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Our Party BlogHave your say about all things democraticNovember 19, 2007A NEW SPIRIT IN POLITICS: WHY ANDY BERKE WON
By John Bailes, HCDP ChairmanWhile a new spirit in politics was manifested by Andy Berke and Oscar Brock (who both ran upbeat campaigns focused on issues) last week, unfortunately the state Republican Party chose the old way in politics. The state GOP attempted to sway voters with old tactics of dirty desperation and personal destruction. But the cruel and off-issue attacks did not work to sway voters. The Republican politics of personal destruction did not sway voters because the voters know better than to fall to dirty tactics that lead to hollow outcomes. There is a new spirit in politics, one that the voters have demanded. It is a new spirit of hope and problem solving-rather rather than of name-calling and mud-slinging. In fact, the state Republican Party's juvenile behavior certainly hurt their own nominee for state senate, who attempted to rise above such antics. But Brock's attempt was to no avail since the state GOP remains stuck in the past, driven by meanness, by disrespect of voters, and by political self-annihilation (that is, to win at any cost no matter the expense to our community). The voters would have none of it, with 63% voting for Andy. They chose Andy Berke because he demonstrated this new spirit of politics, which is to say he worked hard, listened to the voters, and spoke the truth on issues. This is why Andy Berke is now State Senator-Elect in District 10. And that's exactly what voters wanted-a person who will work tirelessly for them, listen to them, and speak their truth in Nashville. I know Andy Berke, and he is one of hardest working people I've been privileged to walk door-to-door for. As he said the night of his victory, there's no time for resting. In fact, Andy is working already. For Andy, becoming state senator for half of Hamilton County and all of Marion County was not about a title; it was about representing the voters. Voters in District 10 are very fortunate indeed. I watched Andy Berke with voters during his campaign; he listened to them. Then Andy would tell their stories to the rest of us. Listening to people-whether professional, working class, or poor, whether black or white-requires a love of people, who they are, what they do, and what they say. Andy always ends his speeches with another story he's heard about a person fighting to make his next mortgage payment or struggling to get out from under a pile of bills or trying to care for a senior parent. These stories-told by many in District 10-have certainly shaped what Andy will do in Nashville. Whether here or in Nashville, Andy Berke will speak truth. He will speak truth to others, joining Democrats in focusing on a higher minimum wage for Tennesseans. He will join Democrats in fighting for better health care for seniors. And he will join Governor Bredesen, Rep. Tommie Brown, Rep. JoAnne Favors and others in advancing the school reforms that have already been started for our state and county. Today, I am proud to say that Andy Berke will be our next state senator for District 10. Be ready for great things from this husband and father, smart attorney, and hard-working civic leader. Post a Reply... Most Recent Posts: 11/19: Make History Again: Help Us Elect Jim Martin to the U.S. Senate 11/14: John Bailes - "I will not puruse another term as Chairman" 11/11: Thanks to the Hundreds Who Worked 11/11: Celebrating Veterans Day~November 11 11/05: You Did It! You Made History! 11/04: Go Vote! 10/31: NOW FOR OUR FINAL PUSH! WHAT CAN YOU DO? 10/30: Paul Smith on High Voter Turnout: The Economy Has Awakened a Sleeping Giant 10/30: Vote Straight Down the Ticket: Obama, Tuke, Berke, Favors, and Brown 10/29: Watch HCDP's "Call To Vote" Commercial Tonight on CBS, Just Before Obama 10/29: Setting New Records: Over 55,000 Have Voted Early! 10/28: Join Us on Election Night at the Chattanooga Choo Choo 10/27: Message to the Hamilton County Democratic Party from Governor Phil Bredesen 10/27: Paul Smith~One of Our Two 2008 Estes Kefauver Award Winners 10/27: Annie Hall~One of Our Two 2008 Estes Kefauver Award Winners 10/24: Only Takes $5 to Make a Difference 10/23: EARLY VOTING HOURS CHANGE DUE TO HIGH VOTER TURNOUT 10/23: Let's GET OUT THE VOTE in Hamilton County! 10/23: New Links at Hamilton County Democratic Website Help Voters 10/21: More than 350 Attend Estes Kefauver Dinner |
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