In the comments to the "Unifying Democratic Message" post, poster
537 votes suggested what I think is a
real winner:
We the People of the United States will form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.
I already said this in the comment thread, but I wanted to say it again here: That is a stroke of genius.
Not only does it state our goals and values concisely and beautifully (James Madison was a very, very talented writer), but it is also the perfect rebuttal to the Republicans' incessant claims to be the party of patriotism. They may call themselves that, but we really are--we're the ones who defend the Constitution, the ones who stand by the values the country was founded on: Liberty and justice for all. Let's say so.
The Republicans have done their best to make the American flag the Republican Party logo, usurping the symbol of patriotism for themselves. Well, let's adopt our own patriotic symbol--one that comes right out and says what we believe. Let's make the Preamble to the Constitution the Democratic Pledge.
Let's push this idea. Every Democratic meeting, every campaign rally, right up to the convention next year: Let's call on the whole crowd to stand up, hands on hearts, and recite the Preamble to the Constitution as a pledge of Democratic values.
What do you think?