Memories of 1972

Throughout my middle years, I lived with Vietnam.  My sister was 6 years older and I remember watching the lottery as the birthdays were called after her fiancé turned 18.  Thankfully, his number was high, but not so for so many young men.  We gave parties for them when they left.  The parties were wild and filled with a sharp edge.  Most men didn’t seem to be coming back.  I know I felt like I was saying good-bye forever to each one.  

I was 17 and moved when I heard George McGovern speak.  McGovern was a Senator from South Dakota with a history of liberal voting on civil rights, anti-poverty measures and the environment.  He was also liberal socially on abortion, homosexuality and the women’s movement.   He took in all volunteers.  No matter how long the hair, no matter how young.  We were filled with hope.  I felt like we had finally found someone who could speak for us.

In 1971, the 26th amendment to the constitution guaranteed the right to vote began at age 18.  The sentiment was if you were old enough to die for your country, you were old enough to have a voice.  And we were ready to be heard.  

McGovern is a decorated WWII veteran.  His father was a Methodist minister.

He has never been a pacifist, but felt that we were involved in a war that could not be won.  We were aligned with a corrupt regime in South Vietnam that did not have the backing of the people. He ran for presidency promising to remove all troops from Southeast Asia if elected.  His plan included reduction of military spending, guaranteed minimum income for all Americans and the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment.
He came from behind in the primaries with a grass roots campaign with folks like me knocking on doors and stuffing envelopes.  What a wonderful, hope filled primary.

And then it started.  First there was the ‘quote’.  What was it....amnesty, abortion and acid.  Suddenly McGovern was the evil liberal Un-American coming to rip out everything America stood for.  The Republicans successfully branded him as a loose cannon.  

His running partner, elected in the primary was Eagleton.  He was soon to be replaced after he admitted to having had electro shock therapy in the 1960’s.  McGovern first said he was behind him 100%.  Then Eagleton admitted the story was true and McGovern had to back down and pick another running mate.  

After that, he was just no longer taken seriously.  We didn’t get it.  Somehow we thought reason would win out.  He won like 2 states.  I turned 18 in December of 1972, one month too late to vote.

But the Republicans successfully branded him and demolished him.  

Does any of this sound possible today?  

Please understand when I say I am worried about Obama.  It isn’t that I
do not like him.  It isn’t that I don’t admire him.  It is that I have seen a wonderful, heavily vetted liberal candidate who got out the youth vote fall to the machinations of the right wing hacks.