Pulling a Goode: Why Party Loyalty Can't Be Measured in Years

(This is a cross-post from one of my editorials at Virginia News Source.  I thought it was especially prudent to post this and address something in this primary that has been bothering me.)

Believe it or not, there are a few Democrats I+óGé¼Gäóve met who don+óGé¼Gäót like Jim Webb. I+óGé¼Gäóve asked these people many questions recently, trying to figure out what it was about Jim Webb they didn+óGé¼Gäót like, and why they preferred a lobbyist Harris Miller over a war-hero like Jim Webb. Some people prefer Miller for his ability to self-fund.  That+óGé¼Gäós cool, I understand that one.  George Allen will have A LOT of money, and it+óGé¼Gäóll take quite a bit to take him down.

I+óGé¼Gäóve heard it said that Miller is the Centrist candidate, and that will be better at speaking to Moderate Republicans. I+óGé¼Gäóm not so sure about that one, I+óGé¼Gäóm pretty centrist myself and I+óGé¼Gäóm a Webb guy. Plus, I think a former Moderate Republican should be able to speak to Moderate Republicans quite will, probably much better than Harris Miller could ever hope to.

But the one comment that has interested me the most is this one: Since Webb has spent some time as Republican, he can+óGé¼Gäót be trusted. He+óGé¼Gäós not as loyal as Harris Miller, who has worked in the DPVA for a long time now. We can+óGé¼Gäót give Webb the Democratic Nomination because we can+óGé¼Gäót trust him. I+óGé¼Gäóve even heard people liken him to Zell Miller and Virgil Goode, assuming already that if elected he would do something that would (in some way) harm the Democratic Party.

First of all, let me quote the infamous Zell.  He says that he was born into the Democratic Party and considers his party label "like a birthmark."  To this day, even though he disagrees with almost everything Democrats say, he still considers himself a Democrat, and he has his entire life.  Just because somebody was born a Democrat and have served in the party for a long time doesn't mean they are "loyal" in the traditional sense.  Anybody who compares Jim Webb to Zell Miller needs to practice making comparisons, because this is a pretty poor one.  We've all heard Jim Webb's story, and the only things he appears to have turned his back on is the Republican Party, as compared to Zell's turn on the Democrats.

Now, I don+óGé¼Gäót mean at all to demean Harris Miller+óGé¼Gäós work for this party. Not in any way, shape, or form.  I may not like the guy, but he has been able to give a lot of money to some of our candidates.  But I can+óGé¼Gäót see how anybody who knows Virginia Political history can use time in the party as an accurate way of guessing a candidate+óGé¼Gäós loyalty. Trust me, if you know anything about Virginia Politics, you know Democrats have had quite a few +óGé¼+ôbetrayals+óGé¼-¥ of sorts.

Let+óGé¼Gäós do this thing chronologically. Harry F. Byrd, Jr. had been a Democrat his whole life. With good reason, too. His father, the Democrat Harry F. Byrd, Sr., started one of the most powerful political machines in United States history (and easily the most powerful in Virginian history). He had lived in the Democratic Party his whole life. Yet in 1970, Byrd left the Democratic Party and continued to serve in the United States Senate as an Independent, creating quite a scandal in Virginia Politics. One life-long Democrat who left Virginia+óGé¼Gäós Democratic Party.

If you don+óGé¼Gäót know who this next guy is, you need to go back to High School and retake Virginia History. Mills E. Godwin, Jr. was a Democrat from Virginia for many years. He was a State Senator, a Lieutenant Governor, and even a Democratic Governor. After he finished his term as the Governor, he slowly began to drift away from the party. He managed Harry Byrd, Jr.+óGé¼Gäós Independent Senate Campaign, and organized +óGé¼+ôDemocrats for Nixon+óGé¼-¥ in 1972. He was refused a seat at that year+óGé¼Gäós Democratic State Convention. Well, that was the last straw for Godwin. Godwin joined the Republican Party, and went on to serve yet another term as Governor, but this time with an R next to his name. Two life-long Democrats who left Virginia+óGé¼Gäós Democratic Party.

Let+óGé¼Gäós think about the most recent experience we+óGé¼Gäóve had with this subject, shall we? Everybody should know about the infamous Virgil Goode, correct? As a matter of fact, some of my friends who are also into politics and I have developed our own phrase for when somebody changes parties: Pulling a Goode. Has a nice ring to it, doesn+óGé¼Gäót it? As you all of you know, Virgil Goode was not always a Republican. He was a lifelong Democrat who served in the Senate from 1973 to 1997. He ran in a Democratic Primary for Senator twice (in 1982 and 1994), losing the nomination both times. He finally moved into the federal government with his successful bid for the House of Representatives (with the retirement of L.F. Payne). After only a few years, though, Goode felt as if he wasn+óGé¼Gäót feeling the +óGé¼+ôDemocratic Love+óGé¼-¥ anymore. He declared himself an Independent in 2000, and a Republican in 2002. Three life-long Democrats who left Virginia+óGé¼Gäós Democratic Party.

What+óGé¼Gäós my point? I+óGé¼Gäóm not insinuating that Harris Miller will pull a Goode. All I+óGé¼Gäóm saying is that if you think that measuring time spent within the party is a good way to test for loyalty, you may want to pick up a Virginia History Book. Yes, Jim Webb was served under Ronald Reagan. And yes, Jim Webb is proud of his service to the Great Communicator (say what you will about Reagan's policies, he had people eating out of his hands whenever he spoke).

But Mr. Webb+óGé¼Gäós a Democrat now. He+óGé¼Gäós found where he truly belongs, just as many other confused Americans will this election season. The worst thing we can do is reject candidates and voters simply because +óGé¼+ôthey haven+óGé¼Gäót been with the party long enough to prove their loyalty.+óGé¼-¥

That+óGé¼Gäós not how you determine loyalty, that+óGé¼Gäós not how you build a coalition, and that+óGé¼Gäós not how you change things for the better. That, my friends, is how you keep your opposition in power. Party loyalty can+óGé¼Gäót be defined in years.

If you want to win, why not take a play from the Republican guide book? Mills Godwin felt estranged from Democrats in 1973, and Republicans seized on the opportunity. Many political scientists say it was the moment that signaled the end of Democratic domination in Virginia Politics, a symbol of the beginning of one of the most significant power-shifts in Virginia Political History.

Jim Webb symbolizes many Democrats who were lost to the Republicans during the Reagan years, and are now looking for a way home. I+óGé¼Gäóm ready for another power-shift, and I believe Jim Webb can be the flame that sparks it.

Okay, I'm done with my little history lesson.  Don't ever tell me I'm too young to know my history again, as I did that all pretty much from memory.  Go back to your regularly scheduled blogging.

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