RochesterTurning.com is, as ever, buzzing with frustration and irritation over the Nachbar candidacy and the outlook for a beleaguered Democratic Party in the 29th congressional district after a costly primary.  I share the frustration, since it seems to be a choice between a guy who has all the money in the world with which to lose an election and a guy with plenty of support from anybody but the playa-playa’s in the party.

Now there seems to be some confusion about the DCCC’s stance on the race, if not outright obfuscation on their part.  We’re hearing that they’ve endorsed Nachbar; that they’ve “encouraged” both candidates; that they’re playing neutral (as if such a thing was possible); that this or that politician aught to step up. . .  all these questions appear to be just positively pissing stlo7 right off:

The DCCC encouraged Nachbar to run — WITH VIDEO || rochesterturning.com: turning the tide upstate

I have a question: What do you do when the DCCC reaches out — from inside the beltway, — to decide for you who the candidate for your Congressional seat will be, or worse, to pilfer precious resources into a losing battle?

I know primaries are a necessary cost of Democracy. How else does Joe Lieberman toss himself out of the Democratic Party? How else does Rochester Mayor Duffy (or ex Mayor Bob Johnson) unify fractured local Democratic party?

But why are these people trying to force a primary in the NY29th?

There’s more developments to be found here. What genuinely disappoints me is that, while we in the blogging community all spit and holler about the apparent offenses on all sides, while we all ask questions and make demands, there seems to be a genuine lack of anything approaching statesmanship in our party both here and nationally.  

The Princeton online dictionary defines “statesmanship” as, “wisdom in the management of public affairs.”  I would personally go a bit farther in saying that statesmanship is the ability to gain consensus and forge peaceful negotiations from disagreeing people for the sake of furthering your cause, which in democratic parlance means our cause.

Nowhere can I see a single politician that is willing to display that kind of leadership or initiative.  Instead, everyone is hiding behind minimalist statements and waiting for the smoke to clear after the primary, hoping the final finger will point somewhere else.

Should Louise Slaughter step in to defray the situation?  Well, strictly speaking, it’s not her role and she hasn’t endorsed anyone officially, this time.  Should Joe Morelle convince the two candidates to come to some sort of accord?  Well, strictly speaking, he’s not involved with national-level politics.  The DCCC seems like it should probably play a role, but of course strictly speaking, primaries are the way democracy works.  Should the candidates work this out among themselves?  Well, it seems rather obvious that’s not going to happen.  Nope.  Nobody’s available to stop this train a-rollin’.

Meanwhile, rumors fly about the DCCC’s ulterior motives.  They don’t care about the 29th New York, they’d rather not risk losing money on a losing candidate, on and on we go.  But of course, not only are many of these ideas at least as reasonable as any other, but in fact people who care about politics are perfectly right to expect the same from their leaders.  It’s normal if we all go a bit nuts with the lack of information.

But when people want to be recognized as politicians and yet fail to even give the appearance of seeking a political compromise, that is really quite unconscionable.  If statesmanship is “wisdom in governance,” then certainly, it is not avoiding dialogue and compromise by hiding within your predefined role.  It is most definitely not shuffling your feet and looking down like seasonal help at K-Mart.  It is specifically the willingness and ability to reach beyond the limits of your office or place in society.

No, Louise Slaughter needn’t concern herself with the affairs of the 29th.  But at the same time, heavens know the woman is a hellified deal-maker when she wants to be, and one bad-ass negotiator.  That’s what I dig about Louise.  Besides which, endorsement or no, she certainly has some kind of relationship with both candidates, for good or ill.  She could get something done if she wanted to.

Joe Morelle may not be able to get things done by himself, but if he took the initiative to start talking to people, maybe he could build a coalition that could.  Maybe his parliament would be less marginalized if he was more involved with people at other levels of government that could wield power that his minority party cannot.  Then, he could be a real statesman for Monroe County, instead of the nominal leader of a party waiting for a majority that may or may not happen.

The DCCC is the organization most directly involved with the whole affair.  Where is their press release stating their intentions in the 29th?  No one seems to doubt that a primary fight will probably weaken either candidate by the time of the general election, so if their aim is not to doom the 29th to another two years of Republican rule, now would be a good time to make a public statement.  They have chosen not to do that so far.  This is the more objectionable on their part because they are effectively holding one set purse strings while holding the hundreds of thousands of dollars raised by grassroots activists prisoner to their as yet unidentified whim.

The candidates could of course find a way to settle this, either among themselves or by “politicking” with some of the other players.  Nachbar may surprise us all, but as it stands now, he’s not shown much more than obtuse political flat-footedness. And what about Eric Massa?  Massa’s certainly shown some political depth thus far, what has he done?  Perhaps that political talent is more geared towards the masses than other politicians, I don’t know.

I’m sure much more is happening behind the scenes, or at least I hope so.  Massa has at least done the footwork and gotten endorsements, but someone needs to step into the breach and get a resolution before we just peter out and lose another two years because of petty bickering.

Technorati Tags: Eric Massa, David Nachbar, New York 29th Congressional District, NY29, Louise Slaughter, Joe Morelle, DCCC, Election, Statesmanship

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