Carpetbaggers needn’t apply
Published 12:01 am Tuesday, May 24, 2011
To: U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio
Dear Congressman:
We’re flattered by your flirtations. It’s nice to know there are others — besides the millions of us who already live here — who admire our beautiful corner of the country and would consider making it their home.
B
ut at the risk of seeming cold or unappreciative … we’re not that easy. And certainly not that desperate.
Look, we know you’re looking for a rebound relationship. Your current one, with the citizens of Ohio’s 10th Congressional District, appears headed toward a breakup.
Population shifts recorded in the 2010 U.S. Census mean that your home state will lose two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives next year, and with Republicans in your state legislature redrawing district lines, your seat may vanish.
Don’t get us wrong. We admire someone who looks ahead and plans for contingencies. It’s just that we already have plenty of good, solid political stock from which to draw viable congressional candidates. We’re not looking for imports.
The fact that Census results have Washington gaining a new congressional seat is no doubt one reason for your recent advances. An open seat in a new district would be attractive to lots of prospective candidates. But no one knows yet where that district will go. (A bipartisan commission will decide, and it’s holding a public forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Jackson Conference Center at Everett Community College).
So as a precaution, you spent the weekend schmoozing with supporters and others in the 1st Congressional District, which includes most of south Snohomish County. Jay Inslee, the district’s current representative, is considered likely to leave the seat in order to run for governor next year.
We understand why you might view this as an opportunity that borders on destiny. The far left, and very active, wing of your party here offered you enthusiastic support in your unsuccessful bids for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.
Trouble is (in case no one has pointed this out to you), a disproportionate number of those folks live in Seattle, which is already represented by Jim McDermott, like you, one of the most liberal voices in Congress. You’d have to run in moderate suburbia. That’s why even state Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz, who stands just about as far to the left as you do, doesn’t want you running here. He doesn’t think you can win.
He’s probably correct, but that’s not why you shouldn’t try. In Washington, we prefer candidates who are familiar with the issues that are uniquely important to us, and who are motivated by a desire to serve the communities where they live.
Despite the sweet talk on your visits here, the motivation behind your advances is obviously political self-interest. It’s a total turn-off.
Please, Congressman, stop calling.
