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NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and links to the columns are not typically otherwise available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.

Senate Sketches # 1083

By

Senator Hank Sanders

****************************

“Can we really win?” It was a simple question from a white Democratic senator. There was no further explanation. Still, I knew what he meant.

I translated: “Can Democrats win with a nominee who is African American?” I took the question seriously, and I responded accordingly.

I acknowledged that race is still a powerful factor in America. I know that one way or another race will be a critical issue in the November election if Senator Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee. I also know that its dimension, impact, and power will be tested as never before.

Still, I think Obama can win for a variety of reasons, some of which I have previously explored. I will not explore those further. To me, these additional reasons are unconventional but no less real. I want to share them with you.

Conventional wisdom says an African American cannot win the Presidency of these United States of America. Conventional wisdom says race will overpower self interest. But conventional wisdom applies to conventional happenings.

Conventional wisdom does not apply to a phenomenon. Things that ought to stop or slow down a phenomenon often fuel it. We don’t know why but it does. For example, less traditional experience may well be a plus instead of a minus in this presidential race. Barack Obama is a phenomenon.

Few of us excite masses of people. Almost none of us excite enough to fill auditoriums up to 20,000 on two days notice. Few of us can fill one with two months notice. Barack Obama can and does fill them on two or three days notice.

For some people, attacks roll off like water on a duck’s back while sticking like glue to others. We cannot create that condition. Either we have it or we don’t. Barrack Obama has a duck’s back. And it will serve him well as he negotiates the most intense and sustained attacks known to presidential politics.

We cannot plan the times. We have to take them as we find them. Four years earlier would not have been the time for Obama. Four years later may not be the time. When it’s time for something or someone, that’s more powerful than money, organization, determination, or color. The old saying comes to mind, “Few things are more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” Barack Obama is an idea whose time has come.

When people want us to succeed, their hopes and dreams merge with our hopes and dreams, each empowering the other. A whole lot of hopes and dreams form the wave on which Barack Obama rides. A powerful wave can roll all the way to the pinnacle if one can stay on it. And Obama can ride!

When I talk with people, I sense an unusual need in them for Obama to succeed in becoming President. It’s like they need it for themselves and for their country. It’s like it’s helping them to be their best selves. It’s like a long awaited opportunity to rise above our centuries old racial history. It is especially acute among young people but cuts across lines of race, class, and age. This powerful force cannot be measured and should not be underestimated.

Most of us do well if we mobilize 40 percent of the current electoral base. It’s a tremendous thing when we expand the numbers even a little. Barrack Obama expands the electoral base more than anyone in my lifetime. And it is not just the young but people at all stages of life. This changes every calculation in the general election.

It’s something to see when a person becomes a formidable force. However, it’s something else entirely when a formidable force continues to grow. No presidential candidate has grown near as much as Obama during the primary, and he is still growing as a candidate and leader. When opponents prepare for him on one level, he rises to another. That’s hard to deal with. Just ask Clinton, Edwards, and others.

I think Senator Clinton did extremely well as a candidate and would make an excellent President. She, however, ran into a phenomenon that conventional wisdom cannot explain and conventional strategies cannot counter.

Can Obama win? He can if we can escape the prison of conventional wisdom. He can if we can break the chains of fear. He can if we can muster the courage to manifest our best selves. What do you think we can do?”

Now on to the Daily Diary.

Saturday - I arrived at my office at 6:15 a.m. and I talked with numerous persons during the day including Dennis Tourse of Boston, MA and Victor Inge of the Selma Times Journal. I shared lunch with Kindaka Jamal Sanders and dinner with Dr. James Mitchell President of Wallace Community College Selma (WCCS). I worked through the day and into the night on various issues.

Sunday - I did Radio Sunday School, Radio Education, and Sunday Review. I participated in Sunday School and traveled to Uniontown to speak at a Black History Program at Star Bethel Baptist Church. I returned to Selma and visited J. L. Chestnut, Jr. who is recovering from illness. I talked with the following Uniontown leaders: Sharmonica Flowers Austin; Rev. Frank Smith; and Mrs. R. L. Flowers. I talked to others including Youlanda Curtis of Washington County. I worked into the night.

Monday - I talked with the following: Abina Billups and Sam Walker concerning Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Bill Britt of the St. Clair News about former Governor Siegelman; George Rivers of WERC Radio in Birmingham; Lowndes County Administrator Jackie Thomas; Sharon Calhoun of Montgomery; Dr. Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association (AEA); Roberta Watts of Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC); Patricia Farrior of Lowndes County; Eddie Hill of the State Board of Education; Joyce Bigbee of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO); Billy Atchison of the Alabama Power Company; Congressman Artur Davis; and Senator Quinton Ross. I traveled to Lowndes County where I talked with several leaders, returned to Selma and worked into the night.

Tuesday - I was on a Birmingham Radio Program concerning the moratorium on the Death Penalty. I traveled to Montgomery to participate in the following: Senate Democratic Caucus; Senate Black Caucus; Senate Leadership meeting with Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom, Jr, Senate President Pro Tem Hinton Mitchem, and others. I talked with the following: Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard; Senator Zeb Little; Dr. Joe Morton; Senator Wendell Mitchell; Perry County Commissioner Albert Turner, Jr.; businessman Luther “Nat Winn; and Ed Castille of AIDT. I returned to Selma to work into the night.

Wednesday - I talked with the following: Dr. Carol P. Zippert and Laddi Jones of the Greene County Democrat Newspaper; Marengo County School Superintendent Luther Hallmark; Ray Cosby of the Legislative Reference Service (LRS); Allan A. Pizzato and Charlie Grantham of Alabama Public Television; Teresa Jackson and Denise Rogers of Houston Hill Jr. High School; Darryl Perkins of Congressman Artur Davis’ staff; Businessman Milton McGregor; Senator Roger Bedford; Sheriff Isom Thomas of Greene County; Senate President Pro Tem Hinton Mitchem; and Senator Lowell Barron. I chaired a Finance and Taxation Education Committee (F&TE) meeting and participated in a Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee (F&TG) meeting. I returned to Selma for two meetings and handled many other matters. I also hosted the Radio Program Law Lessons and traveled to Wilcox to speak at a Black History Program where I talked to several leaders such as Sheryl Threadgill Matthews and Rev. Darryl Perryman. I returned to Selma and worked into the night and talked with various leaders including Senator Vivian Davis Figures.

Thursday - I traveled to Montgomery and met with the following: Businessman Luther “Nat’ Winn, Senator Bobby Singleton and Representative Artis McCampbell; Ginger Avery Buckner and Gipson Vance of the Alabama Association for Justice; Senator Vivian Davis Figures; Randy Wilhelm of Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom, Jr.’s office ; Lobbyist Tom Coker; Lobbyist Martin Christie; Barbara Turner of Monroe County; Lobbyist Joe Fine; and Sharon Wheeler of the President Pro Tem’s Office. I participated in a Senate Session, handled many matters and returned to Selma. I began writing Sketches and talked with former Selma City Councilmen Dr. F. D. Reese and Ernest L. Doyle. I worked into the night.

Friday - I worked on Sketches and talked with the following: Dr. Carol P. Zippert of the Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF); Pastor Gary Crum of Selma; Lorraine Capers of Selma; Judy Hampton of Prattville; and Willie Nell Avery of Perry County; White Hall Mayor John Jackson; Julian McPhilips of Montgomery; Greene County Superintendent of Education Isaac Atkins; Perry County Superintendent of Education John Heard; Selma Schools Superintendent Dr. Verdell Lett Dawson; and Dallas County School Superintendent Dr. Fannie McKenzie. I met with others and had lunch with banking executive Elizabeth Rutledge. I worked into the night.

EPILOGUE - We love to judge. We love to use what we see as wisdom in our judgment. We especially love to use what others see as wisdom. That’s conventional wisdom. Conventional wisdom usually helps. It, however, hampers us when we are judging an unconventional happening.

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