Talks, Platforms Drive Political Conventions Candidates And Stand-Ins Put Messages Before Friendly Crowds

Spokane’s Republican and Democratic activists were “schooled” in politics Saturday, spending their day in county conventions listening to speeches and voting on issues.

The two parties held their conventions in school gymnasiums, and gave this fall’s candidates, or their pinch hitters, a chance to practice their stump speeches on willing crowds.

Republicans meeting at Chase Middle School had a chance to compare congressional challenger Richard Clear with incumbent Rep. George Nethercutt.

Clear got strong applause when he talked about doing away with the Internal Revenue Service by exchanging the income tax for a national sales tax, and when he promised to “get the spiny fingers of the federal government out of education … and let our teachers teach.”

The former radio talk show host criticized Nethercutt’s decision to run for a fourth term, despite a pledge in 1994 to only serve three.

“If you believe that keeping your word is important, I ask for your support,” he said, ending his speech to applause, but not a general standing ovation.

Nethercutt appeared by videotape, saying a previous commitment with his family kept him in Washington, D.C., for the Easter weekend.

He plugged his work to block removal of federal dams on the Snake River, and to lift sanctions on the sale of food and medical supplies to some countries. He defended his switch on term limits, saying that in 1994, term limits were needed to end control of “long-term Democratic chairmen.”

“I admit I thought I could do things more quickly than I did. It’s premature to quit now,” said Nethercutt, whose taped remarks were seldom interrupted by applause but ended to a standing ovation from about half the crowd of 350.

Across town at Shadle Park High School, about 200 Democrats heard from U.S. Senate candidate Maria Cantwell and Mona Lee Locke, wife of Gov. Gary Locke, as well as congressional and legislative candidates.

Mona Locke recounted tales of the governor’s mansion bats, which prompted the family to get rabies shots.

As governor, her husband has pushed for more money for teacher salaries and teacher training, Mona Locke said.

“No one can disagree that education is Gary’s top priority. Our education system is better than it was four years ago,” she said.

Many of the Republicans at Chase probably would disagree. Arthur Hu, a candidate for superintendent of public instruction, said it was time to “get the Legislature out of education.”

“Higher standards - that’s a code word for higher spending,” said Hu, who, like Locke, is Chinese American. Hu referred to the governor as “my evil twin Gary.”

John Carlson, a Republican candidate for governor, said he’d like to spend some years in office proposing laws and regulations to repeal, not create, new programs.

Carlson has helped to lead successful initiatives against affirmative action and the motor vehicle license tax, and in favor of “three strikes” criminal sentencing law.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a governor that actually led, so we didn’t have to pass so many initiatives?” asked Carlson, ignoring for the moment the fact that initiatives take the place of legislative action, not the governor.

After a morning of speeches, Democratic delegates approved statements of principles, or platforms. Republicans discussed platform planks, but spent so much time selecting delegates to their state convention that they adjourned without voting on their proposed platform. That means they’ll abide by their 1998 version, which is not significantly different.

Democrats voted to push for civil rights, reverse the downward trend in wages, and support workers’ rights to organize. They said they believe in affordable health care and strong public schools.

Republicans, too, said they believe in strong public schools, but their platform noted they want reform that takes them “back to basics” on reading, writing, math and science, and more study of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

They support equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity, along with lower taxes, smaller government and welfare reform.

Both platforms talk about an individual’s right to own firearms. Republicans said current laws should be enforced better, while Democrats said there should be requirements for trigger locks and further restrictions on the number of bullets a gun can fire.

Democrats oppose capital punishment; Republicans support it. Democrats support “the global vision of the United Nations” while Republicans say the United States should get out of the U.N.

Republicans oppose same-sex marriages, while Democrats call for “legal protection of supportive relationships, and respect (for) all Americans’ rights to privacy in personal matters.”

While conventions are predominantly made up of the most committed party members, a presidential year often brings a fresh crop of activists.

Newcomer Democratic delegate Michael Johnson, 21, is excited to be participating in his first presidential election and convention.

“The whole thing is a lot more formal than I expected,” Johnson said. “It’s like watching C-SPAN, except I’m here.”