Andrew Says GOP 'Lost Its Way'

SYRACUSE - Have Republicans lost their way?

Indiana Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Andrew thinks so, and at the Kosciusko County Democrat Hall of Fame Dinner Saturday, he said it's up to the Democrats to show them the way.

Republicans used to say they are for jobs, used to be for a balanced budget and used to be about paying as you go, he said, "but they lost their way. As Democrats, we need to show them which way to go."

Andrew - who grew up in Allen County but also spent lots of time at Tippecanoe Lake during the last 32 years - said that he's learned about what's important from growing up on the farm.

Hoosiers share a set of virtues, including common sense, hard work and frugality. Those values were passed down to him from his father and his father before him and now he's trying to pass them onto his two children.

As governor, Andrew said, he can make sure Hoosiers keep those values and build on them "to make this a better place." Changes needed in Indiana need to be based on those virtues, not based on the schemes going on in Washington, D.C.

Living on the farm helped him learn about economics. "If you are in a hole," he said, "and need to get out, stop digging."

During the eight years of the Clinton/Gore administration, 22 million jobs were created and home ownership for blacks and Hispanics was at its highest level, he said. "Clinton and Gore created a better economy in their eight years than the 80 years before them. In the past 2-1/2 years, we've given all that up. People are unemployed. People are hurting. We've got to do something about that."

Andrew said, "If you elect Joe Andrew, we're going to create jobs" with a five-point plan. That plan includes focusing on creating and bringing jobs to the area in the fields of life sciences, manufacturing and transportation, including new auto technology. And it can all be environmentally friendly, too, he said.

"A good job is what keeps a family together," he said.

He also told the Democrats that he was proud of their efforts in the Republican Kosciusko County. However, while many believe the Republicans have strayed and now represent only people with money, people across the state also feel the Democrats don't represent them, just the working poor. Andrews said the Democrats need to be the party of the working class, with whom they share the same set of virtues.

He said he also knows what the Republicans will do - wrap themselves in the flag, thinking they own it. But Democrats need to remind them they alone don't own the flag, all Americans do. "We can't give them an inch on the issues and let them think they own the flag," he said.

Democrats are inclusive, while Republicans are exclusive, he said. "When we focus on the future, it's got to be about bringing people together," he said. By including all, it will help Indiana prevent its youngest and brightest from leaving and it will bring people here whom Indiana needs. Democrats have a big tent with room for everyone, he said.

He concluded by saying, "We have energy, we have optimism and with your help ... the Democrats will win the governor race in 2004."

Also at the dinner Saturday, Mary Alice Miller was named the H. Dale Tucker Democrat of the Year. Inducted into the Democrat Hall of Fame were Frances Head, Anne Watts and Tom Lemon.