Former Iowa Rep. Jim Leach, a leading Republican moderate who represented eastern Iowa for 30 years, spoke at the convention last night and gave the most definitive, historical explanation to date of why all Americans -- Republicans and Democrats -- should vote for Obama this fall.
His speech could persuade moderate fence-sitters if they are inclined to be persuaded. Jump with me.
For those of you who weren't watching C-Span (it apparently was not on the networks), it is hard to express the sense of bravery and maturity reflected in Leach's words and in the simple fact that he stood before the convention as a lifelong Republican. He spoke with a seriousness and calm that suited the gravity of his words.
The transcript can be found here. And dcprof has already given props to Leach for his words, but I wanted to add a few thoughts and highlight the speech for morning readers.
Rep. Leach's speech rose above the current fray and sought to place this election in historical context, as a critical step in the furtherance of this country's four great debates regarding the Rights of Man: 1) could a country be established based on those rights; 2) whether the rights applied to individuals who were "neither pale nor male"; 3) whether the rights are meaningful without a chance to succeed; and 4) whether the rights are possible "without peace and environmental security."
He then explained that the "American progressive tradition reflected in these debates" spans Democratic and Republican standard bearers in our nation's history. He mentioned Jefferson, Lincoln, W.J. Bryan, J.F. Kennedy, T. Roosevelt, D. Eisenhower, Gore, P. Moynihan, M. Mansfield, Arthur Vandenberg, Everett Dirksen, Franklin Roosevelt and Reagan. He then persuasively argued that "today's Republican Party has broken with its conservative heritage":
The party that once emphasized individual rights has gravitated in recent years toward regulating values. The party of military responsibility has taken us to war with a country that did not attack us. The party that formerly led the world in arms control has moved to undercut treaties crucial to the defense of the earth. The party that prides itself on conservation has abdicated its responsibilities in the face of global warming. And the party historically anchored in fiscal restraint has nearly doubled the national debt, squandering our precious resources in an undisciplined and unprecedented effort to finance a war with tax cuts.
It is this paragraph, especially in the context of the full speech, that I thought just might cut through to moderate Republicans having a hard time getting comfortable with making a change.
Leached wrapped up by pointing out the critical choices America faces and how the "portfolio of challenges" our next leader will face "will be as daunting as any since the Great Depression and World War II." He closed by endorsing a "transcending candidate" -- Barack Obama.
I recommend reading the full speech, and watching the video if you can find it, including the introduction by Sen. Tom Harkin.
UPDATE: Here's a link to the video. Thanks, Integrity!