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In reply to the discussion: George McGovern, an unabashed liberal voice, is dead [View all]CanSocDem
(3,286 posts)47. He was a 'great white hope'...
...a surprise at first, because nobody I knew thought that 'the social revolution' had progressed to the point where we could elect a head of state.
Despite the fortuitous gift of Watergate, the growing national sentiment against the war in Vietnam and a real live opportunity to further the cause of social justice, the American public re-elected Nixon. To be honest, 'election fraud' never crossed my mind. A couple of years later, in a Education Foundations class, I was defending the still viable, liberal intent of the America 'democratic' system with McGovern as the example.
My prof, a hardened old communist from Wales, scoffed contemptuously saying that the real ruling class "picked" McGovern as the nominee, because they knew he was too far out of the mainstream to be taken seriously.
After the election, in a classic Better Late Than Never moment, we learned through the Watergate Investigation, of the institutionalized practice of "dirty tricks" and the very real possibility that the government of the USA was being run like a criminal enterprise.
"From military spending so wasteful that it weakens our nation; come home, America.
From the entrenchment of special privileges in tax favoritism; from the waste of idle lands to the joy of useful labor; from the prejudice based on race and sex; from the loneliness of the aging poor and the despair of the neglected sick -- come home, America."
RIP Mr McGovern
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Me too! I turned 21 the end of November, 1968 (the voting age back then)
mountain grammy
Oct 2012
#53
I think the election was affected by Eagleton having to be replaced as VP candidate.
DeeDeeNY
Oct 2012
#137
Yes, his defeat WAS a disaster for America. I'm sure it broke his heart to see the shit
Nay
Oct 2012
#70
That's certainly true. We're lucky he came our way for as long as we had him.
calimary
Oct 2012
#111
Nice going, CNN. Unabashed? Is that noteworthy because "liberals" should be "abashed?"
PSPS
Oct 2012
#21
My first vote for President was for that shining knight. Alas for America, Nixon
FailureToCommunicate
Oct 2012
#36
On another thread for the Senator I remarked how when I saw him speak about two years
midnight
Oct 2012
#48
A fine and good man. A rare, honest public servant. The best President we never had. RIP
leveymg
Oct 2012
#57
I was a bit too young to vote for him, but he was inspirational. RIP, Sen. McGovern
wordpix
Oct 2012
#64
When I was 18, You earned my very first vote Sen. McGovern. I will never forget you.
Melinda
Oct 2012
#68
RIP Sir. You were the reason i became obsessed with the just side of politics. nt
progressivebydesign
Oct 2012
#72
A few eloquent words from the closing of his 1972 acceptanced speech at the Democratic National Conv
Douglas Carpenter
Oct 2012
#82
McGovern was a kind and wonderful human being. I am glad he had such a longer and happy life.
OregonBlue
Oct 2012
#92
The first election I paid attention to. George McGovern meant something to me. He touched my soul.
Gregorian
Oct 2012
#94
"Above all, being a Democrat means having compassion for others. ... It means standing up for people
Douglas Carpenter
Oct 2012
#95
In '68 after Robert Kennedy was shot I didn't vote. George McGovern helped me hope again.
patrice
Oct 2012
#98
I was much too young to vote for him, but have a strong admiration for his kind.
adirondacker
Oct 2012
#101
“I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.”- George McGovern RIP
hue
Oct 2012
#117
RIP Sen. McGovern & respect & condolences to his family. K & R for a good man.
mother earth
Oct 2012
#124