A Conversation with Mark Wilson

As many of you may know Maria Cantwell may be facing a challenge for the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in the person of Mark Wilson. Mark's name may be familiar to some who will know that he challenged for Patty Murray's senate seat as a Green Party candidate in the 2004 election. I met Mark last night at the DFA Meetup in Everett and would like to share some of the conversation that took place. I hope that this will be the beginning of an on-going conversation and that we will be able to delve into the issues that will shape this race; both during the primary and into the general election in November, 2006. I will add here that I have not yet invited Senator Cantwell to join this conversation or, perhaps, start a new one as a counterpoint. I will make my best effort to do this. Now to Mark Wilson:

The Left Shue:
Mark, what is drawing you to this race? Why would you believe you can challenge an incumbent US Senator?

Mark Wilson:
Many concerned citizens fear that with the 2006 elections, we could see a Republican super-majority in the US Senate. I believe, as do many of our fellow Washingtonians, that Cantwell’s Senate seat is in jeopardy. Her voting record -- for the Iraq War, for the PATRIOT Act, for NAFTA, for confirmation of Condoleeza Rice, and for moving class-action lawsuits out of state and into federal courts -- has alienated and alarmed what should be her base constituency. Many have come to regard her as a fast-tracking, free-trading corporate elitist and will not vote for her in 2006 under any circumstances. Consider: Cantwell effectively “bought” her seat in the 2000 election, spending approximately $10 million of her own money. Yet even so, she barely squeaked by Slade Gorton (R): Only 2,229 votes got her in the door. And her “win” was largely circumstantial. When Greens turned out in large numbers in the 2000 election to support Nader. Many of them also voted for Cantwell as an “anti-Gorton” vote. Likewise, some 50,000 Libertarians voted for their own Senate candidate and siphoned votes away from Gorton. With the 2006 election, the situation’s changed. This time, there’ll be no Nader effect blowing in Cantwell’s favor. This time, the Libertarians, who have lost major-party status, may not even field a Senate candidate -- and they’re not going to vote for Cantwell. And this time, rather than starting out with a flush campaign war-chest, Cantwell starts out in the hole. With her campaign debt of more than $2.5 million, she’s hobbled right out of the gate. For all these reasons I am deeply concerned that Cantwell will make a gift of her Senate seat to a smooth, centrist Republican -- a soccer-dad or -mom type with deep pockets.

TLS:
So what gives you an edge? What qualities or background will you bring to the race that will help garner the support that you will need to be successful?

MW:
Why me? Because I think I can keep that seat in the Democratic Party. My informal survey shows I have wide potential appeal -- to blue collar and white collar alike. I own a small business and belonged to the Teamsters, and I’ve worked as a commercial fisherman in the Bering Sea. My dad and I both served in the Marine Corps, and two of my sons are also veterans. In addition, I’m a founding member of Veterans for Peace. This means I can talk to military supporters and peace advocates alike and working families and small business owners. And I can do it with empathy and compassion. Veterans in Washington State form a huge constituency; more than 600,000 live here, and many have traditionally voted Republican. Union members are another big voting bloc: the Washington State Labor Council boasts more than 500,000 members. Many of them are moving more and more Republican. Many commercial fishermen have too. These are people I know and can talk to. I’ve lived their lives, and I share their concerns. I can show them why it’s not only against their self-interests, but against their values, to vote Republican. I’m also a capital “P” Progressive, and unlike Cantwell, I won’t cave in to corporate-elitist pressure. While I may be a political maverick, I am not inexperienced in the ways of campaigns. In 2002, I ran as a Libertarian for the U.S. House -- and in 2004, I ran as a Green for the U.S. Senate. (I was a Kucinich delegate to our county convention.) While at first blush these parties appear to be at opposite ends of the political divide, they share enough values to reach people throughout the political spectrum. For example, both Greens and Libertarians -- as well as Progressive Democrats everywhere -- support ending the illegal Iraq war, ending the tragically misguided war on drugs, decreasing the Orwellian power of the so-called PATRIOT Act, and ending corporate welfare, unlike Maria Cantwell. Both parties advocate a renewed allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, and both work to strengthen personal liberty and individual responsibility. But though I’ve run as a Green and a Libertarian before, this time I’ll return to my Democratic roots. Why? Because I want to fight for the Progressive changes we all believe in -- and because I want to win. As a Democratic candidate, I expect to pull votes from the Libertarian and the Green Parties, as well as the strong progressive core of the Democratic Party. And oddly enough, I think I stand a shot at garnering some Republican support as well. From true Republicans: not the neo-con wolves masquerading as beneficent-benefactor sheep. From the politically homeless Republicans, those who still believe in Lincoln and are deep in the rough over the aggressive and corporate-loving fascists who have taken their party and our country by force and are now threatening our very world. Republicans who still believe in cooperation across party lines and working in concert towards the common good. I can reach these real Republicans.

TLS:
Speaking of the republicans, who do you see in your crystal ball as far as potential republican candidates in the general election?

MW:
Dino Rossi’s one possibility. In a race against Cantwell, Rossi -- or any other well-funded Republican -- could be the beneficiary of what I’ll call the “Independent sympathy vote.” “Rossi should have been Governor,” the thinking among Independents might be, “so let’s give him and the Republicans Gorton’s old Senate seat.” I’d also keep a sharp eye on Republican multi-millionaire John Stanton, formerly of Western Wireless. You think Cantwell bought her way into the U.S. Senate? Stanton could pay for that seat with his lunch money. And don’t think this can’t happen. While Washington Republicans were unsuccessful at convincing Stanton to run for Governor -- where he would have crushed Rossi and move on to a possible win-- they may well be successful convincing him to go after Cantwell. If he does, that’s one Senate seat out of the critical four that will be deeper in trouble.

TLS:
Well Mark, thanks for taking the time to begin this conversation. I look forward to continuing into the specific issues of the race in the coming weeks and months. I guess this would be a good time for the website plug and contact information.

MW:
Chad, Thanks so much for coming out to meet me. I really enjoyed getting to know you all a bit. I know much of what I ask is like being on a blind date proposing marriage. But Cantwell is going to make a gift of this important seat to the R's if we don't rescue it from her.Bottom line? We’ve just got to keep this Senate seat in the Democratic fold. Many think I can be the way to make this happen. These concerns should be yours too. I hope you’ll take some time to seriously consider me. Take a look at my web site http://www.votemark.org/. You might want to start by reading a talk I gave while running for the U.S. Senate in 2004 http://www.votemark.org/articles/tvw.htm. I'd really appreciate the chance to meet with you and your concerned family, friends and neighbors.

Stay tuned

Chad (The Left) Shue
Somewhere in an Oz cornfield........