Endorsements serve to educate not bully

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 23, 2002

Earning endorsements in political campaigns is an important part of the election cycle for candidates. For voters, those endorsements also are important, though dangerous.

Recently, the Times-Journal reported on the effectiveness of political groups on elections. Some believe those groups are needed — and important — in elections. Others believe those groups have lost the influence they enjoyed 10 years ago.

Differing opinions such as those normally mean one thing: The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Email newsletter signup

For those who believe political endorsements are important, they point to the ability of a group to interview candidates, find out where they stand on issues, and then share those views with voters.

Those who think political endorsements are overrated say voters have become more independent.

One of the greatest things about our political system, both in Alabama and in the United States, is that politicians are merely figure-heads for constituents. In Washington, D.C., more so than in Montgomery, candidates rarely make decisions on their own. They hire political consultants, chiefs of staff and advisors to help them form and introduce legislation. The same is true in Montgomery, where special interest groups and lobbyists actually write some legislation and offer it to politicians.

Political groups, like the New South Coalition in Dallas County, serve much the same purpose — and it’s an important purpose. Voters, like politicians, need help understanding candidates, and political groups help define how candidates line up on certain issues.

Voters are not wrong for listening to political organizations. They are wrong, however, when they walk into a voting booth without thinking and take that sample ballot as the political gospel.

Voters have developed a sense of independence — far less in the Black Belt than in other regions of Alabama. That independence has led voters to think about candidates, research issues and elect better people.

Voters in Selma and Dallas County need to follow that trend set across Alabama. Voters who align themselves with political groups should consider endorsements and use that information to make an educated vote.

As long as political groups serve to educate and not bully voters, they will remain effective here and across Alabama.