It's been quite a while since I thought we could elect a great president. That person was Senator George McGovern, a very long time ago. He ran when the war in Vietnam was raging and he had surprisingly taken the Democratic nomination by promising to bring the troops home. Nixon countered by saying that he and Secretary Kissenger had a secret plan to end hostilities, but he couldn't reveal it till after the election.
I hated the war and refused to be drafted, vowing to my draft board that I would resist or leave the country if they tried to take me. They believed me and that was why, in early 1972, I found myself doing community organizing (ironically!) among the Appalachan poor of Northern Kentucky as my "alternative service" to military involvement. And it's there that I worked, with all my heart, for McGovern.
On election day, we were totally crushed. Kentucky was among the first states projected for Nixon...based on returns from the urban heart of the state around Louisville and Lexington. They didn't even have to look at the numbers from my part of the state to put it in Nixon's column. Talk about futility! And almost all of the rest of the country quickly followed.
With the election over we would learn the details of Nixon's plan for ending the war: Bomb North Vietnamese cities.
Now we have the chance to elect someone who is as smart, thoughtful, decent and far sighted as the good Senator McGovern. Senator Obama is a better organizer and more politically astute and he certainly made a far better choice for his vice presidential nominee! He can end the war in Iraq, inspire people and provide progressive leadership.
His presidency is worth fighting for so tomorrow morning I'm off to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to spend the days leading up to the election working in the campaign. I'm nervous but excited. Imagine me giving up the Jets when they are playing for a possible share of the division lead! I think I did a pretty good job in Kentucky so I hope to do at least as well this time.
And definitely hope for far better results!
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