LEFTY AND RIGHTY THE PRESIDENTIAL BEANIES
In 1996 the United States geared up for a Presidential Election. Beanie Babies joined in with Lefty the Donkey and Righty the Elephant. So - why the Donkey and the Elephant?
The Donkey has been a symbol of the Democratic Party since way back in 1828. Opponents of Presidential Candidate Andrew Jackson tried to label him a 'jackass'. Jackson turned this around and used the donkey on his posters for the image of a 'strong-willed' animal.
Political Cartoonist Thomas Nast is credited with making the Donkey and the Elephant truly popular however. In Harper's Weekly in 1870 the Donkey appeared again representing an anti-civil war faction - however the public took to the donkey and it became the unofficial symbol of the Democratic Party.
In 1874 Thomas Nast drew another cartoon in Harper's Weekly... the donkey was dressed in a lion's skin scaring all the animals in the zoo - and the elephant was labelled 'the Republican vote' and that is how the elephant came about!
The names of the Beanies Lefty and Righty came about as the Democrats are seen as being on the left side of the political spectrum and contrary-wise the Republicans on the right side.
In 1996 Lefty the Donkey was representing incumbent Democratic President William Jefferson Clinton (Bill Clinton), and Righty was representing Republican Robert Joseph Dole (Bob Dole). On this occasion Lefty was the winner - Clinton won the election with 379 Electoral College votes to Dole's 159 votes. This equated to 49.2% of the popular vote against 40.7%.
In 2000 Al Gore was the Democratic Nomination (US Presidents can only serve for two terms) and George W. Bush (son of 41st President George H. W. Bush) was the Republican Nomination. In this election it was to be Righty 2000 who was the victorious Beanie. The Republicans took 271 Electoral College votes to the Democrats' 266 (270 Electoral College Votes are required to win the election). However Gore took 48.4% of the popular vote to Bush's 47.9%.
In 2004 Righty 2004 was still representing George W. Bush as he stood for re-election and Lefty 2004 represented John F. Kerry the Democratic nomination. Righty 2004 was the victorious Beanie (making it 2-1 to the Elephants!) Bush took 286 Electoral College votes to Kerry's 251 and 50.7% of the popular vote against Kerry's 48.3%.
As for the next elections - will there be a Lefty and a Righty... well, only Tyme can tell!
Lefty and Righty watch the 2004 Election Results