Letter to Real Democrats

I’d like to address this open letter to the millions of working class, middle income and most likely union-affiliated Democrats out there. Some of you are probably God-fearing, hunters, Christians and have a strong sense of community and fervently held family values. Others have called you “Reagan Democrats” from time to time. And you love this country! You know who you are.

Let’s face it, who and what showed up at your national convention in Charlotte was not your father’s Democrat Party. This new Democrat Party has taken a decidedly left-hand turn and is being run by the most extreme Liberals in the country. How can I tell? Let me count the ways.

It’s not the worst mistake in the world to take God out of the Democrat platform. A mistake to be sure but not irreversible. So your party decided to take a voice vote to reinstall that plank in the platform to repair the damage quickly. It’s not so much that it took 3 voice votes to pass the resolution nor that the resolution was not even close to getting a 2/3 voice vote but rather the number of delegates who voted NO! Some suggest it was more than half but even half would give reason to pause and reflect on exactly what that means. And the recent treatment of Catholic beliefs and sensibilities show a party with at last some elements of an anti-religious nature. Did you think half the Democrats at this convention represent half the Democrats in the country and are content with shutting God out of the Party platform? Who were these delegates shouting down God and do they represent your or your parents’ traditional Democrat Party beliefs and views?

What happened with reinstating the plank naming Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was by some accounts even worse. Why this plank was removed is beyond comprehension. The Democrat Party support for Israel, as demonstrated by the actions of the President, is subject to some suspicion and, at times, criticism. Fair or not, it is clear that there is controversy surrounding the relationship between the Democrats and Israel. So why aggravate an already sensitive situation by removing that plank from the platform? Especially since Jews provide a substantial and loyal constituency to the Democrat Party. Who exactly is running the show over there at Democrat Headquarters?

So it made sense to also fix this faux pas with a voice vote and guess what? The same thing happened. Arguably half of the delegates present voted NOT to reinstate the plank that called for Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

What in the world happened? What’s going on? This would never have happened a few years ago. Both God and Jerusalem would have found a comfortable home in the Democrat party platform but ever since the party has been hijacked by the left, some of these old and dearly held values have fallen out of favor. And if the Democrats win in November, these same people will be in charge of the Party for the foreseeable future.

I’m sure you must be somewhat distressed and disturbed by this turn of events but you have been a lifelong loyal Democrat. Your parents were Democrats as were their parents. It would take a lot for you to vote any other way. However, I would suggest that what you saw at the Democrat Convention represented “a lot” and a huge departure from the Party you thought you knew and are loyal to. This convention was a wake-up call to traditional Democrats. Somebody else now has control over your Party!

Need more examples? This President has parceled out blame for our nation’s problems to everyone but himself. He has particularly targeted President Bush for all the economic woes of the country and you may in fact agree with some of that. However, Obama is the President today and he’s had almost four years to repair the economy but he continues to blame others for the state of affairs.

Harry Truman is famous for the sign on his desk that said “The Buck Stops Here!” Harry Truman was your father’s Democrat Party. Today’s Democrat Party is NOT! Obama has never and will never have the confidence or courage to assume this level of accountability!

One thing is for sure, the most prosperous area in the country is surrounding Washington D.C. where the Federal government continues to hire and raise salaries while the rest of the country suffers. And then there is Obamacare, 2,700 pages of rules and regulations, which are mostly undecipherable and includes the hiring of 16,000 IRS agents. Why in the world would we need so many IRS agents in a medical care bill? A bill, by the way, most Americans are against and is emblematic of the wild and out of control expansion of Federal powers.

William J. Clinton said, “The era of big government is over.” And he sat down with Republicans to create a budget surplus, moved to the center, stimulated the economy and helped create 23 million jobs. Bill Clinton was your father’s Democrat Party. Today’s Democrat Party is NOT! President Obama and today’s party could never comprehend such a bipartisan discussion, debate and compromise.

So I ask you to take a breath and a step back, break tradition for tradition’s sake and vote this time around for the good of the country. With your votes we can get this country back on a course to prosperity for everyone, especially our children. You are the key to making that happen.

It’s not that you would be leaving the Democrat Party, but rather your father’s Democrat Party has already left you!

John E. Nevola is the Author of The Last Jump – A Novel of World War II.