Politics for Dummies

366 Pages·2002·39.906 MB·English

by  Ann DeLaney

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Politics For Dummiesl
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Candidate Selection Checklist
Here are sometipsonwhatyou maywantin a candidate,whatyou maywantto avoid, andwhatto do
whenyoufind a candidateyou like.
Things to Look For
<> Doesthe candidate appearintelligent, oris hejustfilling outthe suit?
u^ Isthe candidate qualifiedforthejob?
i> Does she havethe education and experienceto handlethejob?
1^ Doyou agreewiththe programs and ideasthe candidate has proposed?
1^ Are you comfortablewiththe groups andthe individualswhosupportthe candidate?
1^ Can youtrustthe candidate?
1^ Does he passthe elevatortest?(Ifan elevatordooropened infrontofyou and getting on meant
you would ride alonewiththe candidate,wouldyou geton?)
*> Isthe candidate a leader?
i^ Does she have ideas ofherown?
Things to Watch Out For
—
i> Candidateswho make appealstoyouremotions nottoyourintelligence
—
1/^ Candidateswho identify problems butdon'tpropose realistic solutions
i> Candidateswho offersimple, no-sacrifice solutionsto complexproblems
i> Candidateswhotalk exclusivelyabouthot-button issuessuch as race, immigration,theflag,
English astheofficial language, classwarfare and notaboutsuch issues astaxes, health care,
the budget
i> Candidateswith shadydealings intheirbackgrounds
i^ Candidateswhotellyouwhattheythinkyouwantto hear
u^ Candidateswho use negative campaigntacticstogiveyou afalse impression ofthe competition
Supporting a Candidate
—
/> Volunteeryourtime contactvoters,organize events, distribute literature.
i/^ Contribute moneyorhelpthe candidate raise money.
*> Urge otherstosupportyourcandidate.
i^ Remembertovoteforyourcandidate on election day.
For dummies: Bestselling Book Series for Beginners
Politics For Dummies®
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U/hen l/ou Call l/our Contacting Elected
Elected Officials Officials
u^ Be preparedto giveyourname and address. To exerciseyournewfound politicalskillsand
i> Tellthe person preciselywhyyou are tellthe peoplewhorepresentyouwhatyou
wantthemtodo,you haveto knowwhoyour
calling.
congressperson,state representative,or
/> Ifyou are calling abouta particularpiece state senatoris.Tofind out, call one ofthe
oflegislation, givethe numberofthe bill, following offices(you canfindthe numbersin
ifpossible. the phone book):
i^ Tellthe individualwhetheryou areforor
againstthe legislation andwhy. i> Countyboardofelectionsorvoter
registration
i> Be patient;othervoters maybe callingto
expresstheirviews,too. i> State election board
u^ Local office ofthe LeagueofWomen
Voters
i> Public library
Steps to Getting ln(/ot(/ed i^ State orcountyheadquarters ofthe
Republican orDemocratic party
in Politics
Askthe persontogiveyouthefollowing C
(A
i^ Registertovote. information (make sureyou haveyour
address bookwithyou):
i^ Vote in everyelection.
i^ Join a political party. /> Yourcongressional district,congress-
person,andthe office phone number
i> Votein primaries.
u^ Yourlegislative district,state legislator,
i> Read and listen—tothe information about andthe main numberatthe statehouse
the candidates castan informedvote.
i> Yourstatesenatedistrict,state senator,
i> Askquestions ofcandidatesand elected
and a phone numberatthestatehouse
officials.
t> Don'thesitatet officialswhenthey' Askwhetherthe official has atoll-free
done somethingyou don'tlike. numberand/oran e-mail address.
u^ Thankofficialswhentheydosomethingyou Checkyourvoterregistration card; itmaylist
do like. yourward and precinct.Thatinformation B »
i> Useyourphone,t—he mail,yourfax,your makes iteasierforthe countyofficeto deter-
computere-mail letyourrepresentatives minewhich districtyou live in.
hearfromyou often.
1/^ Circulate petitionsandjoinwith otherswho
thinkasyou do.
i^ Become a delegateto a national convention. •^^^^t^^ AClolpyrirgihgthstre©se2r0v0e2d.HungryMinds,Inc.
CheatSheetS2.95value.Item0887-3.
HungryJVlinaS pQrmoreinformationaboutHungryMinds,
call1-800-762-2974.
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by Ann DeLaney
HungryMinds^
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PoliticsForDummies,^2ndEdition
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About the Author
Ann M. DeLaney began alongassociation with
politics and political involvement as a political
science graduate ofthe State UniversityofNew
Yorkat Binghamton, where she was student body
president. She received her law degree from
IndianaUniversity, where she sits on The Board
ofVisitors. She served as adeputyprosecuting
attorneyspecializing in rape and child abuse
cases and now is a partner in the law firm of
DeLaney&DeLaney, LLC. Ann is also Executive
Director ofThe Julian Center, an agencythat pro-
vides safe shelter forwomen and children fleeing
domesticviolence and counseling forwomen and
children.
Ann knows all about campaigns and politics because she's been politically
active as a precinct committeeperson, worker in voter registration drives,
delegate to state and national partyconventions, and a member ofthe
Democratic National Committee.
Conventional political wisdom needs buckingnow and again; Annwas the
first woman nominated byeither major party as acandidate for Lieutenant
GovernorofIndiana, runningwithWayneTownsend who was willingto break
the conventions. Shewas Legislative Director for the first Democratic gover-
nor of Indiana in twentyyears, now United States Senator Evan Bayh. Ann
served when the House ofthe IndianaGeneral Assemblywas divided 50/50
between Democrats and Republicans and had dual Speakers ofthe House, a
Democratic Speaker one day, a Republican Speaker the next.
Aformer Executive Director ofthe IndianaDemocratic Party, Ann has man-
aged statewide political campaigns andwas the firstwomanto serveas Chair
ofa major political partyin Indiana.
Ann continues her involvement in politics as a panelist onIndiana Week in
Review, an Emmy-nominated weeklypolitical talkshow carried on public tele-
vision and radio in Indiana. She frequentlyspeaks on politics to civic and
political groups.