Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (Arlington, that is)

Anyway, after an hour-long reception -- meeting, greeting, talking politics -- we took our seats for the main event:  dinner and speeches by politicians (and budding politicians).  Pretty exciting, huh?  Hey, that's why I do this so you don't have to!

Seriously, though, the food was great, the pre-speech conversations were lively, and the speeches themselves were excellent.  First, Arlington Young Democrats leader Alfonso Lopez welcomed everyone, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance (including the phrase, "under God," by the way!) and a fantastic a capella rendition of the National Anthem (by public interest attorney Jason Rylander).  Hey, who said we Democrats aren't patriotic?

Now, it's time for the obsessed anti-Moran people to cover their ears, because I'm going to tell you what Congressman Jim Moran had to say.  Basically, Moran repeated much of what he said this past weekend at the Summer Kickoff event in McLean, namely that Virginia is the key battleground this year, and that the Republicans are going to go all out to win it.  In addition, Moran stressed the importance of Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement in elevating women's rights to the fore.  He drew a parallel between this race and the Doug Wilder-Marshall Coleman contest of 1989.  Back in early summer 1989, the two candidates were, according to according to James Latimer writing in the Virginia Quarterly Review, "sparring tentatively and cautiously," when:

...the United States Supreme Court delivered its opinion in Webster v Reproductive Health Services. A newspaper headline blared the message: "States Get Authority to Limit Abortion Rights." The barn door was opened. An untamed horse galloped onto the hustings. Doug Wilder rode it to victory four months later.

Could this happen again this year, Moran wondered, with abortion rights again being called into doubt?  We'll see, but the choice once again is clear, between a strongly anti-abortion-rights Republican ticket and a "safe, legal and rare" Democratic ticket. 

Aside from abortion, Moran pointed to this race as broad in scope and "about who we are as a state and as a nation."  For instance, Moran asked, "are we a nation that believes in" (as right-wing Republicans do):

* intruding on women's rights to control their own bodies
* discriminating against people for their sexual preferences
* weakening the constitutional separation of church and state, as in the cases of chaplains at military academies proseltyzing and "ostraciz[ing] those who are not extremist and fundamentalist in their religious views"
* giving "trillions of tax dollars to the wealthiest at the expense of the poorest"
* "choos[ing] to go to war on a bunch of lies"

Or, are we a nation that believes in:

* "respect[ing] individual uniqueness and diversity"
* giving women "the right to control their bodies"
* "church-state separation"
* maintaining a "social security system that enables more than half the population to stay out of poverty"
* a "reverence for the truth"

According to Moran, these are going to be the issues in Virginia this year.  The Bush crowd "is going to be all over the state" pushing their right-wing agenda, which is yet another reason why we need to "send a signal that this country is fed up." 

Finally, Moran spoke of the T-L-C Democratic ticket as one that "exemplifies Democratic ideals."  Moran spoke of Kaine as a "good person," who will "carry on the Warner legacy of fiscal responsibility."  He talked about Byrne as being a "fighter," and Deeds as someone who will, first and foremost, "protect us."  In contrast, Moran described Deeds' opponent, "Taliban Bob" McDonnell, as "someone who graduated from Pat Robertson's law school."  Moran blasted McDonnell as someone how "believes in all the worst things [the Bush] Administration has done," and as being even "further to the right" on human rights, civil rights, and women's right -- "as bad you can get" -- than Bush, DeLay and company.  In the end, Moran said, "this is not about politics," but about "who we are as a state, a nation, a community."  Which is why, Moran concluded, "we need to elect Creigh Deeds."

Arlington (48th district) Virginia House Delegate Bob Brink followed Moran, speaking of Deeds as having "never lost an election," as someone who "understands the things that unite us," and as "first and foremost a protector."  Brink specifically pointed out Deeds' strong support for Meghan's Law and the Amber Alert system, fighting meth labs and ID theft, and protecting Virginia's environment.

Finally, Deeds himself spoke, telling the familiar but funny mini-bio of himself as a "country guy" with "4 kids, 4 horses, 5 ponies, and a donkey named Harry S. Truman."  He talked about what a proud father he was, how it was his daughter's 18th birthday, and how all his children were "perfect" in his eyes.  As far as politics are concerned, Deeds talked about how he was "conceived as a Democrat," and how he strongly believes in the Democratic Party's ability to "organize government to effect real change in ordinary peoples' lives."  Deeds specifically referred to rural electrification as "the epitome of government action for the better," and pointed out that this happened "because of Democratic politics that arose out of the New Deal."

Besides being a Democrat, however, Deeds pointed out that "first we are Virginians and Americans."  He praised Mark Warner for teaching us that Democrats can and must be the "party of government," the "party of responsiblity," and "about bigger things [like] improving peoples' lives."  Deeds emphasized the fact that Warner accomplished what he did the past 3 1/2 years with a Republican legislature.  In particular, Deeds stressed that the House of Delegates is "a different place today" than when he served there.  At that time, it was "rough and tumble, blood and guts, [but] it was fun!"  Now, it's a rougher place and a lot less fun, which is why Mark Warner had to "force their feet to the fire" to get anything done.  Which raises the (rhetorical) question:  "do we want to go back to the dark days" by electing Jerry Kilgore?  It's rhetorical, because the answer is obvious: no, we don't!

That's why, Deeds said, "this year is critical," why "Republicans are going to try and suppress turnout," and why "we absolutely need a big turnout up here [in Northern Virginia]" in order to win this year. 

Deeds mentioned that his opponent, Bob McDonnnell, would be holding his first post-primaries news conference today not to lay out a positive vision, but simply "to attack me."  Deeds talked about the first debate he had with McDonnell on June 18, in which McDonnell defended the government's right to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case.  In contrast, Deeds believes that "government should not interfere in private, personal, end-of-life decisions" like that.  In addition, Deeds pointed out that McDonnell opposes using stem-cell research to cure terrible diseases ("Bob McDonnell sides with the President"), while Deeds says, "I stand with Nancy Reagan and Orrin Hatch" on this issue.  Finally, Deeds referred sarcastically to McDonnell's claim to be tough on crime, but then turning around and voting against funds for first responders, adding more law enforcement officers to track sexual offenders, etc.  In sum, Deeds says that Bob McDonnell is an "out-of-the-mainstream" candidate who "talks the talk" while "I walk the walk."  Still, Deeds stressed that "that doesn't mean the election will be easy," which is why he needs everyone's help in the next 119 days.

The last part of the evening was devoted to awards for Arlington Democratic volunteers and activists.  It was great seeing all that talent gathered in one place -- people like Laurie Wright ("special volunteer award"), Mike Smaha ("emerging leader"), Mike Lieberman ("innovation award" for his "high rise inititiative"), Christi Fanelli ("newcomer of the year"), Jeff Komstandt ("best new precinct captain") and several others.  These awards made me proud to live in Arlington, and optimistic for the future of the Virginia Democratic Party.  They also served as a great reminder that ANYONE can make a difference and ANYONE can get involved.  These are just ordinary citizens, and that's what makes it so great -- American democracy as it's supposed to work.  So get involved!!!

All in all, this was a wonderful evening, well organized by Jim Turpin and Margo Horner.  Great work.  At next year's dinner, hopefully we'll have a great deal to celebrate!

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