Dems in Denver: Generation Gap or A New Generation of Hope?

Denver – August 28

Much has been made of the friction in the Democratic Party coming into this Convention here in Denver: the Kennedy clan vs. the Clinton clan; Barack vs. Bill; Bill vs. Hillary; the Hillary supporters (or “followers,” as pundit and former presidential candidate Pat Buchanen put it) and mysterious forces within the Democratic Party which kept her from getting the nomination. Those real or perceived squabbles were resolved Wednesday night in a dramatic and emotional display of Party unity. If it wasn’t real, it was at least a good show.

Everyone rose to the occasion, and if you think about it in terms of the generational shift in power, it’s not hard to see why it was painful, divisive and melodramatic. This is my third convention, and it was the first time that the action inside the Hall was more interesting than what went on outside the Hall. I would suggest this week in Denver marks a permanent shift in the Washington power structure from my generation that came of age in the 60s to those who were born in the 60s. I believe we did something right during that decade because we produced people like Barack Obama.

It was people like the Kennedys, still linked to WWII, who heard the voices of civil rights activists in the 50s and early 60s and took those first important steps for minorities. Life for Obama’s mother and her African husband must have been difficult, even then. I remember when interracial couples did not appear often in public, even in the North. But the Kansan and the Kenyan defied convention, which must have put a lot of strain on the relationship.

It was my generation (which includes the Clintons, Jesse Jackson and many others) that continued this fight for rights of minorities, and, along the way, added women, gays and lesbians, and the disabled to the list. After forty years, this inclusivity has changed the face of American politics and been an inspiration to the rest of the world.

It must have been really hard for Hillary to give up the chance for another “first” for women. After all, she’s paid her dues, and she’s still young (these days 61 is young) and she has acquired so much knowledge. What she didn’t count on (who could?) was the fact that the miracle generation created in the 60s is ready. Where did the time go? It hardly seems possible; therefore, it was said that Obama was too young (he’s older than Bill Clinton when he was elected President); that it was a woman’s turn (is there a rule that women get their chance before black men?); that he was “unelectable” for either specific or vague reasons.

When all is said and done, though, the Democratic Party should be proud, our maligned 60s generation should be proud and American should be proud. Barack Obama is the new face of America, and all that so many people worked on for during the past 50 years has made it possible. The rest of the world is watching in amazed delight and with hope – hope that what this fascinating younger generation can continue what was started at least a half-century ago will be the start of a great new world.