Lancaster County Democrats

It's good when families get together. I really enjoyed the gathering last month in Omaha for the Douglas County Democrats' annual Truman Dinner and I am looking forward to getting together with Lancaster County Democrats at the Patriots Dinner later this month in Lincoln.

These are like family get-togethers and like families do when they gather for special occasions, we renew our bonds. We join in our common cause. We are energized and committed to do the important work that lies ahead.

I believe as Democrats that we have our own values and we need to focus on those when we deal with issues such as health care, education, safety and jobs. We also must project a strong image on national security. These are important issues to all Americans, and more importantly to Nebraskans.

Democratic values are not out of step with the values held by most Nebraskans. We have just not done enough to get our message out and we have let the other party define us. It is time that we change that. Nebraska may be considered the reddest of the red states but what I see when we Democrats get together is a wave of royal blue that represents the values of all Nebraskans. We are committed to a set of principles that have made this country great. We need to reach out beyond our own family to regain the respect that this great party once had and can have again.

The national party would do well to look to Nebraska where Democrats have always been in the minority and yet we have flourished, better at some times than at others, but we have been and will continue to be a strong party that will be respected. Our numbers may be smaller but we have succeeded in determining many of the important issues of the day and in getting Democratic candidates elected to public offices across the state. That is no small feat. It means that we as a minority party have been able to sway the public debate and convince enlightened members of the majority party to support our causes and candidates.

When our family gets together at the Truman Dinner or the Patriots Dinner I see why we accomplish so much despite being smaller in number. I look out over the crowd and I see our strength from the volunteers and precinct workers to the candidates and public officials, from the hard working families who donate their hard earned dollars to our strong leaders who offer their passion and patriotism.

Yes, I look forward to our get-togethers. They renew my spirit and remind me just how strong our family of Democrats is.

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