The Gloating Spectator / The Politics of Pleading
York, Byron
The Politics of Pleading by Byron York L ast June I received an elaborate mailing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The fold-out cover featured a dramatic picture of Bill...
...Then it was back to begging...
...September brought another letter from Foley...
...envelope...
...But more money was needed, they said, and the letter was accompanied by another "Your stamp will help defeat obstructionist Republicans...
...The fold-out cover featured a dramatic picture of Bill Clinton with the large-type heading: "How you can best help President Clinton in the 2nd year of his term...
...A week after the voting, I received a letter from a depressed-sounding Richard Gephardt (no mention of Foley now...
...Then it happened...
...it said...
...Again, I did not respond...
...On election day, the Democratic Party sustained its worst defeat in almost half a century," he wrote...
...in return, I would receive an autographed picture of the President and Tom Foley, with the inscription, "To Byron York, Thank you for the leadership you've shown for many years within the National Democratic Party...
...Welcome...
...They seemed to have read my answers, because according to the letter, those surveyed "voiced strong support for the President, and gave him very good grades for his first year in office...
...What now...
...Instead, I got a postcard from Vic Fazio...
...The latest polls show that, regrettably, we will lose seats to the Republicans," Foley wrote in the last mailing I received before the election...
...I was asked to complete a questionnaire and send a contribution of at least $20...
...What is your opinion of President Clinton's Administration after its first year?' I checked the box marked "very good...
...Our situation is critical—but not terminal," he wrote...
...I also answered yes to the question of whether the current welfare system should be replaced with "a new system of education, job training, and child care...
...In late July I received the "confidential results" of the Legislative Agenda Survey...
...Let this certify the Party's appreciation for their services over many years...
...But he won't get any more money from me—at least not until I get my autographed picture...
...Inside was the "Annual Legislative Agenda Survey...
...It never came...
...Do you believe there is a health care crisis in this nation...
...The survey asked twenty basic questions about the Clinton program...
...y the third week in October, the B letters began sounding desperate...
...I licked a 29-cent stamp, dropped the envelope in the Byron York is a writer and television producer in Washington...
...The Democrats, despite having spent my $20 and millions more, still lost miserably...
...York, and other leaders within the Party act now, we can catch up with the Republicans...
...and slipped a $20 check into the envelope (at the time, I was researching an article on the Democrats' vast "soft money" fund-raising operation and thought the mailing and photo would be useful...
...Please, for the sake of the party, its principles, and President Clinton, please step forward today...
...I wrote "Keep up the good work...
...Offering a ray of hope, he continued: "If you, Mr...
...I checked "Yes...
...mail, and waited for my Clinton-Foley photo...
...A final question asked for personal comments...
...7,14A Bill awns 92— J flaws S. Ff.:7> 86 The American Spectator January 1995...
...CI J3LIEMPLPEr3 El Byron York C-writirk& • DENOCRAY • OWNESIONAL • MIRAN COW= Certificate of Appreciation for As a member of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, this individual has played an active role as a major leader within the Democratic Party...
...This time, I did not answer...
...It appeared that my responses contributed to a mood of optimism among party leaders...
...I hope you will rush a generous contribution...
...Gephardt seemed at a complete loss...
...The defeat apparently demoralized the party's direct-mail writers as much as the politicians themselves...
...By then, he seemed to know there was a problem...
...Postage was prepaid—but a note said "Your stamp will help defeat obstructionist Republicans...
...We must try to find some type of common ground with the new majority...
...Fazio promised to stay in touch and "keep [me] up-to-date on the 1994 races...
...The card enlisted my support in stopping the coming "Republican onslaught...
...In the coming weeks, we must adapt to our new role in Congress," he continued...
Vol. 28 • January 1995 • No. 1
