Will the real Democrat please stand up
U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson is a Democrat, but does everything he can to avoid that party label. No donkeys or "D" words appear on his campaign signs or TV spots. He also regularly sides with President Bush.
Now, this page from the Matheson playbook has been swiped by at least one Utah Republican, an odd move in a state as red as this one. Or maybe it just shows the Democratic power of Salt Lake City.
Joe Jarvis, who is running against state Democratic Sen. Scott McCoy in state Senate District 2, doesn't mention his party affiliation on any billboards or mailers.
And in one recent mailer, Jarvis even touts his Democratic ties. He lists former Democratic Congressman Bill Orton and Christine Helfrich, chairwoman of the Utah Democratic Health Care Reform Caucus, as supporters.
And on his web site, Jarvis has an audio "podcast" in which he says "I've tried to run a bipartisan campaign." Apparently that means he is running as a Republican and a Democrat.
This obviously doesn't sit well with McCoy, who said he had one voter call confused about who was the Republican and who was the Democrat in the race.
In a recent City Weekly story, McCoy sums up the race this way: "Why vote for an imitation when you can vote for the real McCoy?"
-- Matt Canham
Now, this page from the Matheson playbook has been swiped by at least one Utah Republican, an odd move in a state as red as this one. Or maybe it just shows the Democratic power of Salt Lake City.
Joe Jarvis, who is running against state Democratic Sen. Scott McCoy in state Senate District 2, doesn't mention his party affiliation on any billboards or mailers.
And in one recent mailer, Jarvis even touts his Democratic ties. He lists former Democratic Congressman Bill Orton and Christine Helfrich, chairwoman of the Utah Democratic Health Care Reform Caucus, as supporters.
And on his web site, Jarvis has an audio "podcast" in which he says "I've tried to run a bipartisan campaign." Apparently that means he is running as a Republican and a Democrat.
This obviously doesn't sit well with McCoy, who said he had one voter call confused about who was the Republican and who was the Democrat in the race.
In a recent City Weekly story, McCoy sums up the race this way: "Why vote for an imitation when you can vote for the real McCoy?"
-- Matt Canham
5:28 PM
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7 Comments:
www.drjoejarvis.com/
Well, look at that.
Republicans can do it too.
Most of the time, it doesn't work because voters can see the word "Republican" right there on the ballot.
We might not know what party he represents, but we sure know that he is a doctor. How that is relevant, I've yet to figure out. Apparently he feels that his choice of profession is so important that he has built his entire campaign around it, instead of around the issues.
"Why vote for an imitation when you can vote for the real McCoy?"
How can you not vote for someone with such a great wit!
Matt- you apparently have not been paying attention to ANY of the local legislative races in Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, and Draper. Not one of those Democratic candidates indicates on their yard signs or literature what party they represent. The reason they and Congressman Matheson don’t indicate party is that a party label doesn't do their policy platform justice. There is a lot more then simply "Republican" and "Democrat" in this political climate- Its about reasonable and independent representation. That is what is important.
Why is the state Democratic Party such spinless wimps? There's nothing wrong with the word Democrat.
If moderate Democrats would just be proud of their party and run as Democrats instead of trying to pose as Republicans the Democrat Party in Utah would be stronger. The gulf between Republican and Democrat wouldn't seem so wide.
I think the weakness we see in my State Democratic Party is partially self-afflicted. There are good moderate (dare I say even electable) Democrats. But they keep running as RINOs. Most of them are sniffed out and get beat in the Republican convention or primary.
This strategy leaves only the most liberal on the Democratic ticket and in control of the state Democratic Party.
to anonymous
Before you dismiss Joe Jarvis as just an opportunistic physician seeking office perhaps you ought to research the extensive work he has done on health care reform. Please go to http://www.utahhealthalliance.org/Home.html
Universal health care is not a position you see many Republicans in favor of.
Dr. Jarvis was instrumental in the formation of the Democratic Health Care Reform Caucus. His Republican roots did not make him ashamed to come to a Democratic state convention and speak about health care reform to Democrats concerned about what is happening to health care coverage.
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