Guest Commentary
by Michael Schwartz
I like Kirk. I haven’t said a bad word about him and I am a big supporter of Carl DeMaio. I’ve only talked to Kirk three or four times and one of those conversations was just asking if the movie “Spies Like Us” was a realistic representation of CIA work. (He claims it is not.)
Still, I think the guy is exactly the type of person we want running for office. He has private sector and military experience, he is intelligent and well spoken, and he is doing a good job of running his campaign for his first time up to the plate.
I’ve heard nothing but good things about him from people who have spoken with him out in the community. And that feedback comes from people of all walks of life.
What has happened during his campaign and to his campaign could end up being tragic, but it depends on his reaction after the June election.
A bunch of homophobes have latched on to Kirk almost entirely based on the fact that he is not gay and it is danger-close to reflecting on Kirk. They are few, but they are loud and comically inept in pretending their motivation is anything but bigotry.
But what’s Kirk supposed to do? He’s running against an extremely effective, prepared, and great candidate. So Kirk has to accept support and money from people who do not reflect his motivations and ideals and he has to pretend they are normal folks with legitimate concerns.
So that this doesn’t turn into a tragedy, Kirk, my unsolicited advice:
1. The day after the June election graciously accept defeat and endorse Carl.
2. Donate time and money to Carl’s campaign. Not token, meaningless stuff. I mean real time and real money.
3. Take all that you have built while campaigning and point it at another office like school board or water board or something for the November election.
4. Don’t release some ridiculous statement about how the Republican Party is doomed blah blah blah with a list of excuses for not winning like “special interests” or being “out spent.”
5. Don’t disappear. Go have lunch with everyone you can think of and watch the support for your future roll in, even from those you now consider adversaries. Including me. I am happy to eat a sandwich with you and talk about supporting you in future political endeavors as long as you do all the other stuff on this list. If you don’t, I’ll still have a sandwich with you, but you buy.
6. Pay attention to the current rabid supporters who completely dismiss you by the time you’ve made it to #2 on this list — and know there will be 200 new supporters for every one that tells you that you are wrong to say anything nice about Carl … and every one you never hear from again.