John McCain said it best in his gracious concession speech: The American people have spoken.
No, we shouted. Can you hear us now?
We are tired of the politics of division. We’ve had enough of negative campaigning. Sleazy scare tactics and lies from partisan 527s will no longer swing an election.
Are you listening, Karl Rove, Jerome Corsi, Matt Drudge and Fox News?
We are no longer moved by hot-button “culture of life” issues. Abortion state amendments are not effective whips to rally the faithful on election day. “Moral values” issues include war, poverty, torture, and genocide, not just gays and abortion.
Are you listening James Dobson, Gary Bauer, and Donald Wildmon?
Elizabeth Dole ran a sleazy ad accusing her Presbyterian church elder/Sunday school teacher opponent of being an atheist. That not only backfired, it flipped the entire state of North Carolina blue .
Abortion bans in Colorado and South Dakota were crushed. Americans want women to have access to abortion, with only the most limited restrictions.
Are you listening John Roberts, Sarah Palin and George W. Bush?
We still have work to do, especially on issues like marriage equality. Americans wanted change, but not too much change. It appears California has voted to ban cramped cages for chickens but still won’t allow gays and lesbians to enter a legal contract known as marriage. We still have work to do.
But Americans voted for change. Americans voted for the better angels of our nature. We voted for unity and an end to bitter partisanship. The world has taken notice. Have you, Steve Gill, Bill Hobbs and Phil Valentine?
Have you heard us, Sinclair Broadcasting and Richard Mellon Scaife?
Americans voted to change course on our energy policy, for an economy grounded in new technology over the dying “drill baby drill.” We chose real science over faith-based initiatives.
Have you heard us ExxonMobil, Dick Cheney, and James Inhof?
After eight years of George W. Bush, America has turned a corner. I hope all of the pundits and opinion makers are listening.
