Clean for Gene
Dec. 11th, 2005 10:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
govcampbellIt is with a great degree of sadness that I noted the passing of Senator Eugene McCarthy over the weekend.
As a historian from New Hampshire, I've always felt a special connection to the Senator, despite the fact that we came from different parties, different viewpoints and even different time periods.
Despite all that, I think Eugene McCarthy ranks in my own personal list of top 15 politicians of the 20th Century. McCarthy was not afraid to say what he thought was right, even when he was shouting nearly alone. He is the father of the modern grassroots campaign, in some respects, the direct political descendant of William Jennings Bryan's Populist movement. He changed the face of the Democratic Party forever. He also can be given the lion's share of the credit for making the New Hampshire primary famous. His legions of students, "Clean for Gene", shaved and washed, canvassing the state, and knocking a sitting president out of the race gave home to generations of fringe candidates who's influence and presence has helped keep so-called "main stream" politicians honest.
And on the very weekend of his passing, the Democratic Primary chooses to 'honor' his memory by suggesting that the NH Primary should have it's influence curtailed. They claim NH isn't 'diverse' enough to properly reflect the party. Well, New Hampshire has advantages over big, diverse states. Our involved electorate, as well as our small size, make it possible for someone like Eugene McCarthy to succeed. McCarthy could not have afforded to sustain an effort in say, Michigan. New Hampshire is the last bastion of local politics where money isn't everything, and sometimes you just have to own up to who you are and what you say. Eliminate the influence of NH, and we may as well go back to smoke filled back rooms.
That's what the bosses of both parties would prefer, I'm sure. Because there's nothing that terrifies them more than an informed electorate. God forbid we people have a say in who is in Government, because after all, you can't trust the people to protect what's most precious to them: their jobs.
Senator McCarthy is probably already rolling in his grave.
As a historian from New Hampshire, I've always felt a special connection to the Senator, despite the fact that we came from different parties, different viewpoints and even different time periods.
Despite all that, I think Eugene McCarthy ranks in my own personal list of top 15 politicians of the 20th Century. McCarthy was not afraid to say what he thought was right, even when he was shouting nearly alone. He is the father of the modern grassroots campaign, in some respects, the direct political descendant of William Jennings Bryan's Populist movement. He changed the face of the Democratic Party forever. He also can be given the lion's share of the credit for making the New Hampshire primary famous. His legions of students, "Clean for Gene", shaved and washed, canvassing the state, and knocking a sitting president out of the race gave home to generations of fringe candidates who's influence and presence has helped keep so-called "main stream" politicians honest.
And on the very weekend of his passing, the Democratic Primary chooses to 'honor' his memory by suggesting that the NH Primary should have it's influence curtailed. They claim NH isn't 'diverse' enough to properly reflect the party. Well, New Hampshire has advantages over big, diverse states. Our involved electorate, as well as our small size, make it possible for someone like Eugene McCarthy to succeed. McCarthy could not have afforded to sustain an effort in say, Michigan. New Hampshire is the last bastion of local politics where money isn't everything, and sometimes you just have to own up to who you are and what you say. Eliminate the influence of NH, and we may as well go back to smoke filled back rooms.
That's what the bosses of both parties would prefer, I'm sure. Because there's nothing that terrifies them more than an informed electorate. God forbid we people have a say in who is in Government, because after all, you can't trust the people to protect what's most precious to them: their jobs.
Senator McCarthy is probably already rolling in his grave.
