The Wall Street Journal Editorial Page CAMPAIGN 2004

See Y'All in New York

Why I skipped the Boston convention.

BY ZELL MILLER

Twelve years ago, I delivered one of the keynote addresses on the first night at the Democratic National Convention in New York. It was a stinging rebuke of the administration of George H.W. Bush and a ringing endorsement of Bill Clinton. This summer I'll again be speaking in New York, but it will be to the Republican Convention that renominates George W. Bush.

Many have asked how I could have come so far in just over a decade. Frankly, I don't think I've changed much at all. At 72, I don't feel much need to change my opinions. Instead, the reason I didn't attend the Democratic Convention in Boston is that I barely recognize my party anymore. Most of its leaders--including our nominee, John Kerry--don't hold the same beliefs that have motivated my career in public service. In 1992, I spoke of the opportunity and hope that allowed me, the son of a single mother growing up in the North Georgia mountains, to become my state's governor. And I attributed much of my success to the great Democratic presidents of years gone by--FDR (a hallowed man in my home), Truman and JFK. The link these men shared was a commitment to helping Americans born into any condition rise to achieve whatever goal they set for themselves.

I spoke of Americans who were "tired of paying more in taxes and getting less in services." I excoriated Republicans who "dealt in cynicism and skepticism." I accused them of mastering "the art of division and diversion." And I praised Bill Clinton as a moderate Democrat "who has the courage to tell some of those liberals who think welfare should continue forever, and some of those conservatives who think there should be no welfare at all, that they're both wrong."

Bill Clinton did deliver on welfare reform, after a lot of prodding from the Republicans who took hold of Congress in 1995. But much of the rest of the promise I saw in his candidacy withered during his two terms in office. Today, it's the Democratic Party that has mastered the art of division and diversion. To run for president as a Democrat these days you have to go from interest group to interest group, cap in hand, asking for the support of liberal kingmakers. Mr. Kerry is no different. After Hollywood elites profaned the president, he didn't have the courage to put them in their place. Instead, he validated their remarks, claiming that they represent "the heart and soul of America."

No longer the party of hope, today's Democratic Party has become Mr. Kerry's many mansions of cynicism and skepticism. As our economy continues to get better and businesses add jobs, Mr. Kerry's going around America trying to convince people that the roof is about to cave in. He talks about "the misery index" and the Depression. What does he know about either?

And when it comes to taxes and services, you'd be pressed to find anyone more opposed to the interests of middle-class Americans than John Kerry. Except maybe John Edwards. Both voted against tax relief for married couples, tax relief for families with children, and tax relief for small businesses. Now Mr. Kerry wants to raise taxes on hundreds of thousands of small-business owners and millions of individuals. He claims to be for working people, but I don't understand how small businesses can create jobs if they've got to send more money to Washington instead of keeping it to hire workers.

Worst of all, Sens. Kerry and Edwards have not kept faith with the men and women who are fighting the war on terror--most of whom come from small towns and middle-class families all over America. While Mr. Bush has stood by our troops every step of the way, Messrs. Kerry and Edwards voted to send our troops to war and then voted against the money to give them supplies and equipment--not to mention better benefits for their families. And recently Mr. Kerry even said he's proud of that vote. Proud to abandon our troops when they're out in the field? I can hear Harry Truman cussing from his grave.

I still believe in hope and opportunity and, when it comes right down to it, Mr. Bush is the man who represents hope and opportunity. Hope for a safer world. And opportunity for Americans to work hard, keep more of the money they earn, and send their kids to good schools. All the speeches we heard this week weren't able to hide the truth of what today's Democratic Party has become: an enclave of elites paying lip service to middle-class values. Americans looking for a president who understands their struggles and their dreams should tune in next month, when we celebrate the leadership of George W. Bush.

Mr. Miller is a Democratic senator from Georgia. Copyright © 2000 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

JF Kerry the guy with the big hat and no cattle and the ketchup lady need to go back to the 60s and stay there.

wave at them as you pass by on your way to the stone age.

I forget who or where--but after the ketchup lady was asked about her remarks claiming that certain peoples activities were un-American, and she told the reporter that she never said that and that he should "Shove it!"

Somebody predicted that her next embarassing sound bite would be telling a reporter or potential voter to"Sit on it!", followed by the old classic "Up you nose with a rubber hose!"

TK,

First let me apologize for responding once again to your moronic diatribe, but some days I just get a bit anxious and cannot help myself.

It might be interesting if you ever posted something original instead of your continual cut-and-paste jobs, but then you'd have to have an original thought, and that hasn't been forthcoming. Although I normally refrain from taking pokes at individuals here, man, you just seem to scream for it.

Actually, I agree slightly with the writer of your cut-and-paste article. The Democratic party has been positively insipid in its leadership for more years than I care to recount. I almost hate being associated with it, having voted for so many of its candidates, particularly these past 20 years. I support those candidates as often as not simply because they are the only viable alternative to the way-too-often reprehensible GOP candidate. So often, it comes down to the lesser evil. What a way to run a country - we have the best government PAC and corporate money can buy.

So again this year, I'll go forth to vote, and encourage others to vote, not so much for, but particularly to vote against Bush and the Republican party.

Here's why:

1. Religious zelotry. The Christian Right is neither. I've no use for whackos of any religion (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, you name it), and am personally offended by their attempts to take over government, just as I'm offended to see some Republicans candidates pander to them.

2. The national interest includes everyone, not just the rich. Playing to the crowd with $ certainly makes cents (pun intended), but it doesn't represent the national interest, the public interest, or statesmanship.

3. Abandonment of fiscal conservatism by simultaneously embracing tax cuts and federal deficits.

4. Degrading and destroying the environment for profit and pleasure. It's almost understandable to destroy it for profit, but when there's no profit, like logging the Tongass, squeezing a non-strategic amount of oil out of ANWR, etc. makes it look like Bush and the Republicans gleefully destroy the planet for kicks. Not to mention the anti-salmon stuff he's responsible for here on the home front.

5. The screwed up response to 9/11. Invading Afghanistan was warranted to deal with the Taliban and OBL, but he was 2 months late and one prime suspect short after 2 years and 10 months. Iraq was only one of dozens of brutal dictators that might be dealt with, but Bush should have remained focused on higher priorities. And I've more respect for leaders who put their blood on the line than I do for chickenhawks. To this day, Bush avoids any interest in the root cause of terrorism intent toward the U.S. Consequently, I can only assume he's more interested in killing non-combatant Iraqis than finding and killing actual terrorists. That's the behavior of a moron, not a world leader.

6. The goofy sh!t, like supporting constitutional amendments prohibiting abortion, flag burning, and gay marriage. These aren't issues that even rise to the level of national interest, just contradict the constitution and founders' intent to protect personal freedoms, and finally, are just pandering to knotheads who hardly seem worthy of being in a conservative constituency.

I'm sure there are others, but this is a sampling. I'd like to see a conservative candidate who supports the Constitution, providing for the common defense (not the campaign donating military/industrial complex), and the essential national infrastructure of transportation, communications, education, and managing public land, natural resources, water, and air. But that would be wishful thinking, wouldn't it, kind of like finding that Democrat with a brain, huh?

BTW - in order to list a species under the ESA, there has to be a population. If they are already extinct, they are not elegible for listing.

less sincerely than usual,

Salmo g.

ahhhh...the spectacular beauty of a volcanic eruption.

only bad part is they go dormant for so long.

I wonder if the Democratic party that Miller identifies with is the same one that Strom Thurmond was so proud of?

Hey Slammo sorry your so anxious maybe a salient momment will pass your way. I bet you get that way when all your socks are not lined up accoridng to size,color and age in the ol sock drawer. Thats ok , I enjoy reading and imagining your psuedo superior intellect trying to analyze and rationalize a position. Postulate a therom around that.