Progressive Roots Run Deep In Wisconsin And Iowa

 

The progressive tradition in Wisconsin and Iowa is a long and storied one. The patron saint of progressives in Wisconsin is "Fighting" Bob La Follette, who still inspires legions of admirers and political aspirants. "Fighting Bob" dinners are still held annually in Wisconsin's progressive enclaves. Iowa's Senator Tom Harkin has been a champion of the disabled and a fighter for progressive causes throughout his career. Both have contributed mightily to the rich progressive tradition that working families have passed down from one generation to the next.

On a recent Autumn afternoon in Dubuque Iowa: the progressive and family values Wisconsin and Iowa have become known for were on full display. The occasion was a campaign rally and speech by President Barrack Obama, which attracted throngs of supporters to the old Mississippi port city.  

My good friend Bruce Kraus and I made our way from Wisconsin along with his two grand children Michael and Morgan from Dubuque. Bruce and I had attended a couple of the "Recall Walker Rallies" earlier in the year, which had attracted sixty thousand and forty thousand respectively. Those events provided me with a clear picture that the progressive spirit was alive and well. Meanwhile the kids seemed almost as excited to attend their first campaign rally as we were. It promised to be an exciting day in Dubuque.

The crowd was indeed a reflection of real world, ever day working Americans from all walks of life. The gentleman ahead of us in line was a railroad worker who was concerned that his pension would disappear under a Romney administration. One of the campaign volunteers shared that his wife, a special needs teacher, would have her job eliminated under Romney's proposed budget. These were not paid actors in a campaign ad or another automated call on my answering machine. These were real folks sharing real concerns.
 

John Mellencamp set the perfect mood with a hit list that included Jack & Dianne along with Pink Houses. The ten song set painted a picture of hard times, redemption and hope for the working class. We were all primed for the main event.

With the obligatory introduction out of the way, a smiling Barrack Obama bounded on the stage to wild cheers from the assembled crowd. I could only think of how far I had come: from a humble beginning in Portugal to actually seeing the President of the United States in person. Looking around, I could see young families, veterans and senior citizens hanging on every word. That's exactly why I take every vote as seriously as I do. To many people gave their lives in defense of my right to vote and live free in this land of opportunity.

Wisconsin and Iowa voters will join their fellow Americans on Tuesday to elect our President for the next four years. The choice they make in the voting booth or at the kitchen table will set America's direction for years to come, which makes voting all the more imperative....