Aging McGovern Still Campaigns for Peace

[NVMojo]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -

Back in the stacks - bracketed by shelves filled with copies of "Where The Wild Things Are" and "My Friend Rabbit" and beneath an oversized cutout of Babar, the elephant king - the elder statesman has again found an audience.

Or maybe it's the audience that has again found him.

The air outside the book emporium tonight is cut by the first October chill. Inside, George McGovern must compete with the din unleashed by a gaggle of preschoolers ignoring the grandfatherly figure for the store's wooden train set. But as customers fill the metal folding chairs set before a microphone, the man one longtime friend calls "Should've-been-President McGovern" sticks with his quietly fervent sermon, drawing knowing laughter and grim nods of approval.

And now, a generation after he was ridiculed and rejected for a similarly resolute call to abandon another unpopular war, McGovern is one unshakable stride ahead of naysayers - certain that time and a nation's reflection have proven he was right before.

more...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2006/oct/28/102804947.html

[partylessinOhio]

1. I love him! McGovern was the first candidate I worked for daily.

[NVMojo]

2. kudos for him staying on message all these years

[bemildred]

4. I still have my McGovern pin.

That election was my first real political awakening.

[Ezekiel in Exile]

17. Me too.

My first vote, my first canvassing.

Great man. Catch "One Brief Shining Moment" if you can.

[Bluzmann57]

3. When I was 14 years old

My parents were working feverishly for Senator McGovern and just for kicks and giggles (and girls) I went along with them to a fund raiser. It turned me on to progressive politics forever. Good to see that a U.S. veteran such as McGovern hasn't lost his message.

[FogerRox]

15. I was 14 too. Volunteered from August to election day.

[karynnj]

20. I canvassed for McGovern in Parsippany (garden apartments)

I had just graduated college in the midwest and had started a job at Bell Labs. It was culture shock going from a campus where over 90% of the kids were against the war to Parsippany.

I was also shocked by the number of women who told me that their husbands made the decision and the number of people who called me a communist because I was for McGovern.

[AnneD]

5. One of the greatest regrets I have in my life...

is that I have not had a chance to apologize to McGovern for not casting my first vote for him. I heard rumours about the burglary of the DEM HQ's but it wasn't in the MSM. I cast my first vote for Nixon:puke:

But George, I learned my lesson and I have the greatest respect for you. And If it give you some solace...I have never voted for a GOP for President since. God Bless you George McGovern:patriot:

[Sacajawea]

9. I also cast my very first vote in '72...and it was for George McGovern.

And I've voted for every Dem ever since. At least there's ONE thing in my life (i.e., my voting record) I have absolutely no regrets about.

[AnneD]

19. Like I said...

I learned my lesson and haven't made that mistake ever again. It made me a better, more informed, regular voter. I don't care if the election is for the city dog catcher-I'm at the polls!

[EFerrari]

6. Link TV is running a beautiful documentary called

"Courage of Our Convictions" about the McGovern run. They're replaying it often right now. Watch it if you can. :)

[hadrons]

7. I uploaded this McGovern clip to youtube a few weeks ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hrvD_2kI0Y

ABC News: Humphrey/McGovern Debate (as reported on 5/28/1972)

[brer cat]

8. The greatest ones never stop campaigning for peace,

and "Should-have-been-President" McGovern was one of the greatest. I was in my early 20's and took his loss harder than any since...in my youth I couldn't see how he could possibly lose since he was so obviously RIGHT. I hadn't met Karl Rove then, I guess. sigh.

Keep on, Mr. McGovern.

[Hand]

10. First vote I ever cast was for McGovern--best I ever cast, too! nt

[PurityOfEssence]

11. There is not praise enough for him

Nobody worked harder to create the Democratic Party in South Dakota. A bomber pilot who flew some of the most dangerous missions in WW2, he stood fast for his country, and he truly cares about people.

In a time of hatred and retrenchment against the social gains of the 60s, he stood fast for the progress of humanity. Fear and concentrated wealth crushed his campaign, but this is the norm for the forces of privilege.

People who are more deeply and publicly decent simply don't exist. Never bemoaning the mistreatment he's had at the hands of the forces of entrenched power, he's soldiered on with a cheery availability.

He is one of the true heroes of mankind.

[Recursion]

12. My grandmother once met him

And she said (in her way of being gracious) "Why hello Mr. McGovern, did you know, my son voted for you!"

He replied, "Oh, thanks, I was wondering who it was"

Great guy.

[Habibi]

13. LOL! How witty.

I wasn't old enough to vote in 72, but my mom gave me a written excuse to get out of school for a morning to go see him at a campaign stop.

[upi402]

14. American hero and true patriot

:patriot:
I think so anyway.

Even McNamara admits the VN war was BS. Tapes have bits where he tries to dissuade Nixon from the VN war promulgation.

McGovern
:patriot:

[Vidar]

16. Good for him.

[cosmicdot]

18. see the McGovern documentary

One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern

if you can .... http://firstrunfeatures.com/onebrightdvd.html


http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/19/1346210

1st time voter for McGovern here, and I still have lots of his campaign buttons.