I’ve been talking to my friends about “big names in politics.”
It seems that we tend to vote for the guy (or gal) with the bigger reputation, more recognizable face, or most publicity. One particular pal of mine was frustrated by the lack of unbiased info on the candidates, especially for some of the local races. “It’s so hard finding about where they stand on important issues,” she said. “You go to their website, or read and/or watch their ads in the media, and that’s all you have to go on, it seems.”
The “Battle of the Daves”, between Dave Ross (D) and Dave Reichert (R) in eastern King County for Washington state representative, 8th district, is a case in point. Both the Ross and Reichert pages seem to be almost populist in nature, illustrating the wide appeal both candidates have.
Ross is a popular radio personality, while Reichert is a prominent law-enforcement figure known for tracking down the Green River Killer. Both won handily in their primaries, trouncing their lesser-known but still-qualified rivals. It almost seems that folks went with the name they remembered. But how do you get a “big name”?
“Money,” said one of my friends. “With enough financial backing, you can get your face on more billboards and your name on more yard signs.” True enough, I admitted. What else?
“Well, I guess having done something locally that lots of people remember is important.” Again, another good answer. Ross and Reichert are well-funded, and both have “curbside appeal” for what they’ve done (or want to do) in congress.
I think having a “big name” in politics might also be tied into a certain element of trust. That is, of course, related to how they got their fame to begin with. If their reputation is based on solid, “good” contributions to the local community, like our two Daves, then it’s a huge plus for both candidates. If one guy was a relative unknown and was going up against someone most people had at least heard about, I wonder how that would affect the “voting public”.
Do we go with brand names, or qualifications? And how do we find out about candidates, especially in a fair and unbiased manner? Is it just limited to the voter’s pamphlet? Or can we do more? Do we even want to? When it boils down to it, do we vote because we recognize the name, or because of who's behind it?
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