Delegate Jim Scott's Richmond ReportBy Delegate Jim Scott, who represents the 53rd District in the Virginia House of Delegates
ConventionsI last attended a Democratic Convention 20 years ago. It witnessed two unforgettable speeches by two of the Party’s greatest orators: Mario Cuomo and Jesse Jackson. It made history by nominating Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferarro.My older daughter, Casey, then three, after proclaiming that Jesse Jackson was “my cousin” opined that “my daddy is for Mondale, but I’m for Jesse Jackson.” When everyone left the Cow Palace in San Francisco, we knew we had seen history made. We were convinced our nominee would unseat an incumbent President. Boston ReduxTwo weeks ago, Democrats made history again. For the second time we chose a Massachusetts Senator with the initials JFK. As in 1960, this Senator is also a Catholic and the state’s junior Senator who insisted the convention choose as his running mate a Senator from the South. This time my daughter and I agreed: our choice was John Kerry. Unfortunately, she spent most of convention “staffing” a “sky box” while I enjoyed a choice seat above the CNN booth.We both enjoyed the Virginia delegation’s quarters near the Moran brothers’ (Brian and Jim) favorite ball park—Fenway. The only negative was that the Red Sox left town before many of us arrived. Several convention delegates did however have a chance to bat in Fenway and “shag” a few fly balls. The Virginia delegation was unusually diverse and high-spirited. Our 8 am breakfasts, hosted by Virginia businesses featured exhortations by our co-chairs, Larry Framme, former Va. party chair, Kerry Donley, former mayor of Alexandria and Kate Hanley and Senator Henry Marsh. Kate Hanley served as the delegation whip and, with her characteristic good humor and attention to detail, kept us all in line and at the right place at the right time. The newly famousUntil the last night, nobody knew about Licorice the hamster. Alexandra’s Kerry’s moving tribute to her dad included the story of his least famous boat rescue. Now you may find hamstersforKerry.org and learn of Licorice’s legacy. You may also acquire newly minted Hamsters for Kerry buttons if you attend the Scott Annual Barbecue on Labor Day, beginning at 4:30 pm at our house.The other famous star of the convention also produced a button: OBAMA! After a speech that ranks with those of Cuomo and Jackson, anything official, or unofficial, rapidly sold out. I am the proud owner of a sign and a button. Both will be on display on September 6 at the Barbecue. A great clean-up hitterMost of John Kerry’s long-time fans will tell you, “he is a great finisher.” His uphill race against then popular Governor Weld found Kerry coming from behind in the opinion polls to keep a Senate seat Republicans thought was in the bag. Before Iowa last winter, he made the decision to put everything, including a mortgage on his home, into Iowa when almost everyone thought Howard Dean would be the nominee. vOn July 29 following emotional tributes by his “Band of Brothers” on the famous swift boat in Viet Nam, John Kerry made the speech of his life. Subsequent polls showed that millions of undecided voters now think they have a leader to believe in again—a junior Senator from Massachusetts who will make public service a proud profession again after he sworn in as President of the United States in January 2005. |