Minnesota senator speaks on current political climate

By Kelly O'Connor
Daily Staff Reporter

The man who says he represents the "Democratic wing of the Democratic party" drew a crowd so large that late-comers spilled into the hallways outside the stuffy Kalamazoo Room of the Michigan League on Saturday afternoon.

U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.) came to Ann Arbor for the weekend to deliver the keynote address at a conference exploring the connection between domestic violence and poverty. But the former professor and liberal activist took a few hours out of his day to hold an informal discussion forum.

A student in the front row launched Wellstone into a passionate speech when he asked why the leaders of today have nothing in common with the "dreamers" of the past and said he would just like to be inspired by someone with a vision.

"Sometimes the only realists are the dreamers," Wellstone told the student. "You are absolutely right - we need someone who is willing to dream and to call on us to be our best selves."

JEREMY MENCHIK/Daily U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.) speaks to an audience gathered in the Michigan League Kalamazoo Room on Saturday.

Wellstone drew on his 20 years of teaching experience as he tried to give students meaningful advice about sticking to their convictions.

"The best thing I ever said to my students is you'll be more credible and powerful if you don't separate the life you live from the words you speak," he said.

Wellstone said he doesn't understand why the current economic prosperity has not allowed the nation to provide more adequate services to its citizens.

"Even with the economy as good as it is, we are being told by Republicans and Democrats that we can't afford to provide a good education for our children," he said. "In the words of Rabbi Hillel, 'if not now, then when?'"

Wellstone also expressed concern for many U.S. citizens' general disillusionment with politics. Lawmaking is often ruled by money, he said, and that has caused a rift between citizens and the people who represent them.

"The shame of it is the majority of people in the country have reached the conclusion that if you pay, you play," said Wellstone, who was elected to the Senate in 1990.

Another unfortunate consequence of the current sentiment toward elected officials is a false dichotomy that labels community service as a positive way to initiate change and politics as "unsavory," he said, adding that while community service is important, people have to be willing to get into politics to earn the power that will allow them to push for social improvements.

But the outlook is not entirely bleak, he told students. He cited examples of campuses across the country that flourish with student activism. This type of work is important, he said, because "the future of our world is not going to belong to people content with the present."

College Democrats President Kelley Boland, an LSA senior, said she was pleased with Wellstone's visit.

"It was a great turnout," Boland said. "It's kind of unusual to hear a politician relate to students on these issues."

Although Wellstone told students he has not yet endorsed any of the Democrats pushing for the presidential nomination, he said he will not be a silent observer of the campaign.

"I'm going to try to make a difference in the race," he said. "I'd really like to encourage a lot of grass roots organizing and push the candidates to prove their commitment to the issues."

College Democrats President-elect Josh Cowen said Wellstone's visit helped students to make the connection between their activism and the officials who actually make the laws.

"Actually meeting the people who will implement things you work for" is a good experience for students, he said. "On top of (Rev. Jesse) Jackson and (President Bill) Clinton's visit, he really amplified the sentiment."

04-19-99