President Barack Obama recognized the occasion in a statement:
As we pause to reflect on the anniversary of that historic moment, I encourage every American to honor the legacy of the brave men and women who came before us – from the foot soldiers to the Freedom Riders – by exercising the rights they fought so hard to guarantee. And together let us recommit ourselves, in ways large and small, to continuing their journey to promote equality and perfect our union.
With an eye on the midterm elections, Obama continued:
As we pause to reflect on the anniversary of that historic moment, I encourage every American to honor the legacy of the brave men and women who came before us – from the foot soldiers to the Freedom Riders – by exercising the rights they fought so hard to guarantee.
Obama’s political arm, Organizing for America, was anything but subtle. In an email blast, Rep. John Lewis wrote:
Discrimination still exists in America -- its effects can be as harmful as they were decades ago. And we can always become a better, more just society.Two years ago, this movement -- led by Barack Obama -- brought millions of people into the political process for the first time.
I’m told that many of you are working hard now to get as many as possible of those folks -- and others from across the country who are with us in these fights -- to the polls this year.
It’s an important effort, and the legacy of the fight for the Voting Rights Act is that it is not only our right to vote, and to help others do so -- it is our duty.
Lewis is an icon of the civil rights movement, but the message that one has a duty to vote does not resonate with young people and first-time voters.
So in their desperation, Democrats are bringing back George W. Bush to try to mobilize their base. The Washington Post reported:
As they brace for a difficult fall election, dispirited Democrats hoping to get back some of that 2008 magic are turning to the president for inspiration.President Bush, that is.
Will blaming Bush work? I doubt it.
In the wake of the 2000 Florida election debacle, Democrats promised to punish Bush’s brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who was running for reelection in 2002.
It wasn’t even close. Jeb won reelection with 56 percent of the vote.
By 2004, bashing President Bush was a hardy perennial. Democrats vowed to remember in November. But some Democratic voters forgot.
When the polls closed, the presidential election came down to Ohio. And it was too close to call.
Bush won Ohio with 16 percent of the black vote. By contrast in 2000, Bush garnered only seven percent black support.
With a jobless recovery and one-party rule in DC, Democrats will need a more compelling voter mobilization message than “Stay out the Bushes. Stay out the Bushes.”
