Why I am supporting Steve Novick
Randy Leonard
I am not new to the “Steve Novick for US Senate” campaign. Early on in Steve’s deliberation as to whether or not he should challenge Gordon Smith in next year’s election, I immediately told Steve I would endorse his candidacy and would do anything asked of me to help him succeed.
Steve, of course, decided to take the plunge and I was humbled and honored when he asked me to introduce him to the large crowd that gathered at the Long Shore Hall to hear his announcement earlier this year.
I first met Steve when I was a State Senator representing east Portland in the Oregon Legislature. Steve was hired by the Senate democrats to be our caucus administrator, the highest non-elected position possible within the then Senate minority office.
Each of us within the Senate democratic caucus soon became deeply impressed by Steve’s lethal combination of intelligence, wit and ability to form effective strategy. Many of the speeches I gave on the floor of the Senate in the 1997 session were edited by Steve for “punch.” I usually resist speaking the words of others for they rarely deliver the message I want with clear and unambiguous language. Not so when Steve was assisting me in drafting speeches fighting against corporate tax giveaways and republican efforts to make it unlawful to burn the flag, to name just two battles.
I still relish some of those floor fights. We tied up the republicans with procedural and parliamentary maneuvers and, after exhausting the arrows in our technical quivers, gave floor speeches that often drew applause from the surrounding public galleries.
Most of those words and strategies were devised by Steve Novick.
As Oregon’s next United States Senator, Steve will speak “truth to power” every day he serves in the Senate. Further, Steve’s truth will not be his truth but , rather the sacred, universal truth that is often held hostage by powerful lobbyist—lobbyists who find their strength in Senators whose service to the public has been blurred beyond recognition by too many corporate junkets and campaign contributions.
There aren’t many I will say this about, but Steve Novick could literally change the face of debate in the United States Congress. He will undoubtedly become a darling of the press corps that searches for someone who actually has something to say in response to a question like “Why are we in Iraq.” His impact upon arriving in the US Senate in January 2009 is nearly incalculable.
Oregon deserves and needs a partnership between Ron Wyden and Steve Novick in the United States Senate. Now, to make that happen, I am asking all of my progressive brothers and sisters to realize that the future is now: We have our candidate.
His name is Steve Novick and I am campaigning for his election to the United States Senate.
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May 28, '07
Unlike many here I have no clue who I will support to challange Smith. However this is an impressive endorsement.
12:52 p.m.
May 28, '07
You did a great job in summing up many of the reasons why I'm supporting Steve.
For those in Multnomah County who want to hear him speak, I just heard that he'll be at the Multnomah County Democrats' monthly meeting on June 14th. Full details on the meeting can be found here.
If you're not in/around Multnomah County, or can't make it, contact your local party and see if he'll be at an upcoming meeting.
Hearing him speak in person can be very inspiring.
1:04 p.m.
May 28, '07
Volunteer and donate for Steve's campaign at NovickForSenate.com.
2:15 p.m.
May 28, '07
Amen! Preach it Brother Randy!
2:19 p.m.
May 28, '07
woot! Right on, Randy. You're not crazy, either.
May 28, '07
Thank you, Randy.
4:03 p.m.
May 28, '07
Well said. Thanks for that.
May 28, '07
I'll agree, Randy presented a great endorsement statement for Steve Novick. But as great as that statement is, the reality on the ground is brutal.
No elective office experience, little name recognition, and questionable contacts on the rural side of the Oregon political equation. Mr. Novick's weakness is right where Senator Smith is strongest.
Face it, and Randy did head on, Mr. Novick's experience is behind the scenes, as a party operative and functionary. Being the face of the party, as the candidate, in a statewide race of this magnitude is on a different level. Writing speeches and divising delaying tactics for a minority in a legislative session does not make a candidate.
At this point, Mr. Novick is the only game in town. Certainly, Portland Democrats can rally around Mr. Novick and feel good, he's one of them, for sure. But what about the rest of the state?
There is time, not unlimited, but time enough for other candidates with different skill sets and experiences to come forward and offer their services to the Democratic Party.
This will be a long hot Summer. We'll see the results of the individual gut checks: a Senate seat, the brass ring is in reach, but who will dare to change that reach into a grasp, snatching the brass ring to the bosom of their political heart.
Surely that dream resides in other hearts besides Steve Novick's.
4:33 p.m.
May 28, '07
As I've said many times, I'm not a Portland Democrat. I currently reside in Gresham, which is about as different from Portland as night and day.
But I was born, raised, and lived 22 years in a small rural town before moving to Gresham.
And I support Steve.
I think his support and name recognition outside of Portland is greater than people may think.
4:40 p.m.
May 28, '07
A dream is great, but without the desire and the hard work it is just that - a dream.
One by one, the other higher profile, more experienced Democratic officeholders - amply qualified all - have disclosed to us that they just didn't want it enough to take on the challenge. We should applaud them for figuring it out on their own, and not ensnaring us all in unnecessary confusion.
We've got one candidate who is ready, willing, and able. If there are others, let them declare themselves quickly. If not, then everyone should get to work supporting the candidate we've got... who could surprise a lot of people (including some Blue Oregon regulars) if we all got the hell out of his way and got behind him instead. Every day is precious.
4:50 p.m.
May 28, '07
The question to continue coming back to, in my mind, is whether Steve represents who and what I want from my junior Senator. If everyone who was not 100% sold on Smith made that calculus their focus, Steve has more than enough going for him to deliver on that basis.
In any case, Steve plays well in Southern Oregon, that I've seen. Check out the pieces Ashland's paper has done on Bates, particularly the most recent one with several praises of competitiveness in that area.
5:16 p.m.
May 28, '07
The DCCC has shopped around Oregon for a candidate to oppose Gordon Smith. After approaching several potential candidates without success they and other political strategists are still shopping. Novick met with the Jackson County Democratic Ex Committee in March and met with the Medford Mail Tribune editorial staff on the same day. We may have a candidate in the race from Jackson County, State Senator Alan Bates. Torridjoe reminds us to do our research on potential candidates. I cannot substantiate torridjoe's remark that Novick plays well in Southern Oregon. He is remarkably unknown which is too bad. He does have ties to some important leaders in Southern Oregon associated with environmental issues.
5:27 p.m.
May 28, '07
"I cannot substantiate torridjoe's remark that Novick plays well in Southern Oregon."
Well, you can if you go read the Ashland Tidings piece. :)
May 28, '07
So Novick doesn't have name recognition around the state. This is May 2007 and the election isn't until November 2008, so what's the problem that Novick's name can't be made known in Eastern and Southern Oregon within the next few months? If most Oregonians are tired of Smith and his wishy-washy ways and mealy-mouthed comments they should be happy to have him replaced with someone with substance and strength of character.
May 28, '07
Yes, let's elect another Republican-lite to Congress. That will solve all our problems.
Democrats are part of the problem, not the solution.
May 28, '07
All due respect, folks, newspaper articles are no gauge of how a US Senate candidate will play with the sort of voters who may have been too busy to read the newspaper. If Bill B. wants to be part of Steve Novick's travels to downstate counties, that would be a good experience for both of them.
True name recognition is not about what bloggers say, or what newspapers say, but what ordinary folks (the kind who took a trip over Memorial Day or attended a neighborhood BBQ or something non-political like that) say about a particular candidate.
I don't trust the DSCC (sorry Paulie, I think you had a typo) to know what Oregonians want, although it is interesting that they have been to places in this state other than Portland.
I would warn that even if Steve does "have ties to some important leaders in Southern Oregon associated with environmental issues", that doesn't mean that people's friends living in Central Point or Medford or Roseburg or Sutherlin will have heard of him. Do residents retired from timber companies or other resource industries have a positive impression or even know Steve exists?
Here's what I mean by recognition by ordinary people: My sister is probably the least political member of our family, so if she comments on politics that really means something. The first year Alan Bates was elected to the state senate, my sister was living in Medford and came to visit that October. I asked if she knew anything about the state senate race and she said "WELL! Everyone knows Dr. Bates!".
All due respect, Randy, the only way Steve becomes "the darling of the press corps" is if he wins the Senate race. He only wins if he is able to get votes in places much less politically active and partisan than Portland--Central Point, Dallas and The Dalles, Prineville and Port Orford, Madras and Myrtle Creek, etc. Jackson County has elected Peter Buckley and Dennis Richardson to the Oregon House---sounds like a purple county to me!
When we start hearing Steve's supporters know how much it costs for a week long cable ad in small town Oregon, how much a 1/8 page ad in one of those shopper weeklies costs, how much an ad in a mainstream small town paper costs, how many small towns he could visit in one day/ one week, rather than what a great speechmaker he is, only THEN he will be a serious candidate.
Regardless of what some activists think, winning hearts and minds in Multnomah County and in the blogosphere isn't enough to win a statewide election.
But small town visits creating buzz because someone tells a neighbor they went to see that guy running for US Senate (the old "he cared enough to come here and talk to folks" strategy) would be effective. It has been said that Wyden doesn't have to wear cowboy boots and a big belt buckle to E. Oregon because he's been there so often everyone knows he is genuine. A lesson in there for other candidates.
11:29 p.m.
May 28, '07
it's a new day in American electoral politics, kids; let's remember that. what did and didn't work in past years isn't what will work or not in 2008. just remember how much has changed in the past 4 years, how Howard Dean went from nowhere to the lead, how Ned Lamont kicked Liebermann's primary ass, the shift to the left from indies, the power of the 'roots, net and grass.
Steve's starting way behind in conventional terms, so the big goal here is to run an unconventional campaign. he'll have to travel and raise money and eventually the DSCC will have to back him up, but before, during and after that, it's what those of us who support him can do that will make the difference. if we are relentless in our own campaigns -- blogging, letters to the editor, talk to people, keep the money flowing in whatever small chunks we can, every crazy idea we can come up with -- then Steve will exit the primary with the nomination, with buzz and with Smith on the ropes.
i am very excited about this. i can't wait to get back to Oregon this fall and get more involved. this campaign could change a lot of things, not the least (or most) of which is getting us a Senator we can be proud of.
1:23 a.m.
May 29, '07
The more the merrier. Let's have a positive but competitive primary campaign.
Without it, Steve's campaign will languish in the media shadows until October 2008. With a competitive primary, we'll have plenty of coverage - at least in April/May 2008.
It'll also put Steve's (and the other candidates') organizations through their paces, develop the systems, train the talent, and get things ready for the fall.
May 29, '07
Although, Mr. Novick has a strong Oregon Democratic party background, I find it informing that more open and enthusiastic support hasn't been forthcoming from the party itself. Then again, I'm not all that surprised. The constant vague references to a better known, more experienced candidate are telling. Come to think of it, I’m liking Novick even more for that alone.
May 29, '07
Could we all agree to a moratorium on referring to rural residents a "folks."
It really doesn't make the author sound 'folksy" anymore, it just comes off as phony, contrived and more than just a little patronizing.
And don't forget that "name recognition" and the ability to raise money are what gave us George W. Bush. Democrats can do better.
8:59 a.m.
May 29, '07
I find it informing that more open and enthusiastic support hasn't been forthcoming from the party itself.
The state party almost never endorses people prior to the primary, and certainly not before filing day (next March). The party's job is to be neutral until a nominee is selected... otherwise, what's the point of asking Oregon Democrats to vote in a primary?
11:51 a.m.
May 29, '07
Huh?
How is Steve Novick a "Republican-lite"...?
12:05 p.m.
May 29, '07
Are you serious?
Many people use "folks" to describe a nebulous group of people, neither urban or rural. I myself use "folks" to describe a generic group of people, be it a group in Beaverton or the Pearl. To try and read into it as if it is some sort of attempt to caricature rural people as "folksy" is ridiculous and is analogous to claiming that talking about black & white photography is racist.
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
May 29, '07
Steve’s truth will not be his truth but , rather the sacred, universal truth that is often held hostage by powerful lobbyist
Does this include upholding the "universal truth" that free trade is good for all economies involved and all workers involved, a "truth" that is often held hostage by powerful labor union, nativist, and anti-globalization lobbyists?
3:06 p.m.
May 29, '07
Not to derail this discussion into your pet-issue UPO (nor will I let it)... but I must say that your "universal truth "about unrestricted global trade being "good for all" is anything but. It borders on "third-way" neo-liberal hokum which is open quite open for debate, and certainly does not legitimately garner your label of being a "universal truth". You have repeatedly made clear that you think global free-trade agreements is tantamount to a cure for cancer, but to claim it is great for (and a net gain) everyone doesn't even pass the laugh test.
But please, drink deeply of your WTO/IMF/World Bank kool-aid.
May 29, '07
lestatdelc, I consider the left's refusal to acknowledge the economics behind free trade benefits to be the equivalent of the right's refulsal to acknwoledge the biology behind the compelling arguments for evolution.
5:23 p.m.
May 29, '07
UPO... I consider stupid, nonspecific, hyperbole and broad-brush labeling is all I can expect from a pet-issue nitwit.
You can have the last response (such as it is) since I refuse to derail the thread further.
May 29, '07
Regardless of what some activists think, winning hearts and minds in Multnomah County and in the blogosphere isn't enough to win a statewide election.
If Steve begins with a base in Portland, and has 17 months to broaden it to other parts of the State, there's no question that he can put together a winning campaign.
Whether he can pass the "LT's sister in Medford has heard of him" test, I don't know.
-John
May 29, '07
Dear lestatdelc
Better get a check-up on those reading-comprehension skills, pardner. I never said "folks" is used by authors to make rural residents sound folksy.
So the entire premise of your response is flawed and kind of waaaaayyyyy over the top.
May 29, '07
lestatdelc, I consider the left's refusal to acknowledge the economics behind free trade benefits to be the equivalent of the right's refulsal (sic) to acknwoledge the biology behind the compelling arguments for evolution.
What free trade? The global corporations and their fronts - WTO, Word Bank, etc. - have it all rigged with their partners in the two Washington wings on the corporate bird of prey.