Now that John Edwards has dropped out of the race, it is inevitable that John Kerry will win the party nomination. While Kerry is not the only candidate left running in the election, Kucinich and Sharpton are both lost causes. By carrying on in this election they are doing lasting harm to the Democratic Party and its chances of dethroning Bush in November.
The Democratic Party is the underdog in this election. Presenting an official nominee months earlier would have bought them some crucial time to get out on the road and show off their newfound vigor for any who doubt their strength. Democrats have been losing support because they never want to rock the boat, such as when many Democrats voted in support of the war in Iraq. Spinelessness handicapped them, and they need a head start in this election to heal. Sharpton and Kucinich’s continued presence might deny this.
Thanks in large part to Howard Dean, Democrats aren’t spineless “yes men” anymore. Dean reinvigorated the party and made them more confrontational towards their Republican counterparts. Now Democrats can’t get enough of voicing their disgust at what Bush has done to this great country. They need extra time to bring this message to the people: the Democrats are pushovers no longer.
Why are Sharpton and Kucinich, both without any chance at winning the nomination, still at the fringes of the ballot, effectively putting a parking boot on the Democratic Party’s progress? Sharpton at least has no illusions of winning. In a Mar. 2 interview with Larry King, Sharpton claimed his reason for staying in the race was so issues he stood for would remain in the public view and stand a better chance of going onto the party’s modus operandi. While I appreciate Sharpton’s motivation there, I would point out that he needs to pay more attention to Kerry’s goals. News flash for Sharpton: Kerry already stands for pretty much everything you do.
Sharpton is anti-death penalty as is John Kerry, except in the case of convicted terrorists. Both candidates believe in a woman’s right to choose. Both want to end Bush’s tax cuts for the rich — Sharpton to divert that money directly to the poor and Kerry to divert it into America’s schools. Both are ending the practice of exporting jobs overseas. Both support affirmative action and restoring civil liberties. In fact, Kerry may be more adamant about the civil liberties issue, as only he has mentioned removing John Ashcroft within his first year in office. Sharpton and Kerry would appear to agree on pretty much all of Sharpton’s “top ten” concerns. If John Kerry fails to represent issues that Sharpton is concerned about, Sharpton hasn’t told us what those issues are. Sharpton needs to start making these issues known; and, if there are not ,in fact, any issues for him that Kerry fails to address, to drop out immediately.
Democrats desperately need extra time to prove they are not pushovers anymore and preferably with their official candidate as their spokesperson. They need the extra time to assure the apathetic that there is indeed a difference between the two parties so that there won’t be a repeat of “the Nader incident.” Sharpton is just one more obstacle in preventing those advantages from taking effect. If Sharpton would take note that Kerry will honor most of his concerns, perhaps he would drop out and Kucinich would follow, allowing the Democratic bandwagon to get packing for its pilgrimage to Washington months in advance. One can only hope.
Dan Goldstein can be contacted at [email protected]