The System Still Works

There was a lot of grumbling about the primary-election campaign: It was dull; the issues were confusing; there was too much negative advertising, too much talk about campaign spending. Naysayers pointed to the low turnout, and declared that the people are fed up with the political process.

But a look at the results demonstrates that the process is far from bankrupt. On the whole, the Californians who did vote in the Tuesday election made their selections with care and discrimination. Now the state can anticipate a spirited general-election campaign that will present clear choices about the political direction of the state and the nation.

The U.S. Senate contest between Democratic incumbent Alan Cranston and Republican challenger Ed Zschau presents the opportunity for a cogent debate on a variety of major issues that face our leaders: taxes and spending, national security, America’s role in foreign affairs, protection of the environment, and others. A lot will be made of how much the candidates will spend for television. But in a state with 17.5 million registered voters, there is no other way to campaign. Television costs dearly, and there is too much emphasis on fund-raising, but that is the way it will be until the system can be changed.

Cranston, 71, faces a formidable reelection challenge from Zschau, 46, of the San Francisco peninsula--an attractive new face on the California political scene. While conservatives fought each other for the chance to carry the ideological flag, Zschau slipped through by a 7% margin. Thus, Cranston faces a moderate Republican opponent of substance for the first time since he lost his state controller’s job to Houston I. Flournoy in 1966.

The result is the potential for a constructive campaign on issues rather than on ideological histrionics. Cranston and Zschau have agreed to debate. If any Senate contest can be conducted on a high plane, this should be one. The voters deserve nothing less.

There was some question about the prospects for debate between Republican Gov. George Deukmejian and his Democratic opponent, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. Bradley’s challenge of a series of 14 debates is silly and impractical. Deukmejian’s seeming reluctance to debate at all is regrettable. This campaign need not be just a boring rerun of their 1982 contest, or an exchange of gratuitous name-calling. There are important issues facing Californians, and a campaign for governor is the place to discuss them intelligently and respectfully. Both candidates owe the voters a thoughtful vision of what sort of California they perceive for the future. Neither campaign has provided one yet.

Finally, a word about voter apathy: Much is made of the fact that only about 40% of registered voters bothered to turn out on Tuesday. Ideally, everyone should vote. But the fact is that some people will not vote if they do not see a need to do so. There was no real competition in at least seven major statewide races, including both party nominations for governor. And experts say that voters tend to stay home when people generally are pleased with the way things are going.

But the grass roots stirred in the 40th Congressional District in Orange County when the only person to file for the Democratic nomination against GOP incumbent Bob Badham was Art Hoffmann, a follower of radical, pseudo-Democrat Lyndon H. LaRouche Jr. To keep the nomination from going by forfeit to a fringe group, county Democratic Chairman Bruce W. Sumner, a distinguished former legislator and judge, filed as a write-in candidate. Casting a write-in vote is a complex, laborious chore. But 40th District Democrats rose to the occasion and Sumner won, 16,342 votes to 14,883.

As always in the past, the political system works best when it is most needed.