Grassley Office Arrests And The Efficacy Of Protest

Grassley Office Arrests And The Efficacy Of Protest

Civil disobedience is a powerful, legitimate takes a fair amount of nerve and I tip my hat to the folks who got arrested at Chuck Grassley's offices yesterday. Yet I'm not sure how much they accomplished.

I leave aside the alienation effect. I admire protest but I acknowledge that some people reject the tactic and question its legitimacy.

(Aside: for the worst writing in the Iowa blogosphere you can't beat James Eaves-Johnson's From Right To Left at the Press-Citizen. No link love for his simplistic arguments and blatant Israel pandering.)

The success of protest depends on how you define the target. If the goal is publicity and attention to Grassley's pro-war policies, they were a success. Front pages, and here I am writing about it. But if the idea was to actually persuade Grassley, then it was a waste of time.

Attempts to persuade seated politicians only work on small to medium size issues. On the hot buttons issues, on questions of basic philosophy, politicians are either firm or, if not, they are hurt more by the obvious pandering (see The Entire Career of Mitt Romney for details).

There's also a certain lack of credibility. Oh, so lefty students are protesting Grassley on the war? Like they were ever gonna vote for him anyway? Even if he flips on the war he's still an anti-choice, cut taxes for the rich conservative.

The only way to deal with politicians who can't be persuaded is to work around them, persuade the larger public, and defeat them. That's why I've chosen to focus my activism on electoral politics.

Chuck Grassley has not had a well-funded, top tier race since he was first elected as a challenger in 1980. That's a whole generation ago - literally, as the son of the incumbent he beat is now our governor. He's held public office continually for two generations - literally, as his grandson now holds his old legislative seat. Fifty years in office with perhaps three serious races (1958, 1974, 1980 - one for each rung of the ladder.) Just the kind of candidate whose campaign muscles atrophy.

It's long past time for someone to really take on Grassley, and the candidate is waiting in the wings, just off a presidential race that never really got off the ground. I hope Tom Vilsack keeps his profile high and close to home the next couple years on the sidelines, and gears up for a big return to the ball game in 2010.