Hyperreal Film Club
Proud to Be a Democrat
RECEIVED Fri., Nov. 5, 2004
Dear Editor,
It's time to quit whining and blaming Karl Rove for all our problems. Let's look at Travis County: We helped re-elect Lloyd Doggett, we got rid of the odious Jack Stick and almost dumped Todd Baxter, we substantially increased turnout for our presidential ticket, and we passed a mandate for mass transit in spite of the typical myopic caterwauling of the "government haters."
We are a tiny blue speck in a sea of red, the front line of the culture war. Unlike residents of New York or California, we have the best chance of showing the positive power of liberal thought to people who don't agree with us. We have firsthand experience with the methods and tactics of the religious right. It is here that we make our stand against the extremely powerful but narrow interests that have consumed the soul of the GOP.
On election night my wife and I went to the Driskill to watch the returns with our fellow Democrats. As I glanced around the room I saw Hispanics, blacks, gays, Christians, non-Christians, young and old. I have never been prouder in my 35 years of political consciousness to be a Democrat, a party that seeks to expand rights and privileges to all people and not to deny or restrict them on the basis of religion, sexual orientation, or social or economic status. If we continue to pool our talents and energies, we will have a truly unbeatable combination.
It's time to quit whining and blaming Karl Rove for all our problems. Let's look at Travis County: We helped re-elect Lloyd Doggett, we got rid of the odious Jack Stick and almost dumped Todd Baxter, we substantially increased turnout for our presidential ticket, and we passed a mandate for mass transit in spite of the typical myopic caterwauling of the "government haters."
We are a tiny blue speck in a sea of red, the front line of the culture war. Unlike residents of New York or California, we have the best chance of showing the positive power of liberal thought to people who don't agree with us. We have firsthand experience with the methods and tactics of the religious right. It is here that we make our stand against the extremely powerful but narrow interests that have consumed the soul of the GOP.
On election night my wife and I went to the Driskill to watch the returns with our fellow Democrats. As I glanced around the room I saw Hispanics, blacks, gays, Christians, non-Christians, young and old. I have never been prouder in my 35 years of political consciousness to be a Democrat, a party that seeks to expand rights and privileges to all people and not to deny or restrict them on the basis of religion, sexual orientation, or social or economic status. If we continue to pool our talents and energies, we will have a truly unbeatable combination.
Russell Scanlon