Message from
the Hamden DTC Chair

Thursday, August 28, 2008

What happened yesterday, when Barack Obama was nominated by the Democratic Party, was indeed history making. The significance cannot be overstated.

I remember, back in 1981, when I worked on the Hartford mayoral campaign of Thirman Milner. It was a landmark election; Milner became the first popularly elected African-American mayor of a big city. The big contest was, of course, the primary, and Milner appeared to have narrowly lost to the incumbent, George Athanson, by less than 100 votes. But it turned out that one voting machine in the city's North End African American neighborhood had been tampered with.  The courts overturned the primary and demanded a new one (which was held in October), and Milner won by a large margin.  African Americans in Hartford began to feel that they had a chance, and when Milner won, anything was possible. The mood of the city of Hartford changed overnight.

We had two opportunities in the Democratic Party to change history this year. One way or another, it was going to be the first African American nominated by a major party, or the first woman. I can understand the feelings of some women, that once again they were stepped over for a man. For some, and I don't think that will change no matter who they vote for, there will be a nagging feeling that women have to wait, again, and that it isn't fair. It isn't fair, that finally we take steps to change history, but that only one part of American history will be changed.

But that doesn't change what was accomplished, it just makes all the clearer that we need to finish the job. I am reminded of the 2004 baseball season; when the Red Sox finally beat the Yankees, coming back from being down three games to none, Red Sox Nation was euphoric. But as Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe pointed out, the job wouldn't be complete until the Red Sox won the World Series.

We won the American League pennant this week. Now, we have to win the World Series on November 4.

-- Joe McDonagh
Hamden Democratic Town Chair

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