With a speech that emphasized the growing strength and the political messages of the Democratic Party and criticized President George W. Bush and the Republican Party, Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean said it was time for the Democratic Party to return to power in Oregon and in the United States.
Dean was the headline speaker at the biennial Democratic Party State Convention, held June 2-4 at the Hilton Eugene & Conference Center. The convention attracted more than 400 delegates from counties all across Oregon, as well as prominent Oregon Democrats ranging from U.S. senators to state legislators.
Using the theme “Together, Oregon Can Do Better,” Democratic delegates and politicians from throughout the state amended and outlined their legislative agenda for the next two years. State Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown said “the Democratic agenda will be the Oregon agenda.”
Dean’s Friday night speech, which about 700 delegates and guests attended, was marked several times by standing ovations and applause as he talked about the Democrats’ six proposals for change in government. Dean also presented his 50-state strategy, which has seen the election of Democrats to political office in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Alaska and Utah. He said the Democrats are knocking on doors of Democrats, Independents and Republicans to spread their message.
“We are reaching out to voters who didn’t vote for us last time,” Dean said. “The Republicans have been telling an awful lot of lies about the Democratic Party for a long time. From this point on, it will be the Democrats who tell the American people what the Democrats stand for, not the Republicans.”
He said the party is also reaching out to religious voters who voted heavily for President Bush in 2004 because both share concerns about family issues and “about the materialistic culture we have developed in this country and our loss of spirituality.”
Dean also encouraged audience members to help win back the Oregon House of Representatives, which would require winning at least four new seats, and to re-elect Gov. Ted Kulongoski in November.
“Not only is (Kulongoski) a good Democrat, not only does he have the spine to stand up to George Bush, but his re-election will set the stage for a victory for a Democratic president in the state of Oregon in 2008,” Dean said.
Dean shared the stage with other Oregon Democrats who delivered speeches, including Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, and U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio. Many of them also used their time to criticize President Bush and called for Democrats to be unified and support Democratic candidates and issues.
Kulongoski, who was criticized by fellow Democrats throughout the primary election for his leadership, received two standing ovations and several rounds of applause at his Saturday night keynote address, in contrast to the mild applause he received at Dean’s speech. Kulongoski is facing Republican candidate Ron Saxton, Independent Ben Westlund, and several third-party candidates in November.
During his speech, Kulongoski said people were looking for leaders to “stand up and fight” for them.
Speaking about his own educational background, he said the reason many kids drop out of school is “we don’t tell kids there is hope and opportunity for them” and that if reelected, he would pledge to increase the education budget by 12 percent.
Kulongoski received a large ovation from the audience when he said, “I am a liberal Democrat,” with many in attendance chanting, “We want Ted.”
Throughout the weekend, delegates voted on platform and ballot initiatives for the party in the next two years and attended training sessions that dealt with such topics as reaching out to faith-based voters and Internet strategies for grassroots activists. Delegates voted on the ballot initiatives and a state party platform for the next two years.
Sue Staehli, a delegate from Multnomah County, said the committees amend and narrow the lists of legislative items down to six items and clarify the party’s legislative agenda.
“I’m particularly interested in platform development because when I knock on neighbors’ doors, I want to be clear why I’m asking them for their support,” she said.
On Sunday, delegates ratified several ballot initiatives and the proposed platform for the state party.
About 35 members of the University’s College Democrats attended the convention to work with other Oregon College Democrats to elect a statewide executive board and vote to approve a constitution for the College Democrats of Oregon. Co-Chairwoman Kristina Edmunson said the constitution would be the first for the group in the state. She said it would unify the chapters and help coordinate programs.
Other attendees at the convention used their time to circulate petitions and meet with politicians to address their concerns. Betsy Steffensen said she was working to develop a peace caucus within the party, which would make Oregon the first state to have one. Dave Ganslein, chairman of the Motorcycle Caucus, said he attended to raise awareness about motorcycle riders’ rights because the party tends not to treat them well.
“We don’t seem to get a fair shake in government or society, but public awareness is the first step to knowledge,” Ganslein said.
Neel Pender, executive director of the Democratic Party of Oregon, said the turnout at the convention and the atmosphere reflected the party’s strengths for 2006.
“In Eugene in an off year, we’ve had more delegates and volunteers than we’ve ever had before,” Pender said. “It’s a sign that Democrats are united and ready to rock ‘n’ roll in November.”
Pender said Lane County is traditionally Democratic, but it’s also a swing county and that voter turnout in the county predicts the party’s success in Oregon.
The Oregon Republican Party is also planning to host its state convention at the Hilton Eugene July 27-30. Registration for the convention is available at www.orgop.org.
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