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Editor’s Note: The opening of the Democratic National Convention was a curious blend of high-mindedness – from the dramatic appearance of the ailing Sen. Ted Kennedy and the personal story of Michele Obama – and petty bickering, over who’s at fault for the continued party disunity. This guest essay by former Democratic congressional staffer Brent Budowsky, who supported Barack Obama in the primaries, reflects patience wearing thin regarding both John McCain’s surprisingly low-road campaign and the unrelenting anger from some of Hillary Clinton’s backers: The lion in winter brought tears to the eyes and a convention to its feet as Ted Kennedy passed the torch to Barack Obama. Michelle Obama brought light to the eyes of Democrats with an all-American story about dreams that do come true.
The battle has begun in earnest. To those who call themselves PUMA for “party unity my ass,” this is not about them; nor is it about the Clintons; nor is it about political vanities, egotism and self-indulgence. It is about America. Across this nation, as the lies and smears come forth from the forces of McCain, the heart and soul of America fights back. The good and decent people say of Bush and Cheney and McCain and Rove: Enough, no more, it ends here. … The man who used to be John McCain in 2000 would be sickened by the McCain who campaigns today, and would stand against, not with, the heirs to those who fomented hate against Jefferson and Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and FDR, Jack, Bobby and Martin, who were all slandered by the haters of their times. As Barack Obama is in ours. It is a war of the worlds. Little people with big hearts, patriots who would lift our democracy, the kids who will inherit the future, the believers in truth and honor in politics are fighting back every hour, every day, across America. It is a war of the worlds about the content and character of the democracy of our country. It is a fight to the political death between the big truth and the big lie, between those who would lift our country up and those who would tear our country apart. The stakes are enormous. In the land of the free and the home of the brave, it is the truth that sets us free. Now the convention has begun; the battle has been joined. One of the great men who ever served in the United States Senate has lifted his body and raised his voice, and by doing so, he lifts our hearts and raises our sights. One of the great American stories of our time, the hard-earned success of Michelle and Barack Obama, is living proof that as the great man said, the dream indeed will never die. So to those who say “party unity my ass,” I say kiss mine. The battle for the future of America has been joined and we will win it with you, or without you. We will not surrender the future to the lies and smears of our opponents or to the vanities of those who pretend to be our friends. Brent Budowsky was an aide to Sen. Lloyd Bentsen and to Rep. Bill Alexander, then the chief deputy whip of the House. A contributing editor to Fighting Dems News Service, he can be read in The Hill newspaper, where he is a columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. To comment at Consortiumblog, click here. (To make a blog comment about this or other stories, you can use your normal e-mail address and password. Ignore the prompt for a Google account.) To comment to us by e-mail, click here. To donate so we can continue reporting and publishing stories like the one you just read, click here. |
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