Like many liberals out there, I watched the polls last night with anticipation and steadily growing disappointment. I share the sentiment of disappointment in having worked so hard only to fall short of victory. However, I do think it is vitally important that we not lose sight of this election and what it means for our country.
Already there is talk of the liberal base and the young voters giving up on the political process; as if those of us who aren’t on the right can’t take a minor set-back. We are supposed to just give up. Our despair and apathy are supposed to get the better of us. I think that is flat out ridiculous. Sure, we might be down, but we are sure as hell not out.
Now is not the time to give up, now is the time to fight harder for the values that we believe in. Conservatives don’t have a lock on moral values. I don’t need to remind Christians that Jesus was the ultimate liberal. The religious right claims this election as a moral victory, but I just cannot bring myself to view this election in those terms. There is nothing moral about Bush’s war. There is nothing moral about a thousand of our troops dead and thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians killed. There is nothing moral about destroying our environment for the almighty dollar. And there is certainly nothing moral in thirteen states denying the rights of family minded, upstanding members of the communities on the basis of their sexual preferences.
I never in my life thought I would quote Al Sharpton, but he’s right: it’s time for us to stop being elephants in donkey jackets. The Republicans try to speak of a ‘mandate’ from the people, but the race was 51% to 48%. That’s not a thrashing. That’s not a blow-out. That’s not a decisive victory. And it’s a long, long way from a mandate. Nearly half of voting America sent a clear signal to the President last night: we’ve had enough of you.
Now is not the time for us to slink away, with our tail between our legs. It’s time for us to stand tall and have our voice heard. It’s time for us to work hard to make sure our concerns are addressed and to keep this administration honest. And if the last four years should have taught us anything, keeping this bunch honest is going to be hard, hard work.
There’s a lot of speculation about why the Democrats weren’t able to rally America to defeat this President. I do not believe it has anything to do with not being able to appeal to ‘middle America’. I believe it has everything to do with trying to kowtow to the Republican platform. This fear of liberalism has gone too far and it’s time we stood together to put a stop to it right now. This is not a debate between the ‘liberal’ and ‘moderate’ wings of the party; it’s about liberals letting American know what it means to be a liberal, instead of the conservatives bad mouthing us to the American people.
What does it mean to be a liberal in America today? If you let the right define it, liberal might seem like a scary word. But for me, liberal simply means compassion — compassion for our fellow man.
Being a liberal means believing that everyone in America has the right to the education they need to build a better life, to feed and clothe their families. Being a liberal means believing all Americans should have access to healthcare. It means those who can afford to pay a little more do, because it benefits us all. It means reaching out to those less fortunate than us. It means fighting for the rights of the common man, to make sure that those in power don’t forget that America is by the people, for the people.
Being a liberal means defending the constitution and the idea that all men are created equal. All women are created equal. And those rights don’t just extend to those in power, those rights are universal. Being a liberal means fighting to protect those rights for all Americans.
Being a liberal means working hard to ensure that we don’t leave our children a worn out, used up earth. It means not abandoning our future, destroying our planet, and sticking our children with the bill.
Being a liberal means being an idealist with ideals. Liberals are the true moral leaders of America; being liberal means fighting to make sure those in power hear the voices of the people they are meant to represent.
So, take a moment. Lick your wounds a bit. Pause. Reflect. And then gather yourselves together and prepare for the next battle. This one is shaping up to be even longer and harder than the year leading up to this election; our next battle will rage for at least four years, but there is just too much at stake for us to give up.