Published Nov. 5, 2006 in the Hibbing Daily Tribune
By Aaron J. Brown
Political operatives must be pretty happy that deer can’t vote. For one thing, all those orange “Sportsmen for Name o’ Candidate” signs would suddenly become political liabilities. Enfranchised ungulates would be the fastest growing and most reliable electoral constituency in Minnesota. Heck, they breed fast and can live on bark. Negative political ads would include messages like “Congressman Smith voted to not plant corn in the field,” “My name is Bambi and Senator Jones shot my mom,” and “Look at these bright headlights (Vote Smith). Headlights! (Vote Smith).” (It’s interesting that these ads are only slightly more ridiculous than real campaign ads).
If you haven’t noticed, it’s firearms deer hunting season in Minnesota. Oh yeah, there’s an election, too. The two have always gone hand in hand, but this year I notice a lot more orange political signs than usual. The specter of whitetails lined up around the block at polling places may seem absurd, but apparently that’s a real fear that some folks have. The political attention paid to sportsman goes over and above the attention paid to students or those without health insurance.
Candidates of all party designations are rolling out their “Sportsmen” campaigns to show that they really have a handle on the issues of the day, namely the threat of high powered politicians taking away the hunting rights of Minnesotans. Because, believe me, lawmakers of all stripes are just salivating to do that. Apparently they have grown depressed and weary of their jobs and are looking forward to savage electoral defeat.
Republican candidates have been using the sportsmen signs for several months now, but just recently the Democrats joined in, offering their own brightly colored sportsmen materials.
I’ve haven’t heard of a recent bill that would reduce hunting and fishing rights in Minnesota. Usually this “Sportsmen” business is just an extension of the gun rights/gun control debate. Here in northern Minnesota, it’s pretty hard to find politicians of any stripe supporting gun control measures. Even some of the states more liberal political leaders support the basic concept of Second Amendment rights. But that’s not the problem I have with all these sportsman signs. The real problem I have with them is that when you talk to people on the street about politics, they’re talking about jobs, education and the war in Iraq. Others talk about social issues and yes, a few might bring up gun rights. But this is the order I hear: jobs, schools, higher property taxes, war, then social issues. That’s not a scientific poll; it’s just what I hear.
So why do all the signs reflect an issue that’s #5 or #6 on the overall list? Where are the signs for students, for families or for retirees? They’re the ones who are voting, and they’re the ones who have to live with the consequences of the election. I know a lot of people who love hunting the way they love their family, but I don’t know anyone who hunts more than they work or drive on public highways.
Outdoors issues are important and deserve discussion and consideration when you vote, but we must maintain perspective. No, deer can’t vote, and those orange sportsmen signs will probably convince some folks to vote for the candidates on them, but I’m waiting for a day when our statewide political campaigns talk about the most important issues first. Perhaps I’ll be waiting as long as a whitetail suffragette, but it’s a nice thought.
Meantime, hunters should rest assured in their deer stands that regardless of who you vote for, your right to be out there next year is as safe as can be. Just look at all the orange signs! Be safe, have fun and good luck. And everyone – sportsmen, sportswomen, and those, like me, who like staying warm on November mornings – get out and vote on the issues that matter most to you, your families and communities this Tuesday.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist for the Hibbing Daily Tribune.