John Glenn To Take Active Role In Democratic Campaigning

[ProSense]

John Glenn To Take Active Role In Democratic Campaigning

POSTED: 12:11 pm EDT May 22, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The audience of young campaign ground troops sat enraptured as the party veteran spun a tale of growing up in Ohio under Democratic leadership. John Glenn's still got it.

The former astronaut and four-term senator, who retired in 1999, said he's taking a more active role in campaigning this year after largely sitting out the 1998 and 2002 statewide elections. He appeared at several rallies for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential campaign.

Snip...

The 84-year-old Glenn gave a history lesson-pep talk to about 200 workers for campaigns around Ohio and local Democratic dignitaries at a Columbus union hall. The 20-minute speech was reminiscent of his campaign stops over the years.

Snip...

"I ran for the presidency once (in 1984). When you announce your candidacy, you're going to get hit with three things before nightfall: Democrats are all big spenders. There will be big debts and too much foreign involvement," he said as he crossed one hand over the other to suggest a flip-flop by Republicans, prompting laughter.

Glenn's appeal reaches beyond Democrats, thanks to his two flights into space, Rothenberg said. In 1962, he became the first American to orbit the Earth and in 1998, at age 77, he was aboard the shuttle Discovery as the oldest person ever on a space flight.

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http://www.weathernet5.com/politics/9254119/detail.html?rss=nn5wx&psp=news

[onehandle]

1. Go, John! nt

[Book Lover]

2. Great - everyone loves the man

Even if all he effects is a halo effect for all Dems, it will be yet more valued service from one of our own.

[blm]

3. I *LOVE* John Glenn.

I remember when the GOP media machine treated Glenn like a loser for GOING BACK INTO SPACE at 70+ to help study how space effects the older body.

RWers said Glenn was getting special treatment and using his position as senator to get a free space trip and publicity. The RW machine has NO boundaries. They will lie about ANYTHING and EVERY THING.

[OzarkDem]

4. Thank you Sen. Glenn

He's the greatest. Wish he were still our senator for the last 12 years instead of DeWine.

[NYCGirl]

5. That's wonderful. He's a great man.

:patriot:

[cmd]

6. John Glenn - with liberty and justice for all.

John Glenn suggested recently that those six words should be the mantra of the Democratic party. I could not find that specific quote, but I did find these this speech by Glenn in which he talked about those six little words. I think he is on to something big. Think of all the times Americans have taken that pledge. Think of all the times those same Americans deny liberty and justice to those they disagree with. I think it would be a great idea to run on that phrase. With liberty and justice for all - including gays and lesbians. With liberty and justice for all - including Blacks and Hispanics. With liberty and justice for all - a pledge taken, under God, that includes everyone.

John Glenn:
Another way of looking at this, too, is what we have in the pledge to the flag. When we come down to that part that says, "One nation" - well, we're not going to get divided up again. "Under God" - there's a higher power than all of us, whatever our religious beliefs or approach to that throne of grace may be, we believe there's a higher power that sort of can direct all of us if we just have sense enough to ask for direction and believe it will come, and listen once in a while instead of talking all the time.

Then we say, "indivisible." But then comes six words that carry out that Constitution: "With liberty and justice for all." Now liberty is not to run through red lights and steal and do whatever you want without respect for anybody else.

No, that's not part of it. It's the liberty of opportunity - to have the opportunity to do things like get an education, a job, to do research, to be an entrepreneur, to have homes and be protected in those homes. That's what liberty means. It's that kind of opportunity which is so rare in the world, and which we have in this country if we want to just keep it going. "And justice for all" - dignity, respect, employment - what we can get through that education and through participation in our political system.

And I think that "with liberty and justice for all" sort of summarizes that Constitution. And the politics and willingness to serve in government is the Personnel Department for our Constitution.

http://www.commonwealthclub.org/archive/01/01-01glenn-speech.html