Blog for Iowa's Candidate Watch
Even with all the time that has passed since last November, I am amazed that
one of the blog categories that gets the highest number of hits every
week is still the Candidates section – just as if we were hot and heavy
in the middle of election season. Apparently, a large number of our readers come to
us to check out the candidates.
Therefore, to fulfill our responsibility to our readers, Blog for Iowa
is creating a Candidate Watch list. As more progressive
candidates reveal themselves to us, we will add them to the list.
This is
our way to help you learn who is out there working for change.
At this time, Blog for Iowa is watching four candidates:
Ed Fallon for Iowa Governor
–has already announced
Bruce Braley for Congress in Iowa's First District
David Loebsack for Congress in Iowa's Second District
–will be announcing shortly
Elesha Gayman for Iowa House District 84, Scott County
Click on the links above to learn more about these progressive candidates.
Or, click on the Candidate Watch links on the top right sidebar of Blog for Iowa.
Blog For Iowa 
Why Braley in the 1st? What makes him more progressive than the other candidates?
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Braley has presented himself to us as a progressive and seems to fit the bill on all of the major points of concern to us – outlined in the Democracy for Iowa mission statement. (Right sidebar.)
Whereas Gluba seems to have a solid anti-corporate stance, he is also anti-choice.
As for Dickinson, he first presented himself to us as pro-choice. Then the QCTimes identified him as anti-choice. So, many of us are wondering where he actually stands. But it's not really a great start to hire an out-of-state PR firm that misleads progressive groups from the get-go, which is what happened in our case.
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Linda:
Gluba's position on choice troubles me. At the same time, I remember that Mr. Progressive himself (Dennis Kucinich) was not pro-choice when he was elected to Congress. Besides, there is very little that the House can do regarding choice (besides $$$$, and I agree, that could be important.)
Regarding Bruce Braley, I like him. When I speak one on one with him, it seems to me that he is a progressive. However, what troubles me is that if you go trough his website (and attend his public speeches), you will not hear the progressive themes. He seems to closely follows the advice of the DCCC (thus of the DLC) in how to run a campaign.
My problem with that is that we go back again to the “be careful with what you say in public” if you want to win the General Election. Moreover, perhaps it could work for this specific election, but that kind of tactic is really one step ahead and two back! We need candidates that are proud of their progressive views and work not only to be elected, but also to advance the progressive views and the grass root organizing.
I will like to see Bruce positions on the WTO, NAFTA, CAFTA, choice, our military intervention in Iraq and so many other issues in his website; I want to hear his passion about the progressive cause in public speeches.
Until then I reserve my endorsement, and will keep considering Gluba, choice or not 😦
Peace with Justice
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