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As the Republican House of Cards threatens to blow over from a strong wind of corruption and incompetence at the federal level, it’s easy to forget how important the many hotly contested gubernatorial contests are this year.

The prospect of more Democratic governors isn’t nearly as sexy as the idea of Democrats running one or both houses of Congress. Yet much of the progressive change that happens in America takes place at the state level.

Wisconsin and Ohio exemplify just how important gubernatorial elections can be to the culture and economic future of the States. Last night’s gubernatorial debate in Milwaukee was an impressive battle between two polished politicos: Governor Jim Doyle and Congressman Mark Green. One of Doyle’s most devastating arguments was his blunt warning that many researchers will simply look elsewhere for jobs if Mark green wins the election. Although Wisconsin is the original home of stem cell research, the Christianist wing of the GOP controls the state legislature. Mark Green tries to pretend he’s in favor of stem-cell research, but he’s a rabidly anti-choice candidate who opposes abortions even in the case of rape or incest, as well as any medical advances that Jerry Falwell wouldn’t approve of. Jim Doyle represents a high-tech future of medical progress; Mark Green promises only a Bible and more tax cuts for special interests to grow Wisconsin.

In Ohio, Republican Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell is easily the most extreme candidate nominated for governor in the history of the state. Blackwell is militantly anti-gay and anti-choice; much of Ohio’s GLBT community will feel unable to stay if he wins. College professors who happen to be gay have already fled Ohio since voters passed a gay marriage ban in 2004. The constitutional amendment bans not only gay marriage but equal benefits to gay state employees. Luckily, since Democrat Ted Strickland has a double-digit lead in every poll taken, this shouldn’t come to pass.

Americans vote with their feet, and unless Ohio and Wisconsin go blue this fall, both states will be drained of some of their most economically productive citizens. Neither state’s economy can afford such a body blow.

National Public Radio’s Mara Liasson did a story on a hot button issue that could galvanize Democratic voters and turn them out in record numbers at the polls in the fall. The issue is the minimum wage. Democrats are and have always been the party of the people. We think of America as a family and when one member of the family is weak, it pulls the whole unit down. Republicans see it differently. They believe that it is best to engage and afford opportunity to those at the top, those who don’t need help and those who are doing okay on their own. They consider everyone else to be a drag on society.

Just like the Republicans were successful in driving up turnout in 2004 using the issue of gay marriage, the Democrats hope to capitalize on the issue of the minimum wage on state ballots across the country. Today, the federal minimum wage stands at $5.15 per hour. The majority of Americans feel that the minimum wage should be increased, but the Republicans in Congress disagree, they’d rather give tax cuts to the rich and wage pre-emptive wars around the world.

Have a listen to the story.

President Bill Clinton was out in Colorado speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival and he affirmed what we all believe. The Democrats will do well in November if they stick to the message and talk about issues that Americans care about.

Clinton also believes that the GOP strategy is weak; the whole idea of pandering to the GOP base by introducing legislation that is is bad for America is not going to do the job in the fall.

The Republican strategy is weak, he said.

“Let’s forget about global warming and talk about flag burning and gay marriage,” Clinton said. “I don’t know how long you can milk that old cow.”

Democrats, he said, need to focus on their differences with the GOP and on promoting what they stand for. One of those things should be fighting climate change, he said.

Clinton said America is losing jobs and its economy is suffering without investment in the future of energy.

“This decade’s new jobs are in clean energy, and we haven’t seized them,” he said. “We have a short time in the life of the planet to turn this around.”

He said Democrats should seize on the opportunity to stress the national security angle of clean energy. He said climate change is a far more important issue than he thought when he was in office.

The Republican plan for America = stay the course in Iraq and ban gay marriage. I guess Americans will really have a BIG choice to make.

Read the Democrats plan for America