Yesterday, when I claimed that Marty Chavez was implying that Tom Udall was unelectable because he was a liberal by saying "the contrast in records between me and the Congressman won't situate him well for the general election," more than one commenter thought I wasn't giving Chavez a fair shake. Perhaps the quote was taken out of context, or I was simply reading too much into it. Well, today Marty Chavez has offered some clarification:
"I feel very strongly that this is going to be a Democratic pickup and I'm going to be that Democrat, because I'm a moderate Democrat," Chávez said. "I think the Republicans are more afraid of me than some others." (…)
"Philosophically, he's so far to the left," Chávez said. "I'd rather not have him in the race, but that's a challenge I'd not shy away from."
So yes, Marty Chavez is quite clearly stating that he is more electable than Tom Udall because Udall is a leftie, and he, Chavez, is a moderate. But here is my favorite part about Chavez:
"I think I get a bad rap from progressives," he said.(…)
"I have legitimate progressive credentials, but I am pro-business," Chávez said, adding he believes the two can go together.(…)
"I'm a moderate Democrat," Chávez said"
Note to Chavez: you don't get to be both a moderate and a progressive. Doesn't work that way. You can't be both a moderate and a conservative, or a moderate and a liberal, or a moderate and a fascist. If you want to be a moderate, call yourself one. If you want to be a progressive, then call yourself that. Trying to occupy two ideological positions at once is about as an overt sign of pandering as a politician could possibly concoct. Please explain how someone can be both a progressive and a moderate without simultanesouly explaining how those terms have no meaning.
And oh yeah: you might begetting a bad rap from New Mexico progressives for claiming that progressives can't win statewide in New Mexico. You might also be getting a bad rap from reality by claiming that you are more electable than someone who outperforms you in general election polls by 20 points. Just a thought, on both counts.
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