the only recognized Democratic organization of size in town. (See a previous discussion of this on the Deck: http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/v ... =7&t=25397)
The decision to endorse again was kind of quiet. I didn't hear about it until a month or two ago, and someone else I talked to also was unaware of it and neglected to sign in at the meetings a time or two. The club requires attendance at a certain number of meetings to participate in the endorsement vote. Even so, I wouldn't be surprised to see a bunch of new familiar faces show up next Thursday night.
So it seems to me that the quiet reversal of the endorsement decision tends to benefit the "old guard," which always seems funny to say in reference Sam O'Leary. If Sam loses the endorsement, he doesn't look so good, but everyone will have forgotten this misbegotten mailer. If he wins, both Sam and the Dem Club look bad, and a lot of people will remember. it would appear that the fix has been in for some time.
I am skeptical about endorsements in general, especially with what we have seen at the county level of the Dem party. And when the vote is close, it means almost nothing. What does it mean if a couple of people couldn't get to the meeting? Is that really an endorsement?
If the Dem Club has any concern for its reputation, they should cancel the endorsement vote. If any member shares my concerns about it, make sure to show up on Thursday night.
The decision to endorse again was kind of quiet. I didn't hear about it until a month or two ago, and someone else I talked to also was unaware of it and neglected to sign in at the meetings a time or two. The club requires attendance at a certain number of meetings to participate in the endorsement vote. Even so, I wouldn't be surprised to see a bunch of new familiar faces show up next Thursday night.
So it seems to me that the quiet reversal of the endorsement decision tends to benefit the "old guard," which always seems funny to say in reference Sam O'Leary. If Sam loses the endorsement, he doesn't look so good, but everyone will have forgotten this misbegotten mailer. If he wins, both Sam and the Dem Club look bad, and a lot of people will remember. it would appear that the fix has been in for some time.
I am skeptical about endorsements in general, especially with what we have seen at the county level of the Dem party. And when the vote is close, it means almost nothing. What does it mean if a couple of people couldn't get to the meeting? Is that really an endorsement?
If the Dem Club has any concern for its reputation, they should cancel the endorsement vote. If any member shares my concerns about it, make sure to show up on Thursday night.