In not quite news, Steve Jarding is not running for Governor or Congress in 2014:
...in light of my other commitments and responsibilities, specifically my teaching and international and national business commitments, I came to the decision that now it not the right time for me to run for political office. Instead, I pledge to continue to speak out and fight for our state and our citizens and to assist others who have stepped forward into the political arena this cycle who believe as I do that we can and must do better at giving hope and opportunity to all of our citizens [statement attributed to Steve Jarding, Facebook post on "People for Steve Jarding," 2014.01.24].
That offer to "assist others who have stepped forward in the political arena this cycle" could have been worded a bit more directly to provide some actual assistance. Jarding doesn't mention the other candidates by name. He doesn't say, "I'm going to help Corinna Robinson and Joe Lowe, the candidates who have stepped to run for the offices I was considering, because they are great candidates." He says earlier in his statement that "both of the current occupants of those offices are beatable," but he doesn't say, "Corinna and Joe can beat Kristi and Dennis, and I'll help Corinna and Joe beat Kristi and Dennis."
Jarding doesn't mention Robinson or Lowe in his reasons for not running. He could have combined his demurral with praise for the other candidates: "I have a lot on my plate. I'd lead the fight if I had to, but knowing Corinna and Joe can lead the fight for our ideals takes the pressure off me, and I'm happy to yield the floor to these two great candidates."
Jarding left out one tiny word that strikes me as significant. Compare one of his sentences above with one slight alteration (#1 is his; #2 is mine):
- "...I pledge to continue to speak out and fight for our state and our citizens and to assist others who have stepped forward into the political arena this cycle who believe as I do that we can and must do better at giving hope and opportunity to all of our citizens."
- "...I pledge to continue to speak out and fight for our state and our citizens and to assist the others who have stepped forward into the political arena this cycle who believe as I do that we can and must do better at giving hope and opportunity to all of our citizens."
Did you catch the difference?
We have others. Robinson and Lowe are the others. Jarding does not say that they are the candidates who share his values. Jarding says he will support candidates who share his values. He offers his supporters no direction to get behind the candidates.
And his supporters, the still-unnamed "People for Steve Jarding," make no move in any direction toward the candidates. Their response to Jarding's quit is still all about Jarding:
People for Steve Jarding would like to take a moment to thank Steve Jarding for allowing us to share his ideas and thoughts about the future of South Dakota in recent months. Even though he has chosen not to run in 2014, he has continued to impact the political dialogue in this state, and we are very grateful for his time and his deep consideration.
We, in this volunteer effort, are dedicated to ensuring that South Dakota experiences a Steve Jarding candidacy soon. If he's open to it, in 2016, we will be right back to build more support for him to run in this great state which he calls home. This has been the first online effort to build his support, and we consider it a great start [someone claiming to be "People for Steve Jarding," Facebook post, 2014.01.24].
Last May, when Brendan Johnson decided not to run for U.S. Senate, his backers immediately pivoted to support the announced candidate Rick Weiland and exhort signatories to the "Draft Brendan Johnson" movement to do the same. Jarding's draft movement brags about building support, but they don't signal that they want to do anything with that support other than wait to push Jarding to run next time.
A prominent non-candidate who tried to bank some political capital to unseat the powers that be in 2014 might consider passing that capital to the candidates who are actually taking up that daunting challenge. Jarding's withdrawal announcement does not do so.
I thought the statement was odd and self-indulgent.
His wins as campaign manager in Virginia for Gov. Mark Warner and then former Navy Secretary Jim Webb to the U.S. Senate were groundbreaking. Then something went "thud."
His subsequent work in South Dakota could charitibly be called underwhelming. Phil's description above pretty much sums things up. I didn't think for a nanosecond Jarding would run for anything in 2014, but the mystery is why he initiated so much thunder and lightning signifying nothing.
It would be nice if Democrats like Jarding or Tom Daschle would come back to South Dakota for more than just a day or two at a time to try and build the party. And where is Stephanie? They lose an election and basically go into hiding? Where are the Dems "elder statesmen"?
Mention former Senator Abourezk's name and see if he gets villified as a Muslim by wingnuts. Didn't Israel put out a hit on him at one time? SoDak used to have some decent representation in DC. McGovern,Daschle,Abourezk and Tim Johnson wasn't too bad at first. Newer reps have forgotten work ethic and party first before all else.
Phil, maybe the role of "elder statesman" is open for you?
Phil, that's a deep and depressing rabbit hole you're nosing around there. Here's the short version. George McGovern's the only one who had a genuine interest in building a strong party. The rest viewed it as a nagging necessity that should be kept silent and out of their way.
I really miss Tom Daschle. He had so much clout for SD, and it's unlikely that SD will ever get a top ranking Senator like that again (not with our current anti-gay, anti-women's rights tea party politicians anyway).
Where are the democrats in Sioux Falls? If SD ever wants to build up the democrat party again, South Dakota's largest town is going to have to get proactive and start doing it. It's not going to happen in Onida, Howard or Phillip SD. Motivate your democrat base, encourage young progressive activists. In MN, when Paul Wellstone was killed, a huge grass roots effort was started to keep the progressive policies going that he and his wife fought for. Camp Wellstone has been a huge success and progressivism is alive and well in MN. Invite Tom Dashle back to SD to motivate the base. Do something!
Jenny, I agree with you that we need to do something to fire up the Dems. My only problem is, why does Tom need an invitation? If he really was interested in helping out I'd think he would do it on his own volition.
And Cory, I appreciate your comment! But only if we took the word "elder" out of the equation.
Don't get me wrong, I have much respect for the folks I mentioned earlier. It just blows my mind that they're not more active here locally.
Please could I have an address to mail a campaign contribution to. Thank you
Pat! You can contribute online here:
https://act.myngp.com/Forms/4774097079989436416
You can also mail checks to campaign HQ:
People for Rick Weiland
P.O. Box 1488, Sioux Falls, SD 57101
Treasurer: Beverly Casey