Essential Estrogen

Former Sen. John Edwards has announced a list of people who previously were number ones for former Gov. Tom Vilsack who have now committed to his campaign.

While we aren't typically the gals who bitch about people getting involved in the process, this list gives us pause (as we did after glancing through Vilsack's list). While there will always be some who will feel strongly about a particular candidate early on, is it really in the best interest of our state for elected officials to be endorsing any one candidate at this stage in the game?

If you look at the Edwards list -- and keep in mind these are only the previous Vilsack supports and not his entire list of Iowa ones -- you'll notice quickly at the top several Iowa Democratic Party Officials.

The time has come, we think for elected officials to have impartiality until caucus night written into their duties. That is, county chairs and other members of county executive boards, district central committee and state central committee members should not be allowed to endorse. Why?

Not to pick on the good folks down by Mt. Pleasant, but let's look at Edwards' list for Henry County. We've got the Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary all endorsing Edwards. (Note that this all means each of these people endorsed Vilsack -- which is probably understandable given the logistics.) This endorsement is all well and good for these people, but what about the remainder of the Democrats within that county?

I wonder how the other candidates are going to feel about contacting Henry County for visits and events in the coming months? Obviously the process put in place by the IDP is no longer of use to them and they will need to develop their own contacts within that county -- outside of the official party -- in order to campaign there effectively.

In this scenario, the endorsement by the county's elected officials limits everyone of their constituents and is unfair and, in our opinion, unethical. When one agrees to represent a group or region, one agrees to be part of something bigger than the individual. Therefore, you cannot be a good County Chair and a number one for any candidate.

To put it even more bluntly, we believe the Democrats in Madison, Henry and any other Iowa county in which executive board members have made formal endorsements should call a coup. We believe those on the State Central Committees of either party who have publicly endorsed a candidate should be immediately ousted from office. There are some things -- such as Iowa's status as First in the Nation -- which is bigger than any one person. Those elected to positions of influence and authority... those who have the most opportunity to perhaps tilt their county's relationship with a candidate should not be making endorsements. Period.