I have been more or less involved in nuts and bolts politics since 1980, when I was a last minute volunteer for Jimmy Carter. My job was to put up signs on election day. Apparently I had a Republican counterpart whose job was to take them down, because, wherever we put them, they were gone within minutes.
In the years since I’ve found the pattern has held. Democratic signs, yard and otherwise, get stolen. This appears to be a pattern nationwide. Today Jesus General reports, via the Kansas City Star, on a Republican candidate who got caught on youtube stealing his opponent’s signs. Most likely there are some Democrats and left wingers stealing signs somewhere, but if this search page at youtube is any indication, they are few and far between.
We are asking for donations for Obama signs here at Groton Democratic Headquarters (yes, I’m live-blogging) because we have to pay for them ourselves. I gave one to a friend in my office, and his was stolen within days. Today we got 30 more, which we got be donating to the New Haven Democrats, who had some extras. I’ll be giving my friend another sign, which will, no doubt, be stolen again. Meanwhile, the McCain signs are left alone.
I am convinced that this lopsided state of affairs is emblematic of a fundamental difference between the parties, and yes, there are differences between them. Republicans know no boundaries, as John McCain is proving yet again. To them, politics is war by other means, and all’s fair in war. Slander, theft, dishonesty, voter suppression, it’s all okay. It makes it harder for us, since if we don’t beat them, we join them at the risk of becoming like them. All the more reason to remain on our guard.
3 Comments