Reply #19: Hi IA_Seth [View All]

Just want to clarify my references to Culver's father. I didn't intend to imply that people were actually supporting or voting for Chet because of his father's influence. Like you say, many younger voters have never heard of John Culver. I'd go even further and say that very few have heard of Chet Culver unless it's in association with his recent bid for Gov. I've never met anyone who gave much thought to who they wanted for SOS. Secretaries of State are elected on the coattails of others and I don't think Chet's personal accomplishments had anything to do with his re-election or the fact that he's a candidate for Governor. I'll bet if you asked 100 people to name the Iowa Sec of State you'd be very lucky to get one who could even come up with the right name - let alone any inkling of his accomplishments. Most people don't give a rip about the Sec of State. It's essentially an invisible, bureaucratic job that has been of minimal import historically. There are many state employees and unelected board members who wield far more power, and have a much bigger impact on people's lives than the Sec of State. So I agree with you that John hasn't been much of a factor in the average voter's mind. Nor do I believe that Chet has been much of a factor. Few would even know who he is. What I'm saying is this:

1) My references to the father have to do with the potential impact of a powerful parent upon a child's world view. I just don't believe that the world view of a child who grows up in a privileged background is likely to be a good fit with those of us who had to make it without a parent to grease the skids for us. I don't think a young man who has had such an easy go of it has earned the right to run State government, and I believe the "privilege factor" is especially crucial when the middle class is under a withering attack and vanishing before our eyes.

2) I'm linking the powerful parent, and all the family connections that flow from that (like Bill Knapp) to Chet's ability to get on the ballot in the first place. If my kid decides she needs a cushy, well-paying job with minimal responsibility, there's no way she can waltz in and get on a statewide ballot for S.O.S. when she's 33. No way in hell! Were it not for John Culver, none of us would know Chet Culver existed, and with our country moving rapidly toward a culture of aristocracy, I'm inclined to want to stamp it out whether it's one of our guys, or one of theirs.

That's all I'm saying.

I've enjoyed the discussion here, and like Debi says, we'll all be pulling in the same direction in November! Nussle is a Bush clone who would be a complete disaster.