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eringer

(560 posts)

80. George McGovern -- WWII War Hero and Anti-War Presidential Candidate

Sun Oct 21, 2012, 12:35 PM

Oct 2012

Last edited Sun Oct 21, 2012, 08:17 PM - Edit history (1)

I saw George McGovern when he spoke at the National Republican Capitol Hill Club back in the late 1990s. Needless to say, it was not a full house. He was accompanied by one of his daughters. Because of the small disinterested crowd, I was able to speak to him briefly after the luncheon and he smiled when I used that opportunity to let him know that I voted for him in 1972.

Obama recalled McGovern's life today: "George McGovern dedicated his life to serving the country he loved. He signed up to fight in World War II, and became a decorated bomber pilot over the battlefields of Europe. When the people of South Dakota sent him to Washington, this hero of war became a champion for peace. And after his career in Congress, he became a leading voice in the fight against hunger."

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George McGovern, an unabashed liberal voice, is dead [View all] BumRushDaShow Oct 2012 OP

RIP, Mr. President (in my ideal world) TahitiNut Oct 2012 #1

Mine too lalalu Oct 2012 #89

Can you imagine the country we would be today if that were so? Horse with no Name Oct 2012 #99

Exactly. He was one of our bright shining moments. jwirr Oct 2012 #139

I think the world would have been a much saner place had he won. kenfrequed Oct 2012 #144

RIP Senator! LeftofObama Oct 2012 #2

"Fair winds and fallowing seas" . Historic NY Oct 2012 #3

re:George McGovern, an unabashed liberal voice, is dead allan01 Oct 2012 #4

R I P George McGovern Icunme Oct 2012 #5

One of the fathers of the modern progressive movement, Senator George McGovern. Astazia Oct 2012 #6

I disagree. LWolf Oct 2012 #100

Yep. n/t loudsue Oct 2012 #103

Well put. Ken Burch Oct 2012 #122

I think you may have missed the point. rjlobo422 Oct 2012 #136

No, I think you missed mine. LWolf Oct 2012 #138

I am profoundly saddened... Cooley Hurd Oct 2012 #7

I cast my first Presidential vote for him DeeDeeNY Oct 2012 #8

Me too! I turned 21 the end of November, 1968 (the voting age back then) mountain grammy Oct 2012 #53

Me 3!! I was proud to cast my 1st vote for him. DiehardLiberal Oct 2012 #131

I think the election was affected by Eagleton having to be replaced as VP candidate. DeeDeeNY Oct 2012 #137

I have always owned up to the fact... AnneD Oct 2012 #142

The good don't always die young. Whovian Oct 2012 #9

But, His Speech, 'Come Home America ' lives on.. cyclezealot Oct 2012 #12

Yes, his defeat WAS a disaster for America. I'm sure it broke his heart to see the shit Nay Oct 2012 #70

Many are disappointed in the way the Boomers cyclezealot Oct 2012 #88

Truer words... Whovian Oct 2012 #112

That's certainly true. We're lucky he came our way for as long as we had him. calimary Oct 2012 #111

Belated admission: McGovern was right and I was wrong. Jim Lane Oct 2012 #10

A great man, a true American hero, and a teller of the truth Glorfindel Oct 2012 #11

As much as McGovern is viewed as anti War cyclezealot Oct 2012 #14

Bobby Kennedy called him "the most decent man in the Senate." alterfurz Oct 2012 #13

That's quite an endorsement. Bobby Kennedy was a good guy himself. Tigress DEM Oct 2012 #93

Godspeed Good Soldier. Norbert Oct 2012 #15

A true war hero and a steadfast footsoldier for good PurityOfEssence Oct 2012 #26

He was one of the good ones... Bluenorthwest Oct 2012 #16

He was the first person I voted for President hobbit709 Oct 2012 #17

RIP George McGovern HeeBGBz Oct 2012 #18

RIP. Jim__ Oct 2012 #19

RIP to a great man The Wizard Oct 2012 #20

Nice going, CNN. Unabashed? Is that noteworthy because "liberals" should be "abashed?" PSPS Oct 2012 #21

Rest in Peace, Sir. gademocrat7 Oct 2012 #22

I am proud that the first vote I ever cast tomg Oct 2012 #23

Another Hero is gone Siwsan Oct 2012 #24

My warmest condolences to his family. BlueMTexpat Oct 2012 #25

He was my my first vote for President HockeyMom Oct 2012 #27

The first presidential campaign I worked on was George McGovern's strongermessage Oct 2012 #28

I had a McGovern sticker on my notebook in the 5th or 6th grade. onehandle Oct 2012 #29

RIP Senator McGovern. n/t JackN415 Oct 2012 #30

I was too young secondvariety Oct 2012 #31

RIP George McGovern life long demo Oct 2012 #32

Farewell to a great American Va Lefty Oct 2012 #33

he fought the good fight California Expat Oct 2012 #34

Rest in Peace to a great American dbackjon Oct 2012 #35

My first vote for President was for that shining knight. Alas for America, Nixon FailureToCommunicate Oct 2012 #36

Thank you Senator, for showing us good men do want peace. rurallib Oct 2012 #37

RIP onenote Oct 2012 #38

My first presidential vote, and my best. Faygo Kid Oct 2012 #39

..... jdadd Oct 2012 #40

RIP, Senator McGovern. City Lights Oct 2012 #41

Peaceful Journey and Thank You Donkees Oct 2012 #42

rip otherone Oct 2012 #43

I voted for him in 1972 chuckstevens Oct 2012 #44

RIP Senator McGovern. My first vote ever for was you. Zen Democrat Oct 2012 #45

RIP Senator McGovern glacierbay Oct 2012 #46

He was a 'great white hope'... CanSocDem Oct 2012 #47

On another thread for the Senator I remarked how when I saw him speak about two years midnight Oct 2012 #48

RIP George .. we'll miss you n/t cosmicone Oct 2012 #49

RIP McGovern - you were before my time... Panasonic Oct 2012 #50

God Speed 66 dmhlt Oct 2012 #51

I cried when he lost and I cried this morning. N/t Ninga Oct 2012 #52

RIP, Senator.You were for better than anything we have now. Vidar Oct 2012 #54

Goodbye Senator n/t Bossy Monkey Oct 2012 #55

Fellow Democrats: Let's win 2012 for the McGovern!! DinahMoeHum Oct 2012 #56

A fine and good man. A rare, honest public servant. The best President we never had. RIP leveymg Oct 2012 #57

Rest in Peace Senator, you will not be forgotten. nt bemildred Oct 2012 #58

RIP, Senator! Odin2005 Oct 2012 #59

RI-Peace! You dear man..... Harriety Oct 2012 #60

I voted for him in 1st grade - he won in our school. cyberswede Oct 2012 #61

Probably the Presidential candidate I was most proud to LibDemAlways Oct 2012 #62

I totally agree! burrowowl Oct 2012 #132

Rest in Peace! gopiscrap Oct 2012 #63

I was a bit too young to vote for him, but he was inspirational. RIP, Sen. McGovern wordpix Oct 2012 #64

Kicked and reccommended in memory of a good man. hunter Oct 2012 #65

A great and brave man.... dhill926 Oct 2012 #66

Peace Be With You George pismoclam Oct 2012 #67

And thank YOU for your service too, pismoclam. Welcome to DU. Melinda Oct 2012 #73

ty blaze Oct 2012 #110

Beautifully expressed. Welcome to DU. FailureToCommunicate Oct 2012 #129

When I was 18, You earned my very first vote Sen. McGovern. I will never forget you. Melinda Oct 2012 #68

RIP Senator McGovern. Bless your soul. wundermaus Oct 2012 #118

The sadness never goes away, does it. Melinda Oct 2012 #119

Peace to his family. Our country and the world are better The Second Stone Oct 2012 #69

RIP, sir. senseandsensibility Oct 2012 #71

RIP Sir. You were the reason i became obsessed with the just side of politics. nt progressivebydesign Oct 2012 #72

Safe journies, Senator. Aristus Oct 2012 #74

George McGovern was a great American. hifiguy Oct 2012 #75

RIP Mr. President Tippy Oct 2012 #76

To quote the Senator NoPasaran Oct 2012 #77

Another Tribal Fire Tender Has Departed triplepoint Oct 2012 #78

I'm sorry to see him go struggle4progress Oct 2012 #79

George McGovern -- WWII War Hero and Anti-War Presidential Candidate eringer Oct 2012 #80

His passing was noted with great sorrow in church this morning. Jackpine Radical Oct 2012 #81

A few eloquent words from the closing of his 1972 acceptanced speech at the Democratic National Conv Douglas Carpenter Oct 2012 #82

"May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." ChazInAz Oct 2012 #83

...RIP donal dubh Oct 2012 #84

A really great loss; a TRUE liberal. LoisB Oct 2012 #85

RIP fishwax Oct 2012 #86

George McGovern was a totally awesome Democrat and human being. Zorra Oct 2012 #87

Playing fast and loose with history bucolic_frolic Oct 2012 #90

? ~ I'm totally aware that Senator McGovern was against the corporate agenda. Zorra Oct 2012 #105

RIP Darth_Kitten Oct 2012 #91

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

I remember there was a special "Weekly Reader" BumRushDaShow Oct 2012 #97

"Above all, being a Democrat means having compassion for others. ... It means standing up for people Douglas Carpenter Oct 2012 #95

Nice pics. progressoid Oct 2012 #127

RIP Mr. McGovern.... Swede Atlanta Oct 2012 #96

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

Extending my sympathy to mzmolly Oct 2012 #102

Going off to join Andy and Kephra and all the DUers who have already loudsue Oct 2012 #104

RIP to a good, good man. I wish he'd won. nolabear Oct 2012 #106

I thank his family xxqqqzme Oct 2012 #107

Oh, no! luv_mykatz Oct 2012 #108

Godspeed Senator. Your race against Nixon when I was the 1st grade AllyCat Oct 2012 #109

I worked for him, and made out with an anchorwoman. Faygo Kid Oct 2012 #113

RIP George jimlup Oct 2012 #114

McGovern / Shriver '72 reACTIONary Oct 2012 #115

there's something so sad about the timing Skittles Oct 2012 #116

�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

One of the best quotes ever. montana_hazeleyes Oct 2012 #123

Same here, but 8th grade. Brewinblue Oct 2012 #120

In the sixth grade at my school(Brush College, West Salem, Oregon) Ken Burch Oct 2012 #121

RIP Sen. McGovern & respect & condolences to his family. K & R for a good man. mother earth Oct 2012 #124

I shook his hand at a rally at the Alamo. Manifestor_of_Light Oct 2012 #125

RIP to a man with a beautiful message n/t LeftTurnOnly Oct 2012 #126

I have always been proud to have voted for him. NNadir Oct 2012 #128

Before my time, leading my mind. Savannahmann Oct 2012 #130

RIP Sir. glinda Oct 2012 #133

I was 12 years old robbob Oct 2012 #134

RIP and condolences. Norrin Radd Oct 2012 #135

First presidential candidate I voted for in school Rambis Oct 2012 #140

r.i.p. Blue_Tires Oct 2012 #141

RIP bobthedrummer Oct 2012 #143