USA
An assessment of the US elections INSOFAR AS there is an overall pattern to US voter choice in the November elections, one could conclude that by and large Reagan's policies have been repudiated. The Senate is now composed of 55 Democrats and 45 Republicans. However, given the limitations of a two-party system where any independent challenge must confront unfair election laws, the handicap of being outspent 10 or 20-to-1,
In Vermont, the governor must be elected by a majority, not merely a plurality. Just days before the election, a number of liberal Democrats held a press conference and urged people not to vote for Sanders because it would only throw the election into the state legislature. Patrick Leahy, a liberal Democrat whose campaign for re-election was an easy victory, threw his support to Kunin in a visible way during the last weeks of campaigning by publicly loaning her several thousand dollars and by joint public appearances.
The Democratic Party in Vermont pulled out all the stops against Sanders. At a rally for passage of a state Equal Rights Amendment, held four days before the election, Kunin supporters attempted to make the non-partisan rally into a pro-Kunin exclusions from public debates and media which the Democratic and repudiation is not reflected in the alternative. DIANNE FEELEY
It's true that the balance of power in the Congress has moved to the Democratic Party, but the leadership of the congressional committees has only moved from the Republican Party to the hands of the entrenched southerners within the Democratic Party, that is, its most conservative wing.
And because the Democratic Party comprises liberals and conservatives, the liberals are constantly attempting to compromise with the conservatives rather than building an alternative to them. Thus the liberals find themselves continuously outmaneuvered by the conservatives, who know what they want and drive a hard bargain. Thus there are liberal Democrats who oppose Reagan's foreign policy. But they share the same conceptions about US imperialism and the benefits of flexibility in dealing with destroying the Nicaraguan revolution.
According to the New York Times, New England's "most complex election" was the three-way race for governor of Vermont. Madeleine Kunin, a Democrat, was running for re-election, standing on her record as a fiscal conservative who had appointed some women to office and supported some environmental issues. Peter Smith, the Republican who had been lieutenant governor, ran his campaign to the right of her. But the spice to the race was Bernie Sanders, an independent socialist, and the three-time mayor of Burlington. 14 the day-to-day attention from the Republican parties receive, this development of an independent
Sanders ran a campaign focused on reversing the tax burden on working people. He called for cutting property taxes of home owners by 20 per cent; increasing taxes for businesses and those who make more than 50,000 US dollars a year; cutting utility rates by nearly half; increasing the minimum wage from 3.35 to 4.00 US dollars (with another raise to 4.40 dollars), and increasing social spending for education, day care, human resources, and aid to the family farm. He has become well known not only in Burlington, where Sanders wins the working-class wards by 80 per cent, but to ordinary working people and farmers throughout the state.
Running as an independent, Bernie Sanders built a campaign that transformed the governor's race from a typical race around personalities to one centered on concrete issues. And because he is the mayor of the largest city in the state it proved impossible to exclude him from the debates. Kunin and Smith each spent close to half a million in campaigning while Sanders raised and spent slightly more than 50,000 dollars. Yet 350 campaign supporters throughout the state distributed Sanders campaign literature and staffed tables at county fairs.
Sanders was denounced by liberals and even by those who consider themselves radicals. The primary charge against him was that he "would split the vote" and therefore allow the Republican to win.
one. Although the Vermont National Organization for Women (NOW) decided to focus on campaigning for a "yes" vote on the amendment and declined to endorse any candidate for governor, a national NOW leader, Molly Yard, without any consultation with the state organization announced NOW's support to Madeleine Kunin. Arthur Kunin, speaking for Men for the ERA, called for a vote for Kunin.
Vermont state NOW president later indicated that the state organization would send a letter to Sanders, who spoke earlier, apologizing for the unfortunate incident. Criticizing Reagan's foreign policy
The final election vote found Kunin with 47%, Smith with 38% and Sanders with 15%. That is, the Democratic Party could not convince enough people to resist voting for Sanders so that Kunin could win a majority, although the campaign obviously had an effect on many who would have voted for Sanders under other circumstances. In Burlington - which was the home base of both the Kunin and Sanders campaigns - Sanders won 20% of the vote. In Rutland - the second largest town in the state - Sanders won 25% of the vote.
Interestingly enough, Sanders continues to prove to be more popular among working people than among the liberal community. Although he supports progressive legislation -including shutting down the nuclear power plant, Vermont Yankee, and replacing it with hydro-power, passage of the Vermont ERA - and is criticized for spending too much time criticizing Reagan's foreign policy when he's only running for state
International Viewpoint 8 December 1986
office, most liberals prove too timid affected with the Democratic Party right to decide their own reproductive to break with "lesser evil" politics. machine in Burlington, but who lives and oppose the cut-off money They will admit Sanders takes better continue to vote for Democrats. The for poor women's abortion. This is positions on a whole range of issues Progressive Coalition will have to an important victory, despite the than Kunin, but end up voting for make a decision on how to organize level of right-wing organizing that Kunin on the basis of preventing for the next round of city elections, will continue. In fact, the terrorist the Republican from winning. scheduled for next spring. attacks against abortion clinics means
As mayor of Burlington, Sanders The Rainbow Coalition in Ver- that many are faced with constant helped to set up a sister city program mont - which has an orientation threats. with Puerto Cabezas (on the At- of both supporting Democrats and lantic Coast of Nicaragua), was the working within the Democratic Party, Right-wing ballot on AIDS highest-ranking US official to visit on the one hand, and supporting defeated Nicaragua for its 6th anniversary some independent campaigns on celebration, and has worked to help the other - supported the Sanders' send 600 tons of material aid to campaign for governor. Initially the In California, the right-wing forces Puerto Cabezas through the sister- Rainbow was going to staff the San- led by Lyndon La Rouche were city project. This was the largest ders office and build support state- able to place on the ballot an initisupply of material aid to reach the wide. But under pressure of the ative that would have quarantined Atlantic Coast to date. liberal sentiment, the Rainbow Coali- any person suspected of having AIDS.
Sanders has indicated that the tion advised Sanders to withdraw. This measure was opposed by almost reason there is less federal money and backed out of administering the everyone, but there was the suspicion available to the states and communi- campaign. Although it continued to that some voters might not listen to ties is because of the military budget. support the campaign, the Rainbow the factual information, but vote He believes that to be an effective Coalition critized Sanders for "running their prejudice or fear. But in fact local leader means organizing to to win" not running "to educate." the initiative went down to defeat. reverse those priorities. As he ex- The Vermont media used this incident However, another right-wing initiplained in one of his speeches: as a sign that the Sanders campaign ative in California, to make English
"What we have done is to use was in bad trouble. the state's "official language" city government, and the office of The continuing relationship and thus repudiate the idea of a bithe mayor, to involve people to make between the Progressive Coalition and lingual society, passed overwhelmingly. the fight for peace. We have one of the Rainbow Coalition is obviously Although California is a state that the most antiwar states in the coun one question that is up for discussion was part of the southwest territory try. Dozens and dozens of com- in the next period. One Democratic which was pledged to respect the munities in Vermont have passed Party candidate backed by the Rain- cultural language and tradition of the resolutions supporting a nuclear bow Coalition did get elected to Spanish-speaking people, in fact that freeze... the state legislature. Terry Bouricius, has never been respected. The refer-
La Burlington alderman who ran
"Suppose a governor got up and endum issue was worded so that said, What we are losing right now for state legislature as an indepen- many voters, who have been raised because of the hundreds and hun- There may be a recount on that con- dent, was defeated by one vote. to believe the US is a "melting pot" dreds of millions of dollars being and English is the common language, spent to destroy the people of Nicara- test. voted for a racist issue without fully gua, we are losing x numbers of The ERA was defeated in Vermont understanding the implications of the millions of dollars for housing and by a close vote: 51%-49%. The anti- vote. Most people expected that the education and environmental protec- ERAers were well funded, and used referendum - rather cleverly worded tion. What do you people think about scare tactics, claiming that if the to hide its intent - would pass.
amendment was passed, it would mean The Wisconsin Labor-Farm Party,
"The response and the lies wou local government ment can be an in debating nati getting them rever:
The Sanders' a dramatic impac race. Kunin was several programs, care program, in the campaign in some of the thund Sanders campaign. tantly voted for hoping that San governor two ye and that they can Clearly Sanders base statewide.
would be enormous, AIDS in the schools, homosexual which is a serious third-party formald be exposed. So marriage would be legalized and so on. tion, won 2% of the vote and was and state govern- Big money was put into the campaign. thus able to maintain its ballot important vehicle Like the defeat of the state ERA in status. Dennis Boyer, a Vietnam onal priorities and New York and New Jersey in 1976, veteran and attorney, won 35,000 ied." this defeat is surprising given the votes as its candidate for state campaign has had basically liberal climate of the state attorney general; its candidate for " on the governor's and the number of public officials - statewide treasurer, Joan Hollingsforced to announce including all candidates for governor - worth, a Black woman from Mil- a Black including a day- who supported it. Nadene Martin, waukee, won 50,000. Perhaps more the final weeks of spokesperson for the Vermont importantly, the party has been able irder to try to steal Coalition for the ERA, said that it to make inroads into areas of the state ler out of the Bernie was the victim of a "disgusting, very in which it has not been previously Many others reluc- dirty campaign with funds from out- active.
Kunin this time, side Vermont - it was fear that won." The examples of independent ders will run for A Burlington referendum issue to action are still small and isolated, urs down the road, authorize the City Council to write to but they have not gone unnoticed. vote for him then. both Reagan and Congress the official A number of areas are beginning to has increased his condemnation of the city for ap- talk about the need to organize propriating 100 dollars in aid to the outside the Democratic Party - an
The current administration in Bur- contras was passed. idea that makes a great deal of sense lington, with Sanders as mayor and A number of other issues were on when only a tiny handful of elected several aldermen, is run by the Pro- the state local ballots. All of the right- Democrats stand up to Reagan's gressive Coalition. It is a hetero- wing initiatives which opposed the bombing of Libya or oppose in any genous formation, composed of people use of tax money for abortion were meaningful way the mounting attacks who are definitely for building a third defeated. Clearly a majority of voters on Nicaragua and growing US militariparty along with those who are dis- continue to believe women have the zation throughout Central America O
15 International Viewpoint 8 December 1986
ECOLOGY