Speak Wright Addresses TEXVAC

The event was billed as "Legends and Rising Stars," and after making his way cautiously to the podium, while the over-flowing crowd gave him his first standing ovation, the 83 year-old former Speaker of the US House looked out over the crowd through those signature shaggy eye-brows and said, "In case you were wondering, I am one of the legends." The over-flowing crowed roared.

There are times even today, even with the obfuscating clamor and roar of the Republican noise machine, that I am reminded of why I am a Democrat. Last Thursday, at the Texas Values (TEXVAC) Ft. Worth Launch, listening to Speaker Jim Wright and five of our 11 freshman Democratic Texas House members, was one of those times.

Speaker Wright spoke for 20 minutes, without notes, to a transfixed audience. He spoke eloquently of true Texas values and how the future of the country, not just Texas, depends on the new breed of Democrats represented by the freshman in attendance. He reminded us that we are a party with a long history of great accomplishments, and we should wear the name Democrat with pride; that we are the party of progress and ideas and that the greatest advances in the history of this country--in education, the economy, healthcare, and civil and individual rights--are all the result of fearless Democratic leadership.

"I remember when we had our Young Democrats Convention in 1945." The Speaker recalled. "We, like these young legislators here, were determined to make a difference." He then relayed how delegates had drawn up a list of demands that, in his words, "sent the leadership into apoplexy."

"What were those radical demands?" he asked rhetorically. "Elimination of the poll tax; that we should do all in our power to hire and keep great teachers and to do that we should pay teachers at least ... are you ready? ... a whopping $2,000 dollars a year; and that women be allowed to serve on juries. Of course, all of these eventually came to pass. Oh, and one more demand we had back then, that we pass an anti-lynching law."

Speaker Wright then turned to the four freshmen Democrats standing off to his left, all of whom were in awe of this lion in winter, and looking at each in turn recited the following by heart:

"Politics is the most hazardous of all professions. There is not another in which a man can hope to do so much good for his fellow creatures; neither is there any in which by mere loss of nerve he may do such widespread harm; nor is there another in which he may so easily lose his own soul--With all the temptation and degradation that besets it, politics is still the noblest career man can choose."

After Speaker Wright, each freshman in attendance spoke for a few minutes introducing themselves and letting the crowd know what was in their hearts and minds. The Speaker had spoken with such conviction, and strength, and brilliance that when Mark Strama (Austin) took to the podium, he started by saying, "Now I see why they call him Mr. Speaker." Mark won his Austin seat by 550 votes over a first-term incumbent the Republicans had handpicked as a golden boy of their Party.

Each freshman was articulate and inspirational. And unlike the Republican party, our freshmen are a true cross-section of Texas, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, male, female. One of the speakers, Rafael Anchia, was just named as Texas legislature Rookie of the Year by Texas Monthly magazine. I could recite many powerful moments during their speeches.

After being there last night, I now see that the future of the Democratic Party in Texas is truly bright. If I were a Republican here, I'd be scared.

But the highlight of the evening had to be Speaker Wright.

At the end of his speech, Speaker Wright turned to the four freshman one more time and, in what can only be compared to a blessing and a passing of the torch, he said:

You are each embarking on this most noble career and at its end, many long and productive years from now, let it be said by us and a grateful nation, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Well done."

The crowd was again on their feet and applauding this icon of selfless public service.

We owe it to ourselves, and to those who have come before us, to remember the strong heritage, tradition, intellect and heart that forged this great Party. And we owe it to Speaker Wright, and many others, to honor their contributions and their sacrifices. In Speaker Wright's eyes and in his powerful, if aging, voice we can hear, and see, and feel the spirit that makes us all proud Democrats, the spirit that will right this country and make it yet again what it was meant to be: the bright shining beacon of freedom and equality and liberty for all.

The Texas Values in Action Coalition (TEXVAC), as you recall, is the new group that was in the news in June after Travis County DA, Ronnie Earle, spoke to their Dallas Launch and helped raise over $100,000 dollars to elect Democrats in North Texas. Their methods are anything but Democratic politics as usual, and they are taking it to the Republicans in one of the reddest and most important of the Red States, Texas.

The crowd included freshman Democratic state representatives Dr. Alma Allen, Rafael Anchia, Mark Strama, Hubert Vo and Marc Veasey--the rising stars.

You can learn more about them by visiting their web-site at: