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"Meeting Up" with Dean's Disciples
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Place: Dean rally
A room packed with Deaniacs on a freezing Wednesday evening turned out to be the perfect place to start learning about this year's presidential primaries.
It was the night before I left home for Iowa. I pulled into the Crescent Hill Public Library in Louisville just before 7, parked my well-traveled red Volvo, and came face to face with the troops who have pushed this formerly unknown Vermont governor to the front of the Democratic Party ranks.
Beverly is proud of her cynicism and is by nature skeptical of politicians. She had never been involved in politics, but in June she heard a National Public Radio interview with Howard Dean. According to Beverly, "He didn't sound like everyone else."
Camille, like Beverly, had never been to a political event, but she's "fed up" and "ready for a change."
John believes he's part of a "historic movement that will re-invigorate the country and hopefully re-invigorate the Democratic Party."
Beverly, Camille, John and the 32 other people at this "Meetup" are united through three bonds.
First, they detest George W. Bush.
Second, they admire Dean's combative and unequivocal style. (Is there irony in the similarity between the curt manner of both Dean and Bush?)
Third, they believe that ordinary citizens like them can make a difference. And in a country where half the people don't vote, this third point is worth noting and even worth admiring.
Don't tell them that Iowa is 600 miles away. Don't tell them that Kentucky's May primary will have no effect on the Democratic nomination.
On Wednesday night, I met 35 men and women in the basement of a Louisville library who believe -- despite all evidence to the contrary -- that their vote, their voice, and their participation actually matter.
So, God bless democracy.
Next stop: Iowa.
Duke senior Justin Walker, a "political junkie" from Louisville, Ky., is on the Democratic Party campaign trail as part of an independent study project. He is filing periodic dispatches for the Duke Web site.
