The rally at noon on Saturday kicking off the Georgia Democratic
Party’s new campaign was fantastic – the weather was perfect, the energy was
strong, there was excitement in the air.
The new Democratic leadership in Georgia are energizing the base in a
way I can’t recall I have ever seen before.
Inclusive behavior, creative thinking, holding to real progressive principles – I can’t stop thinking that if we had only had this leadership in
2007 how we could have turned Georgia blue.
The message that ‘Georgia
Deserves Better’ is powerful and right on target. Georgia DOES deserve better and always has.
This had definitely been ‘the week of the Democrats.’ The Republicans are doing our job for us on
the National stage and the President’s State of the Union speech has launched us
officially into the political season that is rallying the Democratic party all
across the country.
Last week we Mid-Fulton Democrats hosted a State of the
Union Speech Watch Party at a neighborhood bar because greasy food and beer
goes great with just such an event! A
writer with The Patched blogged about us all night long from the next booth -
taking pictures and asking us questions throughout the night. It was
an electrifying evening and as I sat there celebrating our President I was
taken back almost four years earlier to Invesco Stadium and the thrill of sitting in that arena with
80,000 of my closest friends and the greatest pride I had ever felt about ‘my
party.’
I loved his speech last week. I revealed in the supportive
conversation and banter between my fellow Democrats as we hooped and hollered
in support of our President. But I was
particularly moved by a poignant moment that happened between two of my companions that put it all into perspective for me. One young
and bright and energetic and rather new to Georgia politics, the other an older,
long time progressive activist from the north.
As we awaited the start of the speech the older woman
mentioned as to how she had seen a Facebook page for ‘Yellow Dog Democrats’ and
asked those of us working with the Democratic Party about that group. Clearly, she knew the history of “Yellow Dogs”
in this State and was confused that they had such a proud presence in the face
of the ‘new’ Democratic south. A
humiliating history which she began to expound upon – a party that would ‘rather
vote for a yellow dog than the damn Republican Yankees who freed our slaves and
ruined our economy.’ An error I find
frequently made by well-meaning northerners who come to the south and want to
remind us of our dark past and greatest humiliations as we work so hard to exercise
those demons and make a brighter future.
My younger companion was taken aback. She made it clear, very quickly, that in fact
SHE had helped organize that newly formed group and seemed baffled and confused by the expressed distain. I
love this part – she immediately pulled out her smart phone and did a Google
search. Wikipeadia! Her history lesson now a little more complete
with 3rd party corroboration, she quickly informed our northern companion
that THIS yellow dog group was not THAT yellow dog group at all. My heart ached for her as her pride for the group's hard work was stained by the reality of a Democratic party history that she had
never connected with, because she only had today’s Democratic party as a frame
of reference.
I am thrilled that today’s Democrats are NOT the Democrats
of my youth and the VAST majority of Georgia’s past. Those Democrats supported draconian laws and
morals. Those Democrats supported Jim
Crow laws and ‘equal but separate’ schools.
Those Democrats were closeted Republicans. Georgia Deserves Better and
always had.
Today REAL Democrats, like my young companion, can give Georgia what it deserves. Compassion, resources, fairness, equity for
its citizens – ALL its citizens. We are
making a new name for the Democratic Party in Georgia. We are exercising the demons of our past and
making today’s Democratic Party the REAL progressive party it should have
always been.
I am proud of my young companion because in her own way she
is casting out the negative past of the old Democratic Party of Georgia by
reclaiming and rebranding the new ‘Yellow Dog’ label to be something we can be
proud of, rather than a shameful reminder of our past to be found in Wikipedia. I like
the new Democratic Party leadership in Georgia and support our new rally
cry.
The ATLGal agrees, Georgia Deserves Better.
Emily Schunior, Chair, Fulton County Democrats
