Reply #36: I Agree With This

[Hidden Stillness]

I was also incredibly moved by the rally with the Kennedys and Obama; it was very impressive and inspiring to me, too. When C-SPAN replayed it later that night, I taped it. I am old enough to have a real reverence for the entire extended Kennedy family and all that it has done for generations, as people also do for the Roosevelts--this is the soul and meaning of our Party, and country. The rousing speeches, with all the old Kennedy magic, cheering crowd, familiar phrases, such as "the New Frontier," and Obama, very movingly, appearing to be totally aware of what was happening here, the meaning of it, being lofted up to a higher level of political history and consciousness, and understanding the greatness of the people who were doing the endorsing here.

Understand the events of the past several days: first, after a growing list of endorsements by individuals and newspapers, etc., the New York Times, one of the great newspapers, endorsed Hillary Clinton--a coup--then suddenly, before the dust even settled, Caroline Kennedy, who has become a great writer (on the right of privacy, on Christmas tradition, etc.) and director of events and forums at the JFK Library, writes an op-ed piece, endorsing Obama. Just after that, Ted Kennedy, one of the greatest, most effective Senators ever, endorses Obama--the biggest, most impressive name yet for Obama. It was just a stunning series of events, and quick.

Ted Kennedy's speech at this event was so exciting, with references to the feeling of waves of change, history, and Obama referring to Pres. Kennedy's "torch has been passed to a new generation" after Ted Kennedy's deeply moving story, about how it had been once Sen. Kennedy, being called "inexperienced" by former Pres. Truman. It all added up to a fabulous, very complicated and rich (for those aware of the history) atmosphere, and raised everything to that organized, family Kennedy class. Also, I think Ted Kennedy had to suffer for many years as the "D"LC Clinton/Edwards/Kerry types pretended to be rid of the great old New Deal/liberal/union/women's-and-civil-rights wing of the Party, as represented by Kennedy, etc. Kennedy's dream of true universal health care was thwarted by Bill Clinton as much as by Republicans. It was like our true tradition--Kennedys and Roosevelts and taking care of the poor and abused--was back, returned to life, after all the bleak years of Republican "D"LC, etc. It was very wonderful, to live again.

Of course, Obama is not up to the proven standards of these families that have been great for generations, and I will vote for either candidate, no matter who it is, but this event with the Kennedys just had the exhilirating feel of the irresistable wave of history and right. If you have the respect for these people that educated Democrats who grew up knowing that they were heroes did, then the whole thing was just alive with meaning and background. It was a very major endorsement.