On the Ground in Ohio
Posted by on October 24, 2006 at 10:21 AM
I landed in Columbus, Ohio yesterday, where, for the next two weeks, I will be assisting the Ohio Democratic Party and their coordinated campaign effort in any way I can. I actually have no idea yet what that will mean, but I’m up for anything. This is the sprint to the finish line and I am thrilled to be able to help out such a great slate of candidates – from Sherrod Brown, who will be the Buckeye state’s next senator – to down-ballot candidates like Jennifer Brunner who is going to restore integrity to the election process in Ohio as Secretary of State – to the myriad of Congressional candidates who are going to make up the newly restored Democratic majority in Congress.
After a long day of traveling yesterday, I landed in Columbus and arrived at the Ohio Democratic Party offices around 4 o’clock. The offices were strangely quiet, and I soon realized why – President Clinton was scheduled to arrive later that evening for an event and everyone was getting ready for that. Sarah, one of your DNC-funded field organizers, suggested I head over to the event as well. Well, that wasn’t something I was going to pass up…
The event was sold-out – standing room only – I managed to squeeze into the Press section and grab a spot to listen. Chris Redfern, Chairman of the ODP welcomed everyone and got the evening underway:
"We have a dynamic slate of candidates, perhaps the best in a political generation. We are not only going to make history on the state level, we are also going to win Congressional seats and take control of the Congress.
Obviously that was followed by thunderous applause.
Later, Ted Strickland took the stage. Although I have met him at events in the past, this was the first time I heard him speak to a crowd and he was amazing. My favorite quotes:
”We do believe that love is more powerful than hate…”
and
“The current political leadership has underestimated the people of Ohio – in fact, Just as the President has “misunderestimated” the American people, the Republican administration in Ohio has underestimated the people of Ohio…”
Ted emphasized his commitment to creating living wage jobs, fully funding education and making college affordable and making high quality health care accessible for all. He then turned the stage over to Sherrod Brown.
Congressman Brown’s theme was crystal clear: Change is coming.
He talked about the steps a Democratic Congress would take – noting first that Democrats are committed to making our country safer and passing the bipartisan recommendations of the 9/11 commission, something the Republicans have failed to do. He noted the failure of the Republican Congress to raise the minimum wage for the past 10 years, even though Congress has seen fit to raise their own pay 6 different times in that same period. And Congressman Brown also called for an end to the “strangle-hold” drug companies have on our Congress – the result of which has been legislation that benefits the pharmaceutical country more than it benefits the American people.
Sherrod introduced President Clinton and the room went crazy. The applause was loud and long, and well-deserved. President Clinton spoke softly, as if he was having a one-on-one conversation with each person in the room, instead of addressing a crowd where standing room was precious.
President Clinton touched on so many things during his speech – he noted the number of Republicans fleeing the GOP because of their extreme-right agenda. He noted the number of veterans and former intelligence officials running for office as Democrats (He had just come from an appearance with Tammy Duckworth in Chicago). He noted the way our dependence on foreign oil is costing the American people.
But most importantly, he noted that the current government is run by ideologues who are dedicated to three things that don’t work: concentrating maximum wealth and special interest power, an arbitrary unaccountable government and an ideological divide that creates exclusive communities that look down on people.
In talking about investing in alternative energies:
“We could be making our future together. This is not rocket science, but no ideologue will give it to you because it requires thinking and knowing…”
And referrencing the appropriate title of Bob Woodward’s look at the Bush Administration, State of Denial:
Denial is an essential strategy for an ideologue – evidence is irrelevant and argument is a waste of time…
Finally, President Clinton closed by evoking the words of our founding fathers, whose goal was not to create a nation divided, but a “more perfect union”.
”We are not perfect, we will never be perfect, but we can always be better…whenever we forget it we get in trouble, whenever we embrace it we shine…
And with that, the night was over. I left inspired and a bit awed. Hearing President Clinton speak last night was unlike any political event I have ever been to – usually the pep rally type atmosphere is fun, but it’s superficial. In contrast, last night was thought provoking. I left last night thinking about the President's words, about the ideas he shared and about the message he conveyed. It was one of hope – to be sure – but one that was a reminder of how great American can truly be when we have a government that believes in, not just the power America can yield, but in its potential for greatness.
Paint Ohio Blue has some photos. I'll have some up later.
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