Remembering Paul Wellstone--Our Collective Loss Five Years Ago

To this day, the progressive movement---and the entire country---misses the voice and leadership of Paul Wellstone. I'm not sure we are conscious of it on a daily basis. But, on the fifth anniversary today of his death in a plane crash, I want us to remember what Paul meant to America.

He was the only Democrat running for re-election in 2002 who voted against the Iraq War resolution. Everything he said in his floor speech opposing the Iraq War has come to pass. When you listen to Wellstone, one understands that those who supported the war could not have believed, as they like to say now, that the war was anything but an authorization for pre-emptive war, not to mention the abrogation of the powers of Congress to declare war (as Sen. Robert Byrd passionately argued).

Acting now, on our own, might be a sign of our power. Acting sensibly and in a measured way, in concert with our allies, with bi-partisan congressional support, would be a sign of our strength...

It would also be a sign of the wisdom of our founders, who lodged in the President the power to command U.S. armed forces, and in Congress the power to make war, ensuring a balance of powers between co-equal branches of government. Our Constitution lodges the power to weigh the causes for war and the ability to declare war in Congress precisely to ensure that the American people and those who represent them will be consulted before military action is taken...

The United States could send tens of thousands of U.S. troops to fight in Iraq, and in so doing we could risk countless lives, of U.S. soldiers and innocent Iraqis. There are other questions, about the impact of an attack in relation to our economy. The United States could face soaring oil prices and could spend billions both on a war and on a years-long effort to stabilize Iraq after an invasion. The resolution we will be debating today would explicitly authorize a go-it-alone approach...

Authorizing the preemptive, go it alone use of force right now, which is what the resolution before us calls for, in the midst of continuing efforts to enlist the world community to back a tough new disarmament resolution on Iraq, could be a costly mistake for our country.

Watch a five-minute excerpt of his speech here and read the whole text here.

But, we miss Paul not just because of his moral opposition to the Iraq War.

When I read a speech he gave before the United Auto Workers, my union, in 1998, tears come to my eyes because of how real he was, how he could make fun of himself and tell jokes and use that humanity to talk about a progressive vision. Here are a few excerpts.

He talked about facing attacks when he ran for re-election and how he was proud to stand up and say:

Living wage jobs I'm for, health care I'm for, I'm opposed to Wall Street privatizing Social Security - I'm for fair trade but I'm not for trade policies that grinds working families to pieces in our country. And you know what, Minnesotans? Some of what these big oil companies say is true - they don't like me, nor do the big pharmaceutical companies, nor the Wall Street investment banks - but they already have great representation in Washington. It's the rest of the people that need it! I'm a senator for children, education, working families!

And here's how he related to people:

I was organizing in the farm areas in the mid 1980s, I was teaching and organizing. Farmers were being dragged under, they were losing their farms, not only where they worked but where they lived. They had no empowering explanation as to why they were losing their farms or what they could do and that became fertile ground (no pun intended) for politics of hatred: Posse Comatatas and some of the precursors to the armed militia, anti-Semitics, racists and all the rest. So my friends took me aside, I'm the son of a Jewish immigrant who was born in the Ukraine, and they said maybe you should just stop speaking - and organizing because you know there's a lot of anti-Semitism out there. But you know when you are 5 foot 5 you never listen to that advice (and some of you know what I mean). So I went out to the town of Alexandria, Minnesota and I spoke at a farm gathering and I finished up speaking and this big guy (lots of guys look big to me) came up and he said, "What nationality are you?"

And I said, "I'm American."

He said, "Where were you born?"

I said, "Washington D.C." "Where are your parents from?" I told him my dad was born in the Ukraine then his family moved to Russia and he fled persecution, came to our country and my mother's family came from the Ukraine, she grew up on the lower east side of New York City.

He said, "Then you are a Jew?"

Now, I wrestled at the University of North Carolina and I want you all to know that I was ready to fight. So I tensed up and I said, "Yes I am."

And he stuck out a big hand and said, "Well buddy, I am a Finn and us minorities have got to struggle together!"

On the Democratic Party:

And sadly enough there are few in the Democratic Party that talk like these new isolationists too. Abraham Lincoln once said "If a man tells you he loves America yet hates labor, he's a liar." I am going to quote him again, "If a man tells you he loves America, yet hates labor, he's a liar." I say to you today that if a man or a woman says he or she is a Democrat, yet votes against labor, than he or she is a fraud.

And what kind of country would we have if this vision guided our policies?

But how can it be that in the United States of America today - the richest country in the world, at the peak of our economic performance - we're still being told that we can't provide a good education for every child? How can it be that we're still being told we can't provide good health care for every citizen? That we're still being told that we can't at least realize the goal that every kid comes to kindergarten ready to learn - that she knows the alphabet, he knows how to spell his name, she knows colors and shapes and sizes, they've been read to widely and they are ready to learn! We're still being told that people can't expect to find a job at a decent wage. It is unacceptable.

And we can do much better as a nation as you look to the challenges going into the next century. You want to have real welfare reform? Focus on a good education, a good job and a good health care. You want to reduce poverty, urban or rural? Focus on a good education, good health care and a good job. You want our country to do well going into a new millennium? Focus on a good education, good health care, and a good job. You want to have a functioning democracy, in which woman and men can think on their own two feet and understand the country and the world and the community they live in and how to make it a better world, a better country and a better community? You better focus on good education, good job, good health care. The cycle of violence: I don't feel sorry when three sixteen year olds beat up a 66 year old woman and leave her for dead. You hold people accountable. But let me also spell out an essential truth - the law community will also tell you this as well - you can build a million new prisons and you will fill them all up. We will never stop the cycle of violence unless we as a nation invest in the health, the skills, intellect, and character of our children. Focus on a good education, good health care, and a good job!

That's why I said earlier that I came here to represent the democratic wing of the Democratic community. That's what our party ought to stand for! That's what our party ought to stand for!

If you want to feel his memory and be inspired and be given some energy for the political work ahead, go read the whole speech.

I remember too well the day he died, along with his wife Shiela, his daughter Marcia and three campaign aides: Mary McEvoy, Tom Lapic, and Will McLaughlin. It was one of those moments when you immediately reach out to call friends. I called my friend Mary who was working on his re-election campaign in Minnesota and we shared our grief over the phone. We realized what we had lost--a champion for the people.

Keep Paul's spirit and vision alive!

Comments

[JudyGee]

It was good reading. sometimes its too painful to remember that we had champions, heroes really, but it felt nice to once again hear good, clean, strong words and implacable ideals.

[loslobo]

Thanks for the post, long live the memory of the green bus

RIP Paul

But if you could spare a few moments Paul, Please haunt your so call democrats and remind them what it means to represent the people and not your pocketbook.

[schatsie]

this is worth remembering and repeating endlessly.

""And sadly enough there are few in the Democratic Party that talk like these new isolationists too. Abraham Lincoln once said "If a man tells you he loves America yet hates labor, he's a liar." I am going to quote him again, "If a man tells you he loves America, yet hates labor, he's a liar." I say to you today that if a man or a woman says he or she is a Democrat, yet votes against labor, than he or she is a fraud.""

We need to be citizens of the world.

[libertyanne]

I'm so happy to find others who have not forgotten this wonderful man after all these years.
He was a great voice for those who felt helpless to speak for themselves. On hearing him we saw a big heart inside a man of small physical stature who could laugh at himself.
A man who we could count on to speak the truth
regardless of the cost to his political carreer. He is remembred for his honesty and
strong presence that could light up any room.
He is remembered by me and others--and always will be.

[Pdubya]

thank you for sharing, beautiful....

I bet he would support this:

HR Bill 3835 The American Freedom Agenda Act

call and write your representatives and get this bill passed!

[freespeach]

Thanks for a moving post Mr. Tasini.

Sadly, I believe if he were alive today he would be getting the "Dennis Kucinich" treatment. That is to say he would be marginalized/ostracized by the Democratic party, and would never receive coverage on huffpo. He would no doubt still be fighting the good fight. Thank you for breathing some life into his words and deeds with this post.

Food for thought:

http://www.alternet.org/story/14399/?page=1

Statistical improbabilities. What does your gut instinct tell you?

[srmorris]

Thanks for the great post. I didn't know much about Paul Wellstone when he was alive. But it seems as if everywhere I turn someone is singing his praises.

[Rebelfriend]

Paul Wellstone was a great man. His loss is immeasurable. Never afraid to speak truth to power, he championed what he believed to be right. Today, we have another man with the courage to speak truth to power, who represents the same positions today that Paul Wellstone would surely be championing. We hear the same passion, the same vision, and the same determination to stand strong against what seem to be insurmountable odds. America and the world is desperate for this kind of leadership now. For many of us who loved Paul Wellstone and the values he fought so hard for, we have found such a champion in John Edwards. Yes, he voted for that war resolution, but to his credit apologized from the depths of his soul, and has, for the last several years, challenged Congress to end to it. While the media has deluged the voters with Clinton/Obama, it has irresponsibly not informed the American people of Edwards' important speeches on global warming (he is the only candidate who has met with Gore and fully supports his solutions), his remarkably strong yet wise speech on how, as President, he would fight Terrorism, his smart approach to strengthening education, a plan to give us universal health care, his absolute determination to support the working people of America, and put an end to the corporate greed that is ravaging our country. Paul Wellstone would surely have agreed with the new direction in which Edwards wants to take our country. He also knew the system was broken. Edwards intends to fix it when he is President. Paul Wellstone set an example for the best in political life; John Edwards reflects that and is fighting to provide that kind of leadership. He has the courage to challenge the status quo, and is determined to set America on the right path. He has demonstrated that decency, honesty, true compassion, and courage did not die with Paul Wellstone. Name recognition and money may be capable of buying the nomination, but it will not give us a President in the mold of Paul Wellstone.

[wm1066]

Early on in his first term he made a mistake with the veterans, he realized he was wrong, owned up to it and became a champian for Vets.
That took guts and showed real class.
And he became a hero for me, and he earned my vote after that.
I think Franken shows some of that and he hasn't won yet. Congressman Keith Ellison has Wellstone fire too.

[Desiderata]

Anybody here seen our good friend Paul?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He cared about all peoples,
But the good__they die young.
Just looked around and he was gone.

[gonnuts]

Because he was real is why he was murdered.

[jmpurser]

Wellstone, the last Democrat.

RIP

[Atticus]

No, he wasn't the last democrat. Hillary is the shining light who is holding his bright standard high!

[Pdubya]

oh goodness. hillary is no wellstone.