Tuesday, July 27, 2004
WHAT A NIGHT, WHAT AN HONOR
I attended my first Democratic National Convention in 1976. Well, sort of...
I was 9 years old, and absolutely fascinated and enthralled with the whole convention experience - the pagentry, the enthusiasm, the traditions of the political convention process. Every evening of the 1976 Democratic Convention, after my younger siblings were put to bed, my Mom would let me stay up until I fell asleep in front of the TV.
It was that very Convention in 1976 that nominated Jimmy Carter to be President, and it was the same President Carter who addressed our Convention last night. And I was there, in person. I've come full circle.
And then there was Part 2 of the evening, when I was able to once again listen to the man who ultimately brought me to the Democratic Party, President Bill Clinton.
I was born and raised in a GOP family - the OLD GOP, where individual liberties were revered and women and minorities were respected. I actually participated in the 1992 GOP National Convention, as a Sergeant-At-Arms (think "usher") on the Convention floor. I went from the floor of the Conventon on Monday night to the protest site across the street on Tuesday night, where I joined fellow supporters of Planned Parenthood and other groups and proudly displayed my sign that said "I'm voting for Clinton because Bush gives me no CHOICE." I said then, and I still believe now, that Republican Women elected Bill Clinton President.
I fully and officially switched parties in 1994, after the radical right completed their takeover of the GOP in Houston. President Clinton was a major part of my motivation in switching parties. He led our nation into an unprecedented period of economic prosperity while protecting and defending our personal rights and liberties, and he accomplished all of this while still balancing our national budget and gaining respect around the world for bringing peaceful solutions to a world in turmoil.
Last night President Clinton, the Master Teacher, took his students - the American people - back to school. He retaught us the lessons that we've forgotten, the lessons that our nation so desperately needed to be reminded of - the lessons of how economic prosperity can be reattained, how civil and individual liberties can be restored, how respect in the world can be earned again. He rekindled our faith and belief in the Democratic Party and its leaders. And above all, President Clinton reinforced our unified and fervent belief that John Kerry and John Edwards will be the leaders to bring our nation back to that respected and prosperous place we were in just four years ago.
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I was 9 years old, and absolutely fascinated and enthralled with the whole convention experience - the pagentry, the enthusiasm, the traditions of the political convention process. Every evening of the 1976 Democratic Convention, after my younger siblings were put to bed, my Mom would let me stay up until I fell asleep in front of the TV.
It was that very Convention in 1976 that nominated Jimmy Carter to be President, and it was the same President Carter who addressed our Convention last night. And I was there, in person. I've come full circle.
And then there was Part 2 of the evening, when I was able to once again listen to the man who ultimately brought me to the Democratic Party, President Bill Clinton.
I was born and raised in a GOP family - the OLD GOP, where individual liberties were revered and women and minorities were respected. I actually participated in the 1992 GOP National Convention, as a Sergeant-At-Arms (think "usher") on the Convention floor. I went from the floor of the Conventon on Monday night to the protest site across the street on Tuesday night, where I joined fellow supporters of Planned Parenthood and other groups and proudly displayed my sign that said "I'm voting for Clinton because Bush gives me no CHOICE." I said then, and I still believe now, that Republican Women elected Bill Clinton President.
I fully and officially switched parties in 1994, after the radical right completed their takeover of the GOP in Houston. President Clinton was a major part of my motivation in switching parties. He led our nation into an unprecedented period of economic prosperity while protecting and defending our personal rights and liberties, and he accomplished all of this while still balancing our national budget and gaining respect around the world for bringing peaceful solutions to a world in turmoil.
Last night President Clinton, the Master Teacher, took his students - the American people - back to school. He retaught us the lessons that we've forgotten, the lessons that our nation so desperately needed to be reminded of - the lessons of how economic prosperity can be reattained, how civil and individual liberties can be restored, how respect in the world can be earned again. He rekindled our faith and belief in the Democratic Party and its leaders. And above all, President Clinton reinforced our unified and fervent belief that John Kerry and John Edwards will be the leaders to bring our nation back to that respected and prosperous place we were in just four years ago.
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