Win or Lose, Rowley Upbeat

Democrat Coleen Rowley is positive and upbeat about her campaign as voters go to the polls on election day.

“We won this intersection,” Rowley said cheerfully, holding an enormous “Rowley For Congress” banner at the intersection of County Road 42 and Cedar Avenue in Apple Valley.  “I think this could work,” she said, “even if it doesn’t work this time.”Rowley seemed aware that odds are against her today, but she was still in good spirits, and she was vocal in her support of a more people-oriented campaign.

“There are really some other ways to skin the cat,” she said, “and I don’t think Rahm Emmanuel’s big-money campaign is the right way.  You don’t want to out-Rove Rove.”

Rowley also decried the corrupting influence of money in politics.

“Your decisionmaking is corrupted [by campaign contributions].  In the [FBI] Office of Ethics if an agent gets over $20, they presume that it could have some effect on them.  If you take over $100 thousand, shouldn’t there be a presumption that you can’t make your vote now in line with what people want?”

Rowley laughed when asked what her future held should she lose.

“For the past sixteen months, I’ve had the purpose-driven life.  If I don’t win, it will become purposeless,” she laughed. 

“But I’d like to have the core group of activists and writers and thinkers [stay together]–[like]David Bailey, and Chuck Smith-Dewey–twenty writers who are really good.  It was like the start of a think-tank.  We could change the name from Rowley Writers, and I’d be the first one too join it.  And I hope that people aren’t so discouraged if we do lose that this just disbands.”

Rowley was certain that her future would not include another run.

“I’m not gonna run again,” she said.  “This is a march into Hell on a personal level.”  “I’m not the perfect candidate–I’d be a better campaign manager than a candidate.  You have to be too sellable.  It’s the Robert Redford thing with the smile, or Michele Bachmann–which I’m not.”