How Should Peace Voters Vote in Maryland?
By Mike Hersh, Oct 31, 2006

In the Maryland Senate race, Representative Ben Cardin has earned the highest marks from several peace organizations. He stood up in the US Congress and voted against the Iraq War. No surprise since this man who the Baltimore Sun called "dovish" also voted against the Persian Gulf War. There is only one candidate in this race who cast those votes for peace. Michael Steele stands with the warmongers.

I am working every day to end the war and protect people at risk, and I know how easy it is to sit in judgment of others and make unilateral pronouncements and promises you're in no position to deliver. I'd rather avoid that kind of "woulda coulda shoulda" rhetoric, but that's not the important consideration. This is: Either Ben Cardin will be our next Senator or else Michael Steele will win, empowering the worst right wing extremists. This is so important to Peace Voters because Ben Cardin delivered on the critical votes that matter most, and won the highest marks from peace groups for his voting record [1]:

Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) and-WILL gave Cardin a 98% - the same as Jim McGovern and Bernie Sanders. Their mission: "WAND was founded in 1982 as Women's Action for Nuclear Disarmament. With the end of the cold war, we became Women's Action for New Directions, and have been dedicating our energies to redirect federal budget priorities away from the military and toward human needs." These dedicated activists recognized Ben Cardin's service to their ideals, delivered through his votes.

In 2006 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Representative Cardin a rating of A+. "Citizens for Global Solutions envisions a future in which nations work together to abolish war, protect our rights and freedoms, and solve the problems facing humanity that no nation can solve alone. This vision requires effective democratic global institutions that will apply the rule of law while respecting the diversity and autonomy of national and local communities." These citizens tell us Ben Cardin shares their vision for peace and their respect for human rights and dignity around the world.

Friends Committee on National Legislation 100 percent in 2005-2006. "The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is a public interest lobby founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends. FCNL seeks to bring the concerns, experiences and testimonies of Friends (called Quakers) to bear on policy decisions in the nation's capital." They express their mission in verse:
"We seek a world free of war and the threat of war / We seek a society with equity and justice for all / We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled / We seek an earth restored." The Friends Committee says Ben Cardin stood with them on every single vote in Congress this term.

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation 100 percent in 2004. "The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF) a non-profit organization with offices in Santa Barbara, California in the United States. Our goals constitute four principle areas: (1) the abolition of nuclear weapons, (2) strengthening international law and institutions, (3) using technology responsibly and sustainably, and (4) empowering youth to become the next generation of peace leaders." NAPF credits Ben Cardin for upholding their principles when it mattered most.

Bread for the World 100 percent from 1999-2004. "Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian citizens movement seeking justice for the world's hungry people by lobbying our nation's decision makers. BFW Institute seeks justice for hungry people by engaging in research and education on policies related to hunger and development." Hunger is a major blight on the world, and has fueled discontent which too often boils into conflict. Ben Cardin works at the root of this problem to help those in desperate need, to prevent hunger from turning people into refugees likely to destabilize precarious societies.

PeacePAC 100 percent in 2003-2004. "While the mission of PeacePAC remains the same -- the elimination of weapons of mass destruction by peaceful means -- PeacePAC has officially joined forces with our long-time sister organization, Council for a Livable World. PeacePAC will continue to focus on the House of Representatives and the Council will work with the U.S. Senate." I personally hope the Council will give Ben Cardin the same high grades in the Senate that he's earned in the House starting next year. Same with Peace Action 100 percent in 2003. "As the nation's largest grassroots peace group we get results: from the 1963 treaty to ban above ground nuclear testing, to the 1996 signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, from ending the war in Vietnam, to blocking weapons sales to human rights abusing countries."

A+, 98%, and several 100% out of 100%. I remember my report cards from college and I wish I could match those marks. Ben Cardin earned those high marks by casting votes time and again for peace. As the Baltimore Sun reports, "Democrat Benjamin L. Cardin, a Baltimore congressman who voted against the war resolution in 2002, has been calling since June for the immediate withdrawal of 10,000 U.S. combat troops a month [and] Cardin said he would be willing to vote to cut off funding for the war [while] Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, the Republican nominee who has backed Bush's Iraq policy, maintains that timetables for withdrawal only play into 'the hands of our enemies who have an enormous capacity to wait.' He has been sharply critical of Cardin's call for a pullout." [2]

Full disclosure: Peace Action's grade for Cardin slipped to 58 last term. Then again, they gave Jack Murtha a 50 even though he almost single-handedly changed the Iraq debate in the US Congress! Putting these rankings into perspective, Congress people and Senators try to avoid attacks from critics. If they step up to vote for peace, they know they'll lose big campaign contributions and they'll pay a high price in the media and endure vituperation from vocal elements on the extreme right.

We're all used to that and predictably we've seen the shameless Steele campaign resort to these tactics. But I am very disappointed to see some people - including people I have worked with - trying to rob Ben Cardin of the hard-won credit he earned for casting vote after courageous vote against war and for peace. Sadly, in the name of cynical political expedience in a race they know they cannot win, partisans for a peace activist candidate are attacking a dovish Democrat!

One such letter-writer questioned Cardin's peace credentials ostensibly because he champions a 12-month withdrawal plan instead of 4 month-plan, and because Cardin cast votes for conflated spending bills engineered by the right wing Congressional leadership. Suggesting the FCNL, Peace Action, Peace PAC and the rest of us are wrong by claiming "Cardin isn't really a peace candidate" [3] is not only dishonest and short-sighted, it's also destructive to the cause of peace. It makes my day-to-day work more difficult by sending the wrong message to elected officials. As someone who will have to answer for these absurd attacks, I ask my friends in the peace movement to uphold our principles and stick to the facts even - especially - in the heat of the campaign.

As a peace activist working with many peace organizations, I know there's no "special interest" support for peace. All the big money, media attention and other perks are on the other side. Ben Cardin stands up against the big time lobbyists and risks getting attacked - as Michael Steele is attacking him - for undermining our troops and all the other claptrap. According to "The Examiner," Lt. Governor "Steele has consistently opposed 'the political gamesmanship of publicly stating any kind of timetable for withdrawal from Iraq,' as Cardin has for months." [4]

Ben Cardin has a proven record. He shows us he'd rather get things done to help people across a wide spectrum of issues - health care for all, strong public education, upholding Constitutional principles, fair tax and spending policies, protecting people in need and much more - than grandstand or show off. Cardin demonstrated this during the October 3rd debate. As the Washington Post reported he "checked off a long list of positions he has taken: opposing the Iraq war, supporting a minimum wage increase, backing embryonic stem cell research. He urged Steele to address each one, and concluded that his experience on Capitol Hill would put him in the position to 'get things done.' 'I have been effective when the Democrats controlled Congress and when Republicans have controlled Congress,' he said. 'As a result, I've changed Washington.'"

When Rep. Cardin "called for an immediate redeployment of troops," Steele repeated his "stay the course" refrain using the Karl Rove play book's new labeling, "'This is not the time to step back,' Steele said." When asked, "'Tell me Mr. Steele, are things going badly?' [by the moderator] 'In what respect?' Steele replied, prompting derisive laughter from the crowd." [5]

Peace Voters know Steele's slippery answers won't seem so funny on the floor of the US Senate. We'd be so much better off with Ben Cardin representing us in the US Senate. His record of results attests to all that. Cardin stands up to the right wingers who blithely command us to "stay the course" while calling our efforts for peace "cut and run." Like many of us, Ben Cardin is vulnerable to these attacks. Not because of his exemplary voting record, but because of his low profile "get it done" workhorse style. "Style" is probably the wrong term for Ben Cardin who always puts substance over style in an arena that unfortunately tends to value Steele over substance.

Ben Cardin is hardly a flamboyant speaker, but he does speak from the heart as opposed to GOP focus-group poll-driven talking points. In debates he actually listens to the candidates and responds on point to their comments in real time - rather than rudely interrupting his rivals. That makes him appear pensive and thoughtful. That approach translates into real effectiveness when and where it counts. We desperately need these qualities in the Senate.

Peace Voters know what's important. We do not lose sight of what's at stake. Polls show this is a neck and neck race. Polls also show that Democrats could win control of the US Senate, but not if Michael Steele wins in Maryland. A Senator Cardin could help break the right-wing stranglehold on power, making my work as a peace activist easier, and making it easier for others to vote for peace in Congress. A Senator Steele would stand with the regressive warmongers and uphold the status quo.

We in Maryland will contribute to one of those results or the other between now and Election Day. We will see Ben Cardin or Michael Steele sworn in as the next Senator from Maryland. Those are the only choices we have. I ask all those who care so much about peace to vote for the one candidate in the Maryland Senate race who has cast important votes for peace  in the Congress - and with our support will soon cast them in the Senate. That candidate is Ben Cardin.

Mike Hersh

- Maryland State Coordinator, Progressive Democrats of America - http://www.pdamerica.org
- Chairperson, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance - http://www.mc-progressivealliance.com
- Steering Committee Democracy for America / Maryland - http://www.democracyforamerica.com
- Silver Spring Council - MoveOn.org Operation Democracy - http://www.moveon.org
- Member, The After Downing Street Coalition - http://www.afterdowningstreet.org
- Steering Committee Camp Democracy - http://www.campdemocracy.org

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[1] All results reported by Project Vote Smart: http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=H1661103

[2] "Iraq war is key point of dispute in Senate race," Paul West, the Baltimore Sun, October 19, 2006: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/iraq/bal-te.md.war19oct19,0,3522026.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

[3] "Cardin isn't really a peace candidate," Letter to the editor, Baltimore Sun, October 20, 2006:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/letters/bal-ed.le.20ooct20,0,7439141.story?coll=bal-opinion-letters

[4] "Steele, Cardin TV ads attack each other's record," Len Lazarick, "The Examiner," Oct 14, 2006: http://www.examiner.com/a-343000~Steele__Cardin_TV_ads_attack_each_other_s_record.html

[5] "Steele, Cardin Debate Draws Sharp Distinctions," Matthew Mosk and Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post Staff Writers, October 4, 2006; A01: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/03/AR2006100301484_pf.html

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