What I've been trying to say

New York Times letter to the editor (11/02/03)

This whole "issue" of electability versus Democratic Party values is completely phony ("In the Candidacies of Clark and Dean, Democrats Confront the Issue of Electability," news article, Oct. 30).

No one ever gets elected because of his electability. People get elected because they stand for something the voters want. The reason the Democratic Party is out of power is its gutless, poll-watching, unprincipled attempts to simulate the statistical center of the American public's diverse and conflicting views.

Voters recognize and despise this manipulative strategy. Pushing for an "electable" candidate is more of the same, and if registered Democrats fall for this scam, they will land the party out in the street once again.

JERRY CAYFORD, Brunswick, Md., Oct. 31, 2003

Thanks Jerry.