From the days of Franklin Roosevelt mobilizing
every American to the cause that we are in this
together, to the days of John F. Kennedy who
rallied Americans to ask what we can do for
our country, the Democratic Party has always
fought for the idea that our rising tide should
lift all boats,and leave no-one behind, in war or peace.
For those of us who supported Democratic
veterans, war heroes and great patriots who
ran for office in the past election, November
was not only a triumphant victory, but a new
moment of leadership to take our mission to
the next level, with a Democratic Congress.
Americans of all political parties and points of
view on policy stand united in our support for
the men and women who serve so bravely,
their loved ones who stand behind them at
home, and our veterans who have served
our country for generations.
Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have shown great
commitment and leadership on these matters
and great things are possible in the Democratic
Congress starting in 2007.
The Democratic National Committee has initiated a major program to work
with veterans and military families in communities, with the passionate
support of Howard Dean and the tremendous leadership of one of America's
great Democrats and champion of veterans, former DNC Chairman Don
Fowler.
Congressional leaders, the DNC and veterans
in the House and Senate have received great
reinforcements from the Fighting Dems and
the Fighting Democrats News Service, which
have supported candidates with military service
and disseminated news of interest to troops,
families and veterans.
Many of our voices in the entertainment world
such as Al Franken, Randi Rhodes, Robin
Williams and countless others have offered
their support with conviction from USO tours
to talk radio.
This is a historic commitment of the Democratic
Party at all levels, and our victory in the last
election offers another generation of Democrats
a moment of opportunity to take this leadership
to a new level, with our troops under fire and
our divided nation at war.
This is not the time or place for a detailed and
specific program, with one exception discussed
below. There should be a major initiative that
would bring together Democratic Leaders in
Congress, leaders of the Democratic National
Committee, elected officials and party leaders
with advocates for vets and troops, progressive
internet Democrats and hands-on grassroots
Democrats at all levels for a comprehensive
program.
With the Holiday Season approaching, I would
propose that the party of President John F.
Kennedy who said that "here on earth God's
work must truly be our own" initiate a historic commitment to help
homeless folks generally, and homeless vets in particular.
They are the homeless heroes, men and
women who served heroically and have fallen
on hard times who deserve our total support
and our unconditional love. They are American
heroes, fellow patriots, and our neighbors in
communities all across America. They have
risked their lives for us; let us stand with them
today, with a commitment and passion that
will be powerful, historic and lasting.
This is one of those great issues where doing
the right thing, is doing the smart thing, morally,
patriotically and politically. The Democratic
Party does not only ask for votes, we earn
them and this is a moment for Democrats to
create enormous support, passion and goodwill
throughout the nation.
Every military family in America would stand
with us. Tens of millions of our neighbors,
friends and families with military backgrounds.
There is no higher patriotism or better politics
than this.
Every man and woman of faith, in every house
of worship, in every denomination, in every
region of the nation, would welcome and join
a commitment of passion to stand with the
hungry and homeless heroes of America.
There is no higher calling, and no better
politics, than this.
There are countless Democrats at the grassroots
and netroots heart of the party ready to donate
small but meaningful and important monies for
party programs in support of homeless heroes,
wounded troops and military families.
There are great entertainers who would stand
ready to be mobilized, from events to USO
tours, from benefits to solicitations for money,
as previous Democratic entertainers did in
the days of Franklin Roosevelt and John F.
Kennedy and many generous and talented
Democratic entertainers are already doing today.
Most of you who read these words, know that
I have posted and acted in support of veterans,
troops and military families and urged support
for many months of Fighting Democratic
candidates with military experience elected
to the House and Senate. In all of my years
of experience, which includes much of the
cynicism of national politics, I have never
seen such an outpouring of patriotism and
passion for America, from both the leaders
and grassroots of the Democratic Party, as
I have seen this past year.
We are the party of JFK. We are the party that
believes in the credo that is simultaneously
shared by our houses of worship and branches
of military service: we leave nobody behind.
With a great victory behind us, with the winds
finally at our backs, with both houses of the
Congress under Democratic control and an
outstanding list of candidates emerging for
the Democratic nomination for President,
we should make even greater efforts to
lead and lift this land we love.
The Holiday Season is a great moment to begin
a historic new era in American politics that
includes a historic new commitment to help
the homeless heroes of America, to mobilize
every Democrat everywhere to work with
families, friends, houses of worship, military
communities and veterans groups.
We are the party of FDR and JFK. We are the
party that stands with veterans who represent
us in both houses of Congress. We are the
party of national security, national unity and
national morality. We are the party that the
voters have now entrusted with a great mission
and no doubt, we will live up to their trust.