For those of you who haven’t already heard, Ashwin Madia, who we interviewed way back in December here at SM, won the Democratic Primary in his Minnesota Congressional district against rather tough odds:
DFL activists Saturday chose first-time office seeker and Iraq War veteran Ashwin Madia as their endorsed candidate for the Third Congressional District seat being vacated by Republican Jim Ramstad.
It took eight ballots before state Sen. Terri Bonoff, who had trailed Madia throughout the day, withdrew.
DFLers left the convention energized by the possibility of having a Democrat elected to the seat in the western Twin Cities suburbs for the first time in 50 years. [Link]
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I find that there are some interesting parallels between the strategy he used to beat the more well known and experienced Terri Bonoff, and the strategy Barack Obama has used to pretty much beat Hillary Clinton:
- Both women were the presumptive front-runners with loads of traditional political experience and establishment backing
- First-time participants make up the base of both Madia’s and Obama’s supporters and are very enthusiastic
- Madia and Obama both realized that it is the delegates that matter most and went after every one
- Rhetorical charm, not attacks were employed by both during debates and speeches to win support
Eric Black, a writer at MinnPost.com who has a great play-by-play of the selection process, made the following observations about Madia’s campaign that also struck me:
- Ashwin Madia, a very young, dark-skinned, bachelor lawyer with a foreign-sounding name, who had not run for anything since college, who started with name recognition in the zero range, beat state Sen. Terri Bonoff, a bright, attractive, well-regarded, well-financed woman for the DFL endorsement
- As the candidates trouped around to various joint appearances and debates, Madia continued to impress audiences. I moderated two debates in the race. Madia didn’t crush Bonoff and Hovland with big put-downs, not at all. As I heard it, his rhetorical charm has been his knack of at least giving the impression that he had actually answered the question he was asked, more often than many politicians do.
Politico.com observed the following:
- “It became very clear [Madia] was working very hard and [Bonoff] didn’t take him very seriously,” said Minnesota-based political analyst Barry Casselman. “On paper, she was the perfect candidate, a moderate who fit the district, yet she lost.” [Link]
Like many of Clinton’s supporters, Bonoff’s supporters were left wondering what happened:
“He came out of nowhere and he doesn’t have a voting record,” Kay continued. “Anybody can say something. I just don’t know where he stands.”… [Link]
Madia has a really good shot at winning this congressional seat and becoming the first Indian American Congressman since Bobby Jindal. Despite the fact that the 3rd usually goes to the Republicans, anti-Republican sentiment is high in Minnesota and the rest of the country. You can tell the Republican’s there are afraid because they immediately started distorting him:
DFL leaders talked of the need to focus the passion that was brought to the endorsement against presumptive Republican opponent Rep. Erik Paulsen, who is running without opposition. Immediately after Madia’s endorsement, state Republican leaders said Madia was “pretty far out there in the liberal fringe.”
“He’s far from a moderate and he’s far from a centrist,” said Republican spokesman Mark Drake, who pointed to Madia’s opposition to tax relief and to surveillance programs, as well as the endorsement on Thursday by U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison. [Link]
Ummm. Madia is actually a former Republican who voted for Bob Dole and supported John McCain in 2000. I asked him about his Republican roots in my interview.
The fight now focuses on Erik Paulsen:
Madia labored hard to build a grassroots organization and went after delegates hard in recent endorsement conventions.
Madia estimated he will have to raise $3 million during the upcoming campaign, but said he is confident he can do it.
Early in the day, DFL Party Chairman Brian Melendez urged delegates to focus on defeating Paulsen, the expected Republican candidate, in November instead of getting caught up in differences that might emerge during Saturday’s endorsement fight. [Link]
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If you want to support Madia’s campaign you can volunteer or donate $.
Abhi, you missed the big parallel: they’re both lean! Its the Oprahization of politics. Lean people are the new elites, if wee are to believe the fat-acceptance movement, and lean-privilege dwarfs all other privileges in our society.
Its all part of Oprah’s word domination plan. Obama’s just a puppet.
How long will you ridiculous sheep claim that Hillary Clinton has “loads of traditional political experience?” seven yrs in the senate. that’s it. beyond that, her “traditional political experience” is no more or less than barbara bush’s.
Other similarities: Both of their first names have 6 letters, and their last names have 5 letters. Also, and don’t quote me on this, Barack’s secretary was called Ashwin and Ashwin’s secretary was called Barack. Coincidence? I think not!
I might be a sheep but at least I understand the meaning of “political.” Clinton had 8 years in the White House and many years as the first lady of Arkansas. In addition she has time in the Senate. By anyone’s definition that counts as “loads of traditional political experience.” I think you are confusing the term “political” with “legislative.”
No Manju, it was just too obvious to state. The pundits got it all wrong. A black man and a woman aren’t remarkable at all. If the fat man Richarson who had more experience than both would have won the nomnination, THAT would have been surprising. I doubt America will ever be ready for a fat President. Why do you think everyone was looking at Gore’s waist to divine his intentions?
Rahul, I just emailed Madia’s campaign to check. You are wrong on this point.
I was riffing on this, maybe I should’ve linked.
I knew what you were doing, and I didn’t really email Madia. My sense of humor is even more deadpan than yours apparently 🙂
Liar, you would be dorky enough to do that. 🙂
Abhi: You also forgot to mention that Ashwin Madia is a “GUJARATI”. Yeah ! His uncle Kanti Madia is a household name in Mumbai within Gujarati Stage Arena.
“By anyone’s definition that counts as “loads of traditional political experience.” I think you are confusing the term “political” with “legislative.””
I think you are confusing political with conjugal. First Lady is not a political office – neither appointed nor elected, nor in any way related to any political process.
Look up “political” in the dictionary and then move on.
It’s a vicious, totally unfounded rumour that Ashwin’s (future?) wife is proud of America for the first time.
When people don’t have jobs, they are bitter, and in their bitterness they cling to stage, makeup and drama.
M. Nam
LOL, good one.
Sure hope you’re right. But that’s being a little optimistic, espeically if Obama makes some more blunders and thus starts seeming a lot less electable vs McCain. While he has the numbers at the moment, the eventuality is still there that if he starts looking like he would never win, the Superdelegates may go for Clinton.
Not to mention that the dems are killing themselves while McCain goes around promoting ideas such as making tax free gas as an economic stimulus – demand side inflation, Mr McCain?
Well done, Ashwin. Best of luck in the general.
Don’t meth with a Thithilian when death iths on the line!
(I am just clinging to stage, make-up and drama, people.)
Yeah, I can see why the Republicans are scared of him (and I say this as a right of center person myself). He is a formidable candidate as far as I can tell from this cursory profile. Of course, the standard is always to complain that the opponent is too liberal (or too far right, depending on the case). It’s standard operating procedure, politics-wise.
As for making some sort of Obama/Madia comparison – can you imagine the wonderfully bipartisan Obama having voting for McCain or the like in the past? There are significant differences between the two. The main being it’s easier to convince people you are a moderate if don’t have the farthest left voting record according to National Journal and actually once voted for one of the ‘other guys’. And I would argue it’s the differences that make Madia such a a formidable candidate for congress.
Anyway, good for him! My brother in the twin cities will love this guy. Will forward your post to him.
Congrats to Ashwin and all the best for the Generals. There is one contrast between Ashwin and Barack and that is the obvious connection of Ashwin to Iraq. Ashwin being an ex-marine and having been to Iraq and all. On the other hand there is a similarity too. Ashwin had only the marine thing as the basis of his candidacy which is similar to Barack Obama’s basis which was that speech in Dem convention in ’04.
There may be another difference … I am guessing that Ashwin didnt say that Minnesotans are clinging to their Guns and their Church and dont like people who look like them, because they are bitter 🙂 Just a guess!
should read:
and dont like people who DONT look like them
“Look up “political” in the dictionary and then move on.”
i won’t, because your line is so typical of commonly repeated bs vaunting Hillary Clinton’s mythical experience against her opponent’s mystical charms.
If you use the broadest definition of political, perhaps as being in public and advancing one’s views publically, first lady is “political” experience in that she is a public figure with opinions. Richard Gere has extensive political experience by this definition, and you would certainly have to accord Laura Bush about the same amount as Hillary Clinton in terms of state and two term national first lady.
In terms of work she has done for the polis, work she’s had to politic for in order to achieve a position or advance anything at all under the sanction of the polis, be it elected, appointed, legislative or administrative, other than an appointment (requiring no other confirmation) by her husband, Hillary Clinton has a term and a half in the senate – that’s it.
Your premise would be further flucked but ironically works out in that two wrongs way because Madia’s opponent ALSO lacked any extensive political experience.
That explains this, I guess.
Obama does not run a high minded campaign. Every republican play has been used by Obama in his campaign against Clinton. When Obama gets into trouble, his response is to attack Clinton As the economist pointed out after his recent (“She’s running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen, how she values the Second Amendment, she’s talking like she’s Annie Oakley!â€)
Obama’s attacks (though his surrogates) have been more vicious than anything that I have seen from the republicans. Huffingtonpost‘s constant slander against Clinton has even made fox news look like a moderate.
In fact listening to Obama, one would think that the Clinton administration‘s record (of high growth, low unemployment, immense economic and soft power and tremendous international goodwill, competent governance) was the same as the Dubya administration’s. So one of the democrats finest achievements is being rubbished … just to tarnish Hillary by association
Sure, Obama speaks well, but his campaign has been as dirty as it gets – maybe that’s what it takes to become a president today. I am guessing that Madia did not run a similar campaign.
19 · DizzyDesi said
that was a great line, and a perfect way to deflect clinton’s attack: via humor, b/c the issue (his elitism)-while not below the belt like the jessie jackson or madrassa claims–is pretty low-level stuff. So he treats it as such and it falls off him like he’s made of teflon. humor and charisma go a long way in politics as jfk and reagan knew. clinton looks petty.
I think he’s one of the few Democrats I’d vote for. He seems to be fiscally conservative, and has a sound plan for Iraq. But I don’t live in Minnesota, so it doesn’t matter.
“My parents came to this country with just $19 because they wanted a better life for their children. I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunities they dreamed of, and I was proud to give back to my country by serving in the Marine Corps.” -J. Ashwin Madia
My Dad had only 10 dollars and that was in Canadian money when he came to Canada 35 years ago. And this guy parents had 19 dollars. I guess he come from a rich family since his parents had almost twice the wealth[ depends on the US/Canada exchange rate at the time] compare to my family when they came to the west. I wonder if he has any idea how good he had it.
Apparently so! 🙂 There was a thread long long ago where you had (seriously) asked for substantiation for something I said in jest, so I thought it was something similar.
Manju,
Sure Obama is funny.
“ .. she’s talking like she’s Annie Oakley!†– about the serial exaggerator Hillary
It is just hearing such humor from the republicans made me sick of it
“… against the war before he was for it†– about Kerry the flip-flopper. “ .. invented the internetâ€, love canal, etc – about the boring liar Al Gore
BTW The part I thought was stupid about the gun comment was not that Obama said people was bitter I feel this might be politically incorrect but true. But that saying Pennsylvanians “cling to guns and god†mainly because of poor economic prospects, is utter nonsense. (I suggest you watch Dear Hunter and explain how in the world could such a stupid, ham fisted, movie could have done so well in the Oscars, and be even be considered realistic)
As for the Jesse Jackson comment — it was accurate and was a on the face of it a compliment (esp. the line that Obama ran a good campaign). Given Jackson’s (unfortunately) high standing among the Democrats, it is not an insult.
I agree that the comment was made to underplay the significance of Obama’s win, and to paint him as a candidate with niche appeal, but it was acceptable damage control, not race baiting.
Connecting the Madrassa rumor to Clinton was just plain right wing slander.
Obama has been shouting wolf brilliantly. I think it will work when his opponent is Clinton, but will not against McCain.
Wow, I think the dem primary is going on too long…..the anti-obama and anti-clinton comments coming from democrats is as hard on the dem candidates as the stuff coming from the right of center blogs. I suppose as a conservative, I should just sit back and watch the circular firing squad, but, uh, I can’t help asking if this is so smart to do to your own candidates?
As an aside, when the same criticisms come from the McCain campaign that used to come from the Obama or Clinton campaign, how can you accuse the McCain campaign of being unfair when your own people did the same thing? Seriously, if I was a dem I’d put a lid on the bitterness…..It’ll come back to haunt you in the general.
25 · MD said
Yes, the infighting is worrying, dumb, and counter-productive, but, as a Democrat, I am buoyed by the fact that it is just not a Republican year. The Dems will expand majorities in both houses of Congress. With all this sniping in the primaries, the presidency has gone for maybe a 90% Democratic victory to more like a 75% one. Obviously, the longer a bitter Demcratic primary fight goes on, the less likely a Democratic presidential victory will be. But, I am an optimist who thinks cooler heads will prevail once people take a collective look at what’s at stake.
Oh, and on topic, GO ASHWIN!
Fair enough, delurker. People just don’t seem to be in the mood for Republicans right now, and much of that trouble is of their own making. Still. It’s weird for me to read stuff from one dem to another and go, ‘ouch’.
I guess he come from a rich family since his parents had almost twice the wealth[ depends on the US/Canada exchange rate at the time] compare to my family when they came to the west.
his family was smarter too, to avoid kanada. (remember your stupid strike?)
then why not compare him to john edwards? bubba wanted to remind voters obama is black, and like jesse, can’t really win… a sort of cynical, catch-22, self-perpetuating form of racism. and of course, there’s context. billary had long tried to bait obama into playing the race card, knowing in the long run, this brand of politics is a losing card and simply unpresidential, like jesse himself. recall clinton surrogate bob johnsons racially charged speech during this primary? notice how bubba called obama a kid (not boy, just kid) knowing it would go over the head of most whites but hoping it would unhinge obama. also, hillary’s mlk/lbj comment made sense in this context, she wanted to subtly bring up race, with plausible denial of course. some obama surrogates, like the not-quite-ready-for-prime-time jesse jackson jr took the bait (accusing clinton of not crying during katrina b/c black people where dying) but by and large obama stayed above the fray and addressed race in his own non-sharpton way after the wright brohaha. the rest is history.
well, 3 clinton staffers where fired after being caught spreading the rumor in iowa. bob kerrey bought it up in iowa while endorsing clinton (“secular madrassa”), there was the drudge pic, the clinton camps non-denial, maggie williams saying there’s nothing wrong with the pic, and clinton surrogate stepahnie tubbs johnson claiming somalia is obama’s native country. but the clincher for me was hillary’s own 60 minute performance.
obama should’ve replied to that with a: “i take her at her word that’s she’s not a lesbian. she’s never slept with a woman…as far as i know.”
8 · Yo Dad said
How come no one threw out the term “retrograde” yet in reaction to the above? Is SM not carrying the “pan south asian love” banner anymore? Can someone please tell me if it is okay to think with my regional hat on and not worry about the SM-Taliban jumping me.
No, it is not ok unless you are my 64 year old dad who left that quote.
: No, it is not ok unless you are my 64 year old dad who left that quote.
Ahh, the family clause. I knew that statement was an aberration. I am putting my south asian pagdi back on.
BTW, block quotes function seems to be broken for IE6.0
29 · Manju said
Um… because Edwards was still a candidate at the time those comments were made?
Seems obvious to me. shrugs
Gruhasthu @ 30: You are right this time. I should have said South Asian rather than Gujarati. There are no secret – family clause – for SM site, and I don’t expect or enjoy any special privileges here compared to anyone else. BTW thanks for revealing my age Abhi. Now they will think I am a DOM. Peace.
21 · Rahul S said
Well, just because you can’t vote, doesn’t mean you can’t donate! So, give and give until it hurts (or, you’ve reached the legal limit)!!!
https://secure.actblue.com/page/ashwinmadiaforcongress
I’m a veteran that lives in the same city Captain Madia’s opponent does; I’ve had the unfortunate experience of watching this opponent, Erik Paulsen, since 1994.
And if you liked George W. Bush, you’ll LOVE Erik Paulsen.
http://www.mnblue.com/node/1070
If you support Captain Madia’ candidacy, pass the word, and pass the ammo (cash).
America needs patriots like Captain Madia.
33 · cc said
well look, he had a choice of using edwards, gore, himself, or jesse. edwards makes the most sense since he won the primary but lost the nom, which was presumably bubbas point. gore also makes sense since he won the primary but lost the general, which also would’ve made a case for hillary. if he truly wanted to compliment obama, he would’ve used himself. jesse however, won a caucus, not s primary, and was a fringe candidate from the beginning. but i’m told he’s black.
look, i’ll concede plausible denial is, well, plausible. bush I had a legit issue lurking in the willie horton ad, which of course he had nothing to do with. that’s how these things work.
“In terms of work she has done for the polis, work she’s had to politic for in order to achieve a position or advance anything at all under the sanction of the polis, be it elected, appointed, legislative or administrative, other than an appointment (requiring no other confirmation) by her husband, Hillary Clinton has a term and a half in the senate – that’s it.”
How about her efforts in pushing nationalized health care?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_health_care_plan
I hardly think Laura Bush is-or ever was-anywhere near as involved in statecraft as Hillary. The latter was far more involved in her husband’s political career, on top of her own experiences as a lawyer after graduating from Yale Law. She was steeped in politics long before she married Bill. Heck, she was on the staff that advised the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate scandal. That was 1974-a year before she got engaged to Bill Clinton.
Laura Bush is a…librarian. Surely you see the difference? =)
34 · Yo Dad said
Is that the term for a male dominatrix? Uncle, we encourage all lifestyle choices here, even the unorthodox ones.
MD:
In the interest of fighting ignorance, the National Journal rankings are more or less crap. First, it’s based on looking at a bill and deciding what the “conservative” or “liberal” position is. Then, Obama and Clinton get penalized because they’re campaigning — they thus miss all but the most important votes, and then of course they’re going to vote party line. For a more even-handed ranking, I prefer these rankings, which are calculated in a purely objective manner. All the roll calls from the 109th Senate are examined, and a classification algorithm is applied to rank Senators. More details are available at the website, but suffice it to say, Obama is not the most liberal Senator. It’s Russ Feingold, as you might expect. Obama is merely the 21st most liberal Senator.
well, its all over now baby blue states. I just wanted to be the first to say it on SM. Obama’s got the Nom. The clinton legacy is forever transformed, as they ran the most racist and xenophobic campaign since george wallace…though some of us have always know this about them, not to mention the sexism.
but a paradigm shift as occurred. short of OBL being captured and the american public realizing the economy has recovered (buffet says the worst is over and no one ever got rich going against buffet, but here is always at leat a 2 quarter lag between reality and perception when it comes to the economy) obama will be the next President.
Sharpton, Wright, Farrakhan, RIP
cough second cough
(it’s buried in that comment)