My letter to George McGovern today

Sent this to the man who was my generation's Barrack Obama. I felt compelled to write him after reading his editorial "Why I Believe Bush Must Go" in the WaPo today.


Senator McGovern-

First, I’d like to thank you for the editorial you have penned in the Washington Post. Your wisdom and historical perspective adds great weight to this very important public discussion as to why we must support impeachment of this administration. I would respectfully add another important reason that this action must be undertaken: to send a very clear signal to future George W. Bush’s and Richard Cheney’s that they abuse and defile the Constitution at great personal risk. Do we really want to allow the precedence of what this administration has done to justify even worse acts of imperial Presidential power in the future?

I have no doubts that the trial of Bush/Cheney in the Senate will not produce a verdict that is called for. Today’s Republican Party is a mere shell of what it was 30-40 years ago. While a lifelong Democrat (I remember, with great pride, canvassing and voting for the 1st time in 1972 - for George McGovern to be my President), I recall my Republican Representative, William Cohen, voting articles of impeachment out of Committee. Sadly, I do not believe there are any Republicans who would act so honorably and in support of a greater principle today. But Democrats cannot avoid this action because the political calculus will not produce a satisfactory end result. Let the Republicans, who cheered for the bogus impeachment of Bill Clinton, justify their vote to provide political cover for these criminals…ultimately, the American voter can weigh the evidence and vote to throw these enablers out of office.

In closing, I just want to reaffirm that I am so proud of being a Democrat because of people like you who have led our Party. While our corporate media has done its damndest to cover and support the privateers and war mongers who make up today’s Republican Party, I will always be proud that I stand with the Party of Statesmen and Public Service. People like, John, Bobby, and Ted Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy, Paul Tsongas, George Mitchell, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Hillary Clinton, Paul Wellstone, Fritz Mondale, Hubert Humphrey, and many, many more great American Democrats. But none of these people have inspired my politics more than you, sir.

Thank you for your lifetime of service to our country and may God Bless your future.


Sincerest Regards.

OAITW

I voted for the first time as well, in 1972. Had arrived here as a 20 yr old (legal :)) immigrant a couple of years before and became a Democrat and a McGovern supporter.
I threw a party to watch the returns and after that celebrate a McGovern victory, it broke my heart he lost by so much.

Being a Democrat, I've learned never to equate "losing" with voting for the guy with the right character. Historians will look back on the past 40 years of Presidential elections and wonder how a majority could get it so consistently wrong.

http://mcgoverncenter.org/museum.htm

I volunteered for McGovern in '72, and he got my first presidential vote. I hope to visit the McGovern Center some day. For now, I can at least buy a t-shirt.

Maybe I'll include this in our itinerary.

Thanks!