A Penguin in the Orchard

So Long

I had the chance to listen to some of the Paul Wellstone public memorial on NPR this evening. Though it was in the car and only for short periods of time, I was genuinely moved by the tributes of family and colleagues to those who died in Minnesota last week.

Paul Wellstone’s record stands on its own. He was a throwback liberal and damn proud of it. Michael Dukakis allowed Republicans to demonize “the L word” during the 1988 Presidential campaign, an act of political shortsightedness for which he can never be forgiven. Paul Wellstone, on the other hand, wore the liberal label as a true badge of honor. Politically, I couldn’t have felt better about the positions taken by my neigbor to the north. It’s terribly sad that sometimes the human face of the politician doesn’t appear until after they’re gone. I think I’d have liked him personally as well as politically.

I certainly liked what appeared to be a very cheeky decision on the part of the family to decline Vice President Cheney’s offer to attend. Chutzpah, indeed. And, as always, the back story may be even more interesting.

At some point, the service did begin to degenerate into a political rally. With Walter Mondale waiting in the wings, the politicians and family who spoke felt the need to keep the campaign flame alive. Initially, I was a bit disappointed by this turn of events. But if Paul Wellstone was the true blue politician all have claimed, he’d clearly have loved the pep rally feel. In that context, it was a fine sendoff.