elder statesmen

George McGovern is on Wisconsin Public Radio this morning. He's been on a few times before, and he is always well worth listening to. You can check out the archived audio file here. (Think about pledging while you're there. WPR's Ideas Network is unique in the country, and is a part of my life on a daily basis even though I no longer live in Wisconsin.)

McGovern represents a resource that Democrats have long ignored, but need to draw on if the party is going to establish a sense of cohesivness: the elder statesmen (women too, it's just that "statespeople" sounds really weird to me).

This group includes Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, Joan Mondale, Geraldine Ferraro, Robert Byrd, Madeleine Albright, and maybe even Ted Kennedy (though I expect that to get shouted down).

I have heard both Joan and Walter Mondale speak in person, since they both attended the same college as I did (go Mac). Both were eloquent and moving, outlining not just the ideals of progressive politics, but the necessity of a life of service.

These values are essential to the future of the Democratic party and liberal progressive politics more broadly. They are reflected in the careers of people who will be the next generation of elder statesmen like Barack Obama, Russ Feingold, Tammy Baldwin, John Edwards. The lifelong commitment of the people listed above to their ideals and to the betterment of humanity (corny as that sounds) is an example we cannot afford not to follow.