This past Saturday, my family marched in the Fourth of July parade in Palatine, Illinois with the Palatine Township Democrats, Dan Seals (Illinois 10th Congressional), and Pete Gutzmer (Illinois State Senate, 27th District). Pete rented a fire truck (he's a firefighter). Dan walked with his lovely wife and young family. There were about 25 of us adults (and a bunch of cute little kids) walking in this old fashioned, home town event celebrating our nation and right to free speech...and didn't get booed once. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a triumph.
Palatine is in the heart of what was a GOP stronghold...strangle hold is more like it. This is the land of Peter Fitzgerald, Phil Crane, and, yes, Donald Rumsfield. We are within 10 miles of at least 2 mega-churches (the infamous Willow Creek being one) and a number of Christian academies. This is where the white flight flew to...big yards, safe streets, good honest hard working folks who would never join a union, thought gay meant happy, and put mayo on everything (including mayo). Yes, Ward and June Clever would feel right at home in Palatine. And things started to change...
The biggest change happened two years ago when Phil "I keep a one bedroom apartment in the District and a sprawling horse ranch in Virginia" Crane, even after his seat was gerrymandered up the wazzoo, lost to Melissa Bean. There was shock. There was horror. The GOP ran home and cried to mama. It was awesome.
Now some simply said Phil's time had come: he was due to be sent out to pasture. Crane's visits to the district were few, and between his recent troubles with drink and his disregard for his constituents, he was ready to be sent to the bench. But there are other currents flowing in the district: a gay son here, a lost job there, a bank breaking doctor bill up the street, a daughter sent on her third tour of duty in Iraq, and people started to grumble, and shake, and realize that the Republican Party of their parents had been body snatched by this present incarnation of the GOP.
What does all of this have to do with a parade? Not too long ago, Democrats didn't march in the Fourth of July parade for fear of being egged or perhaps, something worse. Then a few brave souls on a lonely little float took a chance and got the odd boo, but not the expected drubbing. The next year, the boos died down, golf applause, and mere scowls. The next year, a few cheers. And this year, after the hard work of many dedicated people (especially the local township Democratic committeemen) there were standing ovations and screams of support; particularly when the banner team held up the sign "Support the Troops...BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!"
The GOP, for all of their money and history, got the polite applause and anemic response. One older gentleman got in my face "CUT AND RUN" he yelled. I asked him what he meant, "If we leave Iraq, we cut and run". I retorted, "Like Nixon did in Nam or Reagan did in Beirut?" He hesitated "Those were mistakes...2 Million people died in Vietnam after we left...you want that to happen again". "Nope" I said, ready for his talking point "I want our folks re deployed over the horizon in a quick strike force to prevent that sort of thing from happening...that's Senator Kerry's plan". He was ready, not with substance, but a Dittoheadism "before he changes his mind". At that point, the Palatine Township Committeeman, a lovely woman, got between us, figuring either A. this gentleman was about to burst a blood vessel or B. take a swing at me. I wished the guy a happy Fourth and went on my way confident that for a split second, I got him thinking.
At the end of the day, we looked great, got our message across, and supported two extremely strong candidates in two very winnable races. This area is proof positive why Dean's 50 state strategy is tremendously important and working. One might say "but Illinois is solidly blue". I know...I'd like to keep it that way.
If you get the chance, please check out
http://www.votegutzmer.org/... (IL Senate-27)
http://dansealsforcongress.com/ (IL-10)
and my congressional representative
http://www.melissabean.com/ (IL-8)
Thanks and have a great Fourth of July.