I would also like to apologize to anyone named Tom Emmet. The Minnesota gubernatorial candidate I was trying to talk about was Tom Emmer, but I guess I read it wrong during the speech, because I said Tom Emmet. Thanks to those who pointed this error out to me.
And a quick google search reveals that the most famous person named Tom Emmet is!!! A famous cricket player. In the 1800s. Whoops. Anyway, the speech!
Welcome to the 2010 Anchorage Rally to Restore Sanity. I want to welcome those among us who may have been present at the Wasilla rally earlier today and thank you for making the effort to drive down here for another round of sanity. I’d like to thank Heather Aronno for organizing this event and working through the red tape that is involved in making such a rally occur - we are truly in your debt.
What are we here for? What do we mean by restoring sanity? Well, part of the point of this rally is that we all have very nuanced views that cannot be summed up in catchy slogans. But for me, it means something pretty simple: Calling radicalism what it is. We’ve become either desensitized to extremes or deceived ourselves into believing they are something less sinister. It’s time for us to wake up and take action, or risk waking up after election day in a world we might not recognize. What, exactly, am I talking about?
Art Robinson of Oregon believes AIDS is not a disease, but merely what God uses to kill gay people. He also believes blacks are inferior to whites, a belief which he teaches to his homeschooled children. This is, let’s be clear, homophobia and racism. And people are still going to vote for him.
Sharon Angle of Nevada told members of the Hispanic Student Union “Some of you look a little more Asian to me.” I’m not sure if that’s racist or just stupid, but it is damned insensitive. And people are still going to vote for her.
Tom Emmer, who is running for of governor of Minnesota, gave money to a group called “You Can Run but You Cannot Hide,” whose leader said on the radio, “If America won’t enforce the laws [of the Bible], God will raise up a foreign enemy to do just that!” When asked about his ties to the group, Emmer said, “They come across as really nice guys." No. They don’t. And yes, people are still going to vote for him.
Right here in Alaska, Joe Miller’s security team arrested a reporter who was trying to ask him questions. Further Miller recently praised Soviet-Era East Germany for their success at securing their border, and said this should be the model for protecting America’s borders. The Soviets were not trying to keep outsiders from getting in, but were trying to keep their own citizens from getting out. To want to model our own border security on Soviet East Germany shows ignorance so appalling, so reprehensible, I don’t even know how to express it! And people are still going to vote for him.
Finally, 20% of Americans believe President Barack Obama is a Muslim. A secret Muslim, whatever that means. Not only is this factually incorrect, but it is racist because it implies a Muslim would not be fit to lead this nation. And most of these people are going to vote!
It is clear we have a serious crisis of sanity on our hands. But it gets worse. As I said, those who agree with these hateful or ignorant beliefs are motivated, very motivated, to go out and vote this Tuesday. And those who recognize the hate for what it is, like all of you fine people, are not very motivated to go vote, because they have no idea who to vote for instead. Some are even considering sitting this election out. And that’s what worries me the most.
I am worried about millions of Americans voting for the loudest and most extreme politicians, while many more millions sit at home, disgusted with their options, and refuse to vote. It may seem like a conscientious boycott of radicalism, but it is instead an abdication of power. And while such a widespread power shift worries me, what really worries me more are the implications for the future.
Politicians need votes. Politicians don’t particularly care who votes for them, just as long as they get enough votes. If the only people voting are those with extreme views, then the politicians are going to become more extreme. Sure, some principled politicians will step down, but there are plenty of other extremists ready to take their place. And then in 2012, more extremists will run, and we will against refuse to vote on principle, and so the extremist will win again. See the vicious cycle?
Today, we have shown there is the political power to prevent such a catastrophe.
In the past few weeks, we have rallied ourselves and others to the cause of sanity, and today those efforts have come to fruition. We see now that we are not alone, as the media has tried to make us feel. Americans from across the country have come together to stand for a return of sanity to politics, rejecting fear and obstructionism in favor of constructive discussions and reasonable criticism. Now all we have to do is vote.
So, just vote. It’s that simple. By voting this Tuesday, we reject the hurtful “us versus them” narrative of the media. By voting this Tuesday, we send a message to politicians that moderation is not a sign of weakness. By voting this Tuesday, we deny that the only options are socialism or freedom. By voting we vote this Tuesday, we give voice to sanity and reason. So get out the vote, and thank you everyone for coming today!
