Iowans don't seem to care about "The Pledge" anymore

In the West Wing episode "King Corn," the candidates to succeed President Bartlet traveled to Iowa for the Caucuses. I recall one of the regulars- I don't remember who- making some snide remark about how there's no reason for Iowa to be so important to the nominating process, and comparing it to South Dakota- thereby gratuitiously insulting two states for the price of one.

In fact, Iowa for many years led the nation in the percentage of its population who are college graduates, in its literacy rate, and certainly in the number of people prepared to ask the candidates tough and erudite questions on obscure topics. There are problems with the caucuses- chiefly the domination of both political parties by their more extreme wings, thereby making it more difficult for each to nominate an electable candidate- but contrary to that character's wisecrack there are very good reasons indeed why, since some state has to go first, it should be Iowa.

Traditionally we have had a blind spot, though: ethanol. The use of corn to manufacture this alternative fuel has traditionally been dear to the hearts of Iowa's farmers, and it's been something of a "third rail" for caucus contestants. The problem is that it's a boondoggle; a gallon of ethanol only yields 70% of the energy required to produce it! Still, promising to support ethanol subsidies has usually been something candidates in both parties have had to do in order to be viable in Iowa.

In that West Wing episode, eventual Republican nominee Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) had the courage to refuse to take "The Pledge;" eventual Democratic nominee (and president) Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) caved in. In the real world, John McCain was courageous enough to refuse to take The Pledge in 2000- and it hurt him so badly that he decided not to contest the caucuses after all, leaving the field open to George W. Bush.

This year, Tim Pawlenty has refused to take The Pledge. But Iowans seem to be growing up. It doesn't seem to matter anymore.

Good for Pawlenty- and good for Iowans.

HT: The Bean Walker