In Defeat, Victory

Even when the results are largely to be expected, defeat in justice still hurts. Such was the case with hearing of the all around negative outcomes of yesterday’s Wisconsin races.

Russ Feingold is a principled man who went down due to bad times and his membership in a failed political party. Tom Barrett and friends, largely ineffectual compromisers, hardly made a good case for themselves – even if Scott Walker and company will now begin on their promise to wreak havoc on this state’s working people. And just as the crude and demagogic candidate won these various races, so too did that same type of politician win in Wisconsin’s 77th Assembly District.

Even so, working on Ben Manski’s campaign was a monumentally positive experience.  In so many respects, it had a “movement” feel and even orientation to it.  Yesterday, election day, I would estimate that the campaign had close to 100 volunteers getting the message out to the good people of the 77th – unprecedented in a race of this kind.  Wearing a blue Manski shirt inevitably meant a thumbs up from many a passerby.  Ultimately, there has to be something said about being part of a major effort with inspiring people for a good cause.

Yes, we came up short.  At least this year, the “D” in front Hulsey’s name – the Default Party, as it turned out – was enough to ensure him victory.  Among voters who had actually heard of both Manski and Hulsey, I do not doubt that Manski won overwhelmingly.  The vast majority of Hulsey votes came from those who voted STD – staight-ticket Dem – and didn’t have a reason to bother about the candidates.  What makes his win so tragic is that Hulsey is truly the embodiment of everything that sucks about politics in this country: He’s a corporate sellout, pathological liar, utterly opportunistic.

But who would have thought even just a few months ago that a Green Party candidate could garner more than 30% of the vote in a State Assembly race?  If one considers opening up the political process to be a good thing, then what a win we had yesterday!  It also did so much to bridge divisions among progressives of different parties – this will have MAJOR implications for the future of local politics.   Principled folk from so many different backgrounds ultimately rallied around Manski.  I cannot say how impressed I am with so many progressive Democrats who had the courage to choose principle over party.

I’m an optimist.  I believe that the energy and unity achieved from the Manski campaign will continue on for our movement.  I like what Lukas said below: Today is the first day of the spring election cycle.  The Walkers and Johnsons and Hulseys may have won today.  Time to move on.  Let’s pick up where we just left off and push our side forward come next election cycle.

As Joe Hill said, “Don’t mourn.  Organize!”