Posted on 06/22/2002 4:39:27 PM PDT by Camber-G
BURLEY — Playing catch-up can be tricky in politics.
And in many ways, that´s what the Democrats are doing at their state convention in Burley this weekend.
They´re trying to regain some ground in the heavily Republican Legislature.
Trying to inch up in the polls on the top Republican candidates.
Trying to find a way to reach the people in a state that has largely turned them away.
One of their first steps: Changing perceptions.
And that means tackling some tough issues in the party´s platform.
They plan to change the word “preservation” to “conservation” in one party plank. They added a clause that supports preservation of Idaho´s water rights.
Boundary County delegate Elsie Hollenbeck is pushing for a plank that supports Idaho´s resource workers and local officials in dealing with federal agencies on land use.
She´s hoping the party will endorse language that calls for action that´s being done by people in her area — joining federal and state officials to protect endangered species while considering economic and social impacts.
The Democrats need to have a new stand in what was once their county, she said.
“We have lost the timber industry because they see us as tree huggers,” Hollenbeck said.
And that´s the easy one.
“There is a perception out there,” said delegate Curtis Madden, “that Democrats are anti-gun.”
Former Sen. Lin Whitworth said the issue has plagued the party for years.
“The first time I ran, I quit the N.R.A. because they wouldn´t support a Democrat way back then,” he said.
It hasn´t gotten any easier.
Post Falls resident Kristy Reed Johnson, who´s running for Legislature for the second time, said that issue alone can kill you.
“I was clobbered by the gun issue,” she said. “I was beat over the head with it.”
She and many others say the party should support the Second Amendment and the even stronger gun rights language in the Idaho Constitution. That plank survived at least one day of discussions.
More will come today as they finalize and vote on the new platform.
The two parties´ platforms hit on similar points. They praise education and freedoms, loathe big government.
But the Democrats, blessed with convening a few days after the GOP, are thinking about adding a few planks to distinguish themselves from their competitors.
The platform committee is recommending a section endorsing the bipartisan redistricting commission, which was recently reviled by the Republicans, who want to give the responsibility back to the Legislature.
They also want to add a plank supporting tribal sovereignty and economic development on reservations — in language similar to a proposal killed at the GOP convention in Sun Valley.
To offer story ideas or comments, contact Gregory Hahn ghahn@idahostatesman.com or 377-6425
Edition Date: 06-22-2002
There just ain't no slipping NOTHING past this boy,is it?
Former Sen. Lin Whitworth said the issue has plagued the party for years.
“The first time I ran, I quit the N.R.A. because they wouldn´t support a Democrat way back then,” he said.
He is a liar. The NRA has never backed any political party,only individual politicians.
You picked the same point I did. He's lying. One of Congress's biggest NRA guys is John Dingell, Democrat of Michigan. When the number of pro-gun D's shrink to nothing, it's hard for the NRA to support a D. Dingell is the guy who called the BATF "jack-booted thugs" and that was back in the 70's.
Former senator Lin Whitworth should rejoin the NRA then. But I seriously doubt the Idaho Democrats will embrace gun rights and private property rights and resource uses, the Democratic party is too beholden to the gun control lobby, and the environmental lobby. The money and the clout the enviral lobby holds in the large states such as California, New York and elsewhere is going to sway these DINO Idaho Democrats to vote for the DemocRAT to vote their big government way.
[Idaho] Democrats raid GOP platforms. Water gun rights included in new party platform
“The first time I ran, I quit the N.R.A. because they wouldn´t support a Democrat way back then,” he said.
That's BS as the NRA supports whoever supports gun rights and has a chance in the election.
She and many others say the party should support the Second Amendment and the even stronger gun rights language in the Idaho Constitution.
I agree. They should make concealed carry like VT style. None of this permit crap, and allowing elected officials to carry without a permit. That is outrageous.
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