This Tuesday marks what I hope will be the beginning of a dramatic new direction for our country. The relevance of President-elect Obama’s inauguration falling one day after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is not lost on any of us. The swearing in of the first African American president will be one of the great moments in America’s history and a massive leap toward the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream, not only because of Obama’s race, but because the movement that swept him into office was born of the American people’s desire to pursue a more just path as a nation. That in itself is something that Dr. King would have been proud to have witnessed.
I said that I “hope” this will be the beginning of a big change in direction because it’s up to all of us to make sure that change actually happens, to make sure the new administration corrects the last president’s worst mistakes in a timely fashion. And it’s not just the Obama administration that needs to feel constant pressure from us, it’s Congress as well. I’ve seen reports of senators and representatives showing some reluctance to make many of the bold changes we need. And as expected, we’re seeing the resurgence of the Far Right as a backlash to new progressive power. The Radical Right is not only in a position to strengthen its grip on power in the Republican Party, it’s ready to pounce on any anti-government sentiment that may bubble up in the coming months and years, especially — and ironically — as a result of the economic hard times their very policies have left us with. Long story short: People For the American Way is more needed than ever, and we need your support and your vigilance in the months and years to come.
When a group of activists confronted him shortly after his first inauguration seeking a list of specific reforms, Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously said, “I agree with you. I want to do it. Now make me do it.” That is what grassroots democracy is all about — making our leaders do what’s right. January 20 is the end of our eight-year national nightmare, but it’s just the beginning of a new chapter in which we must all do our part.
In the first two weeks of 2009, People For’s been fighting the good fight — our long-term efforts on two pay equity bills are paying off and the legislation has passed the House and is making its way through the Senate. And we’ve been answering the Right’s attacks against Attorney General-nominee Eric Holder, whose Senate confirmation hearing I attended yesterday. Let me say that it was VERY gratifying to hear Holder clearly state that he believes waterboarding is torture, that renditions to countries where there reason to believe they will torture is wrong and that he is committed to restoring the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division to a position of prominence and effectiveness). After this week’s release of the Inspector General’s report on politicization in the Justice Department, it’s even more apparent that confirming Holder will be a great beginning to undoing that damage.
On the legal front, the Supreme Court handed People For the American Way Foundation (and the First Amendment) a victory by upholding the policy of the Fredericksburg, Virginia, City Council requiring that the official prayers recited at the beginning of its meetings be non-sectarian. Accepting one of the most important cases of the term, it also chose to hear an appeal of Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. 1 v. Mukasey, in which People For the American Way is defending the constitutionality of an important provision of the Voting Rights Act.
We couldn’t do any of our important work without your steadfast support. And with your continued support, People For the American Way will continue to carry the progressive flag and advocate your values on Capitol Hill.
Right now is a time to celebrate. Have an amazing Inaugural weekend, MLK Day and Inauguration Day. Congratulations to Barack Obama and congratulations, America!