Like the Vietnam War 35 years ago, free trade today has not only become an indicator issue among politicians, but a generational divide between lawmakers of both parties (on one side) and people on the street (on the other). In Seattle, free trade heaven except for those annoying streets, almost every major Democratic official has followed Bill Clinton down this heinous path: Patty Murray, Gary Locke, Jim McDermott, Ron Sims, Paul Schell, Norm Rice. Each have chosen the interests of corporations over the needs of their constituents and of citizens around the world.

Maria Cantwell likes free trade. She voted for NAFTA while in the House of Representatives; if anything, the fortune she's acquired since then has made her less, not more, sensate. She is now the very prototype of the rich, pro- business candidate the national Democratic party has embraced. She does not deserve support.

But no matter how reprehensible Cantwell is, she must be supported. At least nine out of ten Republicans--including John Carlson, Linda Smith, or Ellen Craswell--could be running for this seat against Slade Gorton, and I'd send money. Gorton is a particular combination of shrewd and evil that makes him extremely dangerous. His vicious, antebellum racism (that is, his lifelong obsession with screwing Native Americans) alone should disqualify him from apension, let alone further public office. The lengths to which he goes, often successfully, to further the interests of the most destructive forces in society make it imperative for the nation that he be removed, and voters in our state are the only ones who can do it.

Gorton is in trouble, but his defeat is by no means assured. Senn and Cantwell combined had more votes in the primary, but, Harold Hochstatter aside, Republicans had no contested races to vote for. (As it turns out, neither did Democrats. Our democracy is in a sorry state.) Twice as many people vote in the November election, and many of them will vote for Gorton. He has not only corporate coffers to match Cantwell and 40 years of name recognition, but a much wider base of popular support than Cantwell, who essentially bought her win and is hoping to buy another.

Concerning that: Cantwell's easy primary victory is deeply disturbing. She used her one term in Washington to land a cushy hi-tech job for which she was hired, like everyone who uses government as a revolving door with the corporate world, because of her connections. She uses that job to make a fortune, which she in turn uses to buy her way back into the halls of power voters bounced her from after one term. It's sick. It's deeply alienating, because it tells people that government is only a game rich people play (Gorton is also a millionaire, although he's wise enough to not use his own money on Senate races. He's so corrupt and so effective in making money for corporations that he doesn't have to).

Nonetheless, among these rich people who will use their power to help other rich people--but not you--Cantwell must be supported. Slade is not Senn, whose campaign conveniently disappeared in the final weeks. He will fight nasty, as he always does. Hopefully, this time, he will go down.

And one final Cantwell bonus: with Maria in office, hopefully voters will see fit to bounce the insufferably arrogant and dim Patty Murray in another four years.