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Nancy Stacy deserves a trophy
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Location: Blogs Now We're Talking |
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| Posted by: Joe Byrnes |
6/27/2007 1:47 PM |
Republican Nancy Stacy has taken some heat for the political stunt she pulled. As a write-in candidate in House District 24, she blocked Democrats and independents from the June 5 GOP primary and forced a meaningless general election on Tuesday that wasted tens of thousands of dollars.
Some people have railed against the "disenfranchisement" of those non-Republicans. Because of Stacy, they have had no say in selecting their representative.
There's some truth in that.
It's no less true that she deserves a trophy as Marion County's political operative of the year. She got in there and won the case for her partisan interests - her niche group in the political battle - by taking advantage of a technicality.
She's like a good defense attorney exploiting a loophole to help her client.
The cause of justice is not served when the criminal walks free on a technicality and, standing on the steps of the courthouse, turns to give his lawyer a handshake, a grin and a wink.
But the lawyer, acting always within the law, is doing her job effectively.
The cause of democracy - the principle of representative government and the idea of "one person, one vote" - was not served by Stacy's stunt.
But it was effective.
I'd like to believe those American ideals are helped along by our political process, but real world politics is more like a brawl than a church meeting. Wishing it were otherwise is pointless.
If you're a Democrat or independent and feel cheated of your right to vote, here's where you should put the blame.
First, there's the loophole that allows a solitary write-in candidate - whose name won't be on the general election ballot - to close the primary even though we have a constitutional amendment saying it should be open to all voters when there's no other candidate for the general election. We should tweak the law to get rid of the loophole.
Second, there's the local Democratic Party. Let's face it, they could use some Nancy Stacys. The local Democrats need people who are willing to enter the political arena and strive - using every advantage the law allows - for what they believe.
Otherwise, why pretend to be a political party?
All this sends me back to stuff I tried but failed to understand decades ago - to Aristotle and his idea of the human being as a "political animal" who, by virtue of reasoned discourse, finds natural fulfillment participating in society. In this country - unlike ancient Greece - almost all adults have the opportunity to be active in politics: to vote, to petition the government, to protest, to campaign, even to run for office.
Political involvement is just one facet of lives rich with family, nature, religion, work, education, art, music - you name it - but it's a vital part because that participation or lack of participation directly affects the life of the county as a whole, the state and the nation.
I tell you this with a twinge of ironic envy because, as a journalist working for the New York Times Co., I may not take part in most political activities. I can vote - and do (when Nancy Stacy lets me) - but I may not campaign for a candidate or make contributions to partisan groups.
Here's how I picture the journalist as a political animal: he is a mutant with ears like a bat, eyes like an owl and a huge mouth but with tiny hands and feet. He should listen carefully, observe closely and communicate the truth he finds, but he may not take or give or run.
Joe Byrnes may be reached at joe@ocala.com or (352) 867-4112. |
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Re: Nancy Stacy deserves a trophy |
By Dave on
6/27/2007 1:49 PM |
| A great way to get your kid to obey is to beat him. A great way to be first in line is to cut in front of people. A great way to make money is to rob a bank. However, it does not make it right. But it works. Nancy Stacey's trick worked. But it was slimy. Slime on her hands; slime on her party's hands. |
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Re: Nancy Stacy deserves a trophy |
By Dave. on
6/28/2007 2:53 PM |
Right on Dave. Agree 100%
That's party politics for you. It's not what's good for the people, it's what's good for the party. |
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Re: Nancy Stacy deserves a trophy |
By Ray Cates on
6/29/2007 3:14 AM |
| The Stacy Stunt was FRAUD. She admitted she did not want the office, but did a stunt to stop others from voting ---it is pure fraud, and the officials who prosecute that should do her. |
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