Singles Life:
Singles are political candidates too
By Laurel Kornfeld
June 6, 2008
Here in New Jersey, we have seen the tremendous harm that outdated prejudices such as a "requirement" that a candidate be married can have on both that candidate's personal life, those around him or her, and on that candidate's constituents.
Have we so quickly forgotten the example of former Governor James McGreevey, who bought into this stereotype and entered a farce of a marriage with the idea that being unmarried meant he was unelectable? How many people were hurt by this sham -- his ex-wife, an innocent child, N.J. residents, and McGreevey himself, for whom the farce led to his career being ruined?
In his
His comment, "In today's political climate, spouses are crucial elements to the modern campaign machine" is both false and potentially harmful to single candidates running for office this year by promoting an outdated bias.
I have no plans to run for national office, but I have been and plan to again be a candidate for local office, so I know that statements like these can become harmful, self-fulfilling prophecies by influencing a small minority of voters against a candidate when an election is already close.
Contrary to Gutterman's statement, which is backed only with cherry-picked data, single candidates are not unelectable. Our current governor, Jon S. Corzine, is single, as was former New York Mayor Ed Koch, as are regional officials such as single parent Senator Barbara Buono and former Middlesex County Freeholder Camille Fernicola.
It turns out that most N.J. voters would have had no problem accepting an openly gay governor, whether single or in a committed relationship. Unfortunately, McGreevey did not have enough faith that his constituents could see beyond such prejudices and chose to live a lie instead, with disastrous results.
It isn't spouses that are needed for photo ops and "lending a hand in developing policy and proposals." While photo ops have an impact in this day of visual media, the most powerful ones are those that are genuine. A candidate standing with laborers, teachers, police officers, firefighters, senior citizens, and others he or she advocates for has a great photo op, as does a candidate posing with aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, parents, and even pets.
Spouses developing policy and proposals do not make for the strongest campaign platforms. The best people to provide input into these areas are constituents and groups affected by the issues in question.
For example, as a local candidate, I sought policy input from business owners, senior citizens, environmentalists, people who previously served in public office and anyone active in the community with ideas for making the town a better place to live.
Presidential candidates, most of whom are wealthy and can be viewed as out of touch with the average voter, should be seeking policy proposals from those most affected by issues such as outsourcing, health care, the war in
If we examine just one issue, health care, it is clear that doctors and nurses, emergency room workers, employers, and the 47 million Americans without health insurance will provide far better insight than a largely sheltered spouse.
Also significant is the fact that single candidates often have unique insight into real life situations affecting constituents. Single parents face issues such as affordable childcare and housing and the need for time off from work when their children are sick.
Single individuals are a fast growing population today ranging from people in their 20s to senior citizens. A significant number are far more liberal than their married peers when it comes to social safety net issues. This group, too, deserves representation.
And single candidates -- and office holders -- often have the benefit of more free time to devote to public service. If one does not have to be at an in-law's birthday party or a child's baseball game, that leaves more time for meeting with seniors and other constituents, addressing public issues in depth, and taking turns attending the games of all local children.
It is hard to believe that in 2008, when both a woman and an African American have come within range of a major party's presidential nomination, a columnist could publish an article justifying what amounts to simply another form of discrimination, namely that against single people.
Suggesting women candidates need a "trophy husband" on the campaign trail is downright insulting, especially in light of the serious under-representation of women, regardless of marital status, in elective office at all levels.
Anyone who needs to hide behind a wife or girlfriend to defend him from the likes of Ann Coulter is welcome to stay out of the political arena. What he is not welcome to do is discourage other single people from running, encourage 19th century prejudices, and potentially hurt the chances of good, qualified single candidates to promote his own outdated views.
Laurel Kornfeld, a resident of Highland Park, was a 2005 Democratic candidate for the