Fighting Behind Enemy Lines
By Steve "the Law Dem", Oct 18, 2002

It's important to remember that not every Democratic member of Congress comes from a Democratic stronghold. True, because of redistricting, which in general protects incumbents, there are very few truly competitive seats left in the House, but there are a few dozen. Those few dozen seats will determine which party will control of the House of Representatives. It's more or less the same story in the Senate, though, obviously, redistricting isn't a factor there.

Here's the point: Control of Congress isn't decided in East LA and New York City. It's decided in places like here in the GOP dominated state of Kansas (the home of the second largest ball of twine in the world). Democrats in the safe districts have it easy -- their members of Congress can moon the world if they feel like it and still get reelected. Not so here.

At present, there is one Democratic congressman in Kansas, Dennis Moore. He is a moderate Democrat elected from a business Republican type district. In other words, old style upper-income Republicans who have no use for the Religious Right.

Dennis has won two elections so far, both by a margin of only a few thousand votes. He was helped in those contests by the fact he had hard-right opponents. This year his opponent is pretending to be a moderate. So Dennis is in the fight of his life. And it's on the basis of races just like this that control of Congress will rest.

So, if Democrats want those liberals from the urban districts back East and out West to get the power of committee chairmanships? Well then they better hope those of us out here in what some of you call "the fly over areas," can pull off a few wins. Because otherwise it ain't going to happen -- period, end of story.

That brings me to Iraq. I'm every bit as opposed to invading Iraq as any of the rest of you. And I'm just as mad at some members of the Democratic leadership. But I'm not mad at Dennis Moore, despite the fact he voted for the resolution. I'm a little disappointed maybe -- but not mad. Not even close. And I'll tell you a secret. Deep inside I'm a little relieved that's how he voted, because if he voted the other way he'd be dead meat

Right now, with the GOP poised to take over the whole federal government we need "living" Democrats, not "dead" martyrs. It comes down to this, I guess. Living here in Kansas, I can't afford the self-righteousness some liberal and progressive Democrats can. Here we have an incredibly tough job to do every election. And those of you sitting in safe Democratic strongholds had better hope that we do it well.

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