Real Heroes

by John Adams

Dateline Denver…the gavel goes down tomorrow afternoon in the Pepsi Center. 

Already there’s huge energy building.  A rousing speech by National Chair Howard Dean welcomed the Delegates, honoring those who have suffered so much under the Bush Administration, and motivating us Delegates throughout all fifty states — yes, especially Arizona! — to work for victory this Fall, to take our country back.

A few brief observations:

– Great hospitality…everyone I met in the city was friendly and welcoming.  Denver’s red carpet is out.

– Lots of security, everywhere.  Police from throughout Colorado are in Denver to keep the peace.  I like that just fine.

– Cool architecture downtown.  Like downtown Bisbee only bigger.

– Great spirit within the Arizona Delegation…forward-looking, ready to battle with the Republicans.

As I took the measure of the Convention scene today, the most moving experience I had was meeting Laura Dempsey, the Founder and Co-Chair of an organization of military spouses who support Barack for President, Blue Star Families for Obama.

Blue Star Families for Obama is a grass-roots organization of military spouses and family members.  Like the troops themselves, military families have sacrificed much these past years.  Like our troops, they have done their duty…steadfastly supporting their husbands, wives, parents, and children who serve us all so well.

No one can impugn the courage and dedication of our military.  They serve our Constitution with honor, determined to do their duty to the best of their ability.  And they have performed magnificently. 

Our troops are not responsible for the wrong-headed ideology that led us into the misadventures in Iraq.  On the contrary, our troops deserve immense credit for their heroism and their devotion to the Constitution.

And our troops’ families serve as well, supporting, upholding, and sacrificing their own lives, families, and well-being for the cause of defending our national security.  Our troops’ families know the costs of a war that should never have been fought.  They also know that we need a strong military, a military that can preserve our national security.  They want their sacrifices to be honored, and certainly not taken for granted.

Laura Dempsey and the hundreds of members of Blue Star Families for Obama are dedicated to electing a president who honors their sacrifices, who understands that we need a strong military, who will respect our troops, and who will guard our national security.

Our troops’ family members are real heroes, as are our troops.  Meeting Laura Dempsey, and seeing the dedication of Blue Star Families for Obama, inspired me today as our Convention begins.

This week in Denver, the Democratic National Convention will honor our troops and their families, conveying respect and appreciation for all they have done.  The Convention will feature several events to highlight Barack Obama’s plan to restore American security after the destruction of the Bush Administration.  And central to restoring our security is honoring the sacrifices of our troops and their family members.  Indeed, we must honor the sacrifices of those who serve our country…and in contrast to John McCain’s casual disregard for our veterans and our national security, Barack Obama will keep faith with our military and their families. 

Barack Obama will restore our national security.

Blue Star Families for Obama is growing by the day…as more and more family members of our military realize that America’s national security has been squandered by the wrong-headed Bush strategy, and that the Bush Administration has not only mortgaged American national security, but disrespected our military as well.  And John McCain promises more of the same. 

Our troops and their families yearn for the change that Barack Obama will give as our Commander-in-Chief…he will privilege America’s security first, and he will honor the sacrifices of those who defend our country.

As for me, I’m moved by the dedication of these young military spouses of the Blue Star Families for Obama, forging a grass-roots movement on their own dime, and doing wonderful outreach to other military families to accelerate our movement for change.  Blue Star Families for Obama members are my heroes.

If you’re a military family member, please join Star Families for Obama and join this growing movement for change, and for respect for our military.  Their website is:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/BlueStarsForObama

…It’s Sunday, the day before the DNC gavel goes down…we’re just getting started with staging our assault on the Republicans who have wrought such carnage on the American people.  With Barack Obama as our next President, we are going to take our country back.