This past Saturday, my girlfriend Casey and I had the pleasure and privilege of attending the opening of our local Ohio Democratic Party office. While the featured speaker for the event was Ohio's next U.S. Senator,
Sherrod Brown, it was also an afternoon of excitement about the
entire Ohio Democratic ticket. An afternoon of
hope for the future. An afternoon of
optimism about Democratic chances to both take back Congress and turn Ohio blue. And it was an afternoon of determination, not only to picture a better tomorrow, but also to work harder - and smarter - than ever to do something about it.
From the moment we approached the Cleveland Heights office on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, we knew it was going to be a big day. Parking was scarce, as the lot for the building was completely full. Plus, you couldn't miss the office, as signs for every conceivable Ohio Democratic candidate festooned the exterior (and, of course, the interior). As we signed in, Casey and I immediately ventured to the back of the building, where we were excited to see a room jam-packed with fellow Democrats. I'm not talking 10 or 15 like-minded individuals. I'm talking nearly 100 - in a room more suited for half that. And that was
long before the official program began. We were inspired already.
Lining the walls - other than the appropriate signs and decorations - were sign-up sheets. Canvassing. Phone banking. The crucial GOTV legwork that will no doubt drive the Democratic push this fall. But unlike my similar office visits prior to the 2004 election, I noticed an office abuzz with action. The sheets filled up fast. Casey and I signed up for a massive, statewide phone banking set for early October. Contrast that with the fall of 2004, when I signed up at my local office to volunteer, but was never called. When I attended
Camp Wellstone in Cleveland earlier this year, one of our instructors asked the group if we had volunteered in 2004. Every hand shot up. She then asked if we had had a positive experience trying to volunteer. Far fewer hands rose. Saturday was different. It looks like two years has made a world of difference.
Something else stood out from Saturday's event, something that was readily apparent the moment we entered the crowded meeting room. The Republican Party can lie all they want about their
so-called "big tent", but when you want to talk about diversity, you're going to be talking about the Democratic Party. Saturday, I saw individuals of all ethnicities. Of all economic backgrounds. Of all ages. Of all constituencies. College Democrats were there. Nurses were there. Veterans were there. A teacher brought some of her students there. Current candidates joined former candidates. You name it, they were there. Men and women, gathered together, talking about change and working to actually
be the change. Contrast this with a regional Republican National Committee meeting I walked through last year. Then, I didn't spot any African Americans or other minorities - only white men and very few women -
until I had passed the room and caught a lone African American man entering a meeting room. He was a server, arriving with a tray of food. To say the least, that's not
our party. It sure wasn't Saturday.
The day kicked off in earnest with a heartfelt, inspiring speech by
Barbara Boyd, a candidate for state representative. As she encouraged everyone in attendance to do all that we can to turn Ohio - and America - around, she touched on the fact that Cleveland is being considered as a host site for the 2008 Republican convention. "They can have Cleveland," Boyd said to raucous applause, "but we'll have a Democratic president!" Following some more brief speeches by party officials and campaign staffers and a great introduction by Brown's brother, it was time for the main event. Navigating his way through a throng of outstretched hands and cheering well-wishers, Brown found himself in the center of the rather large group. As he again welcomed everyone and remarked about the enthusiasm he felt, he reinforced two important messages. First, that he will no doubt bring another powerful, progressive voice to the Senate. And two, that we, as
motivated citizens, must be willing to do far more than vote to ensure a Democratic victory in November. Adopt five people, Brown told everyone, and turn these individuals into your pet projects, keeping them informed as to the issues and the importance of the election. He then spoke about raising the minimum wage, speaking again to his progressive values. Upon marking the opening of the office, Brown (and a roomful of empowered activists) mixed and mingled. He was ready for what's to come. So were we.
The message from Saturday is clear:
The time to fight is now. The Republicans our Democratic candidates are facing - not only in Ohio, but throughout America - are cookie-cutter, rubber-stamp partisans who are both trying to run from their shameful records and distance themselves from their failing president. To turn America around this fall, to take her in a new direction, is going to take what I took away from Brown's speech. And that is the willingness to stand proud and stand tall for our progressive values. What's more, the willingness to shed light on the obvious differences between our candidates and their candidates. Brown drew his largest, most vocal response when he vowed to withstand - and fire back
twice as hard - every negative salvo Mike DeWine's campaign is sure to fire. If each and every one of our candidates can heed that message - and we as progressives can use
our power to help them fight this fight - it's going to be a great fall. And, if you've found the same energy at the events you've been to, wherever you are, you're no doubt as excited as me. But our work is only beginning.
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