Area pols grade the Dems' convention

Event in Boston gathers the attention of activists on both sides of the GC aisle

Some dislike it, some love it. But they are all watching it.

The Democratic National Convention in Boston has attracted the attention of activists and politicians from both parties here in Grant County. The speeches by national stalwarts of the Party of Jefferson have been lauded and criticized, almost always following party lines.

"All I have heard is 'We can do it better,' with no details," said state Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum. "Independent voters are seeking real, substantive answers, and that is no answer."

Ellen Webb from the Grant County Democrats had a different view.

"The speeches have defined what the Democrats feel today and where we want to go tomorrow," she said.

Webb added that the Democrats have presented a complete view of the issues of the nation, from health care to education and defense.

To Webb, the convention sent a message that people can have a voice and see a day with better answers to their needs.

"Too many families cannot see past tomorrow," she said, adding that people did not have to surrender to the interests of corporate America.

Tom Dent, the Grant County Republicans' chairman, said the convention had given him the impression that the Democrats were trying to make themselves over, trying to be something they have not been.

"They want to strengthen the military and their voting records are consistently showing they vote against things like that," he said. "They say they are for families, but their voting record shows they do not protect family values."

Brenda Teals, a Democratic activist from Moses Lake, said that she had been impressed with the message of the Democratic Party, especially that by Sen. John Kerry's wife, Teresa.

"She holds strong views on vital issues of the day," Teals said. "She's very well informed and I like women who have strong opinions backed up by facts. She's my kind of woman."

With Kerry accepting the Democratic nomination as candidate for president Thursday night, Republicans and Democrats from the area gave their predictions of his acceptance speech.

"It's going to be more of the same," said Dent, who added he was struggling with what he perceived as the Democrats inability to do what they say.

"President (George W.) Bush is trying to build (national security) back up, and they want to step up and do it," he said. "Their party was in control when it was gutted."

Dent went as far as to say that nothing he had heard from the Democrats had made sense.

The local Democrats said they relished the chance to refute attacks on their candidate by Republicans.

"They have been spending a lot of money to attack Kerry personally," Webb said, adding that this convention was an opportunity to present people who think well of him.

Teals described Kerry as a thoughtful person who understands the world is not black and white. She said she expected the candidate's speech to be articulate and intelligent.

"He is going to make his subjects and his verbs agree," Teals said. "You take (George W. Bush) away from the TelePrompTer, and he can't do that, let alone make sense."

Webb agreed, calling Kerry a thinker, and said that Kerry's ideas will not be overused political phrases.

"He is going to show that there is a limit on what the president is going to do," she said. "but he is going to show a direction and a policy that he would like to see in place."

She added, "he is not just going to shoot from the hip."

Ethylmarie Greeley from the Grant County Republican Women decried the way Democrats, in her opinion, are attacking Bush, saying that it was embarrassing to see a wartime president be attacked. Assailing Bush denotes a lack of patriotism and loyalty.

"Especially from someone who is a veteran," she said, referring to Kerry's service in Vietnam. She did praise Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman as an objective and forthright voice for supporting the war in Iraq.

The Republican National Convention is five weeks away. Greeley said that the scene in New York, site of the GOP's gathering, will be much different than that of Boston.

"Democrats are dreaming about jobs," she said. "Republicans are going to be more realistic."