If January has taught us anything, it has revealed the kind of Democrat we would line up behind and fight with. The kind who doesn't necessarily use words to define feelings, but words AND actions. In January, there will be two events that I think will mark how the Democratic Party should act and perceive itself. The first was the
debate on voting irregularities in Ohio and elsewhere in this nation, the second was the
committee confirmation vote of Condolezza Rice for Secretary of State.
In both instances, we had someone who came out swinging for us, literally. She demanded accountability and truth, and when the going got tough, she stood up and made it clear that despite losing she will not give in to sacrificing her principles nor the American people for petty politics.
In January, Barbara Boxer showed want it meant to be an opposition Democrat in a hostile Congress.
How many times have we asked for Democrats to stand up for us, to not give in to the demands of right-wing politicians who would rather watch you drown then toss a floating tube to pull you to safety? How many times have we been disappointed? As Leo from The West Wing once said, "It's the policy that counts." Even if we fail to achieve the victory we wanted, showing that we are willing to fight to the end does as much good as the victory itself.
Nobody expected the election to turn itself around if one Senator signed on to hear the debate, but it was the policy of signing it that showed that we would not go quietly into the night, that irregularities of the most fundamental right a US citizen has needed to be addressed regardless if the outcome changed. Boxer stood up where even Presidential Candidate John Kerry did not. That speaks volumes considering that Kerry had the most votes for any losing candidate for President.
I respect Kerry for all he has done for this country, and for his leadership in the early 70s that helped bring back our troops from the hell that was Vietnam. However, Boxer's actions told me something about Kerry I didn't want to believe, but I now do - while Kerry once led years ago, these days he acts more as a follower. Could you honestly believe Kerry standing by himself on that committee and being the sole "no" vote in the committee confirmation hearings? The man who conceded almost immediately after the election was done?
The truth of the matter is that I could not see Kerry doing that, but I could see Boxer do it. In addition, I wouldn't even put it as far as to suggest that Kerry followed suit with Boxer. I will probably get a lot of heat for this, but I think this month pretty much showed why Kerry failed to win the election last year. He could have been a great president, but as far as leaders go, great leaders stand up for what's right, even if they stand alone. Jesus Christ, a man that many consider to be one of the greatest human beings to walk the earth, stood alone when He was crucified.
Barbara Boxer stood alone amongst Senators when she demanded a debate be launched on voter irregularities. Barbara Boxer would have stood alone in voting "no" to Rice's committee confirmation. Barbara Boxer proved to me, by both her actions and her words, that she will fight for what's right and what needs to be said. With a comfortable six years in the Senate, she's already shown the intenstinal fortitude we have been crying for our Democratic leaders in Congress to show. I, like many others, became a fan of Boxer this month, and I believe by the end of the month, she will notice many more folks that will be in her corner the next four if not six years.