Sharon Hughes
September 2, 2004
RNC -- Day 3: Zell Miller's speech under-reported
By Sharon Hughes

Did you ever think you'd see the day when a prominent Democrat politician would be so frank about his Party and so supportive of a Republican President?

Even though I knew the Democrat Senator from Georgia had been vocal on his support of the President, I sat in front of the television with my eyebrows raised at the bold statements Senator Zell Miller made on Wednesday night at the Republican Convention.

I also sat with brows raised this morning looking for mainstream coverage of his speech. Instead Dick Cheney led the headlines, some calling his speech "Firey." Did I miss something. Was I dreaming? If anyone's speech was firey, it was Miller's!

Not only are the major television networks covering only highlights of the convention, but the mainstream print media, again, is obvious in their selective coverage. It appears they don't want to give any more power to Miller's speech than it already had. No, instead, downplay it. Say he came across as mean. Say he is the one who is flip-flopping. Check it out for yourself. Do an online search. For instance, the New York Times' lead story today on the convention was, "Cheney and GOP Mount Vigorous Assault on Kerry."

Well, for the record let me list just a few of Zell Miller's statements from last night:

  • "What has happened to the party I've spent my life working in? I can remember when Democrats believed that it was the duty of America to fight for freedom over tyranny. It was Democratic President Harry Truman who pushed the Red Army out of Iran, who came to the aid of Greece when Communists threatened to overthrow it, who stared down the Soviet blockade of West Berlin by flying in supplies and saving the city. Time after time in our history, in the face of great danger, Democrats and Republicans worked together to ensure that freedom would not falter. But not today."

  • "Motivated more by partisan politics than by national security, today's Democratic leaders see America as an occupier, not a liberator. And nothing makes this Marine madder than someone calling American troops occupiers rather than liberators."

  • "And no pair has been more wrong, more loudly, more often than the two Senators from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry."

  • "I could go on and on and on — against the Patriot Missile that shot down Saddam Hussein's scud missiles over Israel; against the Aegis air-defense cruiser; against the Strategic Defense Initiative; against the Trident missile, against, against, against. This is the man who wants to be the commander in chief of our U.S. Armed Forces? U.S. forces armed with what? Spit balls?"

On July 31, 2004, Senator Zell Miller said in the Wall Street Journal online: "Twelve years ago, I delivered one of the keynote addresses on the first night at the Democratic National Convention in New York. It was a stinging rebuke of the administration of George H.W. Bush and a ringing endorsement of Bill Clinton. This summer I'll again be speaking in New York, but it will be to the Republican Convention that renominates George W. Bush. Many have asked how I could have come so far in just over a decade. Frankly, I don't think I've changed much at all. At 72, I don't feel much need to change my opinions. Instead, the reason I didn't attend the Democratic Convention in Boston is that I barely recognize my party anymore. Most of its leaders — including our nominee, John Kerry — don't hold the same beliefs that have motivated my career in public service."

Last night at the RNC he said, "Like you, I believe that the next four years will determine what kind of world [my grandchildren] will grow up in. And like you, I ask which leader is it today that has the vision, the willpower and, yes, the backbone to best protect my family? The clear answer to that question has placed me in this hall with you tonight. For my family is more important than my party."

For more commentary on the convention visit my blogsite for "RNC Day 1 & 2 Countering the Opposition" also SOUND OFF! on "(Kerry's) Anti-War Group's Flyer"

You can hear my BEHIND THE SCENES radio coverage of the convention with Marc Morano, live from the RNC, reporting on the protest marches, Michael Moore at the RNC, and more. Listen online beginning Friday, Sept. 3, 2004. Marc Morano is Senior Staff Writer for CNSNews.com and a Changing Worldviews' Contributor.

© Sharon Hughes

 

The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)

Click to enlarge

Sharon Hughes

Sharon Hughes is Founder and President of The Center for Changing Worldviews and the host of Changing Worldviews & WOMANTalk radio on KDIA in San Francisco, NPLR and online at Salem Web Network’s Oneplace.com. Her articles appear in many recognized news sites and publications, including FRONTPAGEMAG. She also blogs for NewsBusters.org, a division of The Media Research Center, and has appeared on FOX News and other national radio programs.

Subscribe

Receive future articles by Sharon Hughes: Click here

Latest articles

 

Alan Keyes
Why de facto government (tyranny) is replacing the Constitution

Stephen Stone
Will Obama be impeached now that Republicans control both houses of Congress?

Wes Vernon
Did lawmaker hand Rush the cat out of the bag?

Cliff Kincaid
Sanders adviser says repeal Columbus Day

Matt C. Abbott
Priest-theologian: if worst-case scenario at synod occurs, Catholics must resist changes

Bryan Fischer
Finding a wife - Boy to Man Book, Chapter 17

Rev. Mark H. Creech
Marriage, a wolf, and Little Red Riding Hood

Kevin Price
Big business and its love affair with minimum wage

Judie Brown
The Good Shepherd, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted

Rev. Austin Miles
BREAKING! U.N. dictates global sodomite acceptance

Ellis Washington
Adolf Hitler: The Early War Years (1939-42)

A.J. Castellitto
Carry thy gun, love thy neighbor

Selwyn Duke
What really drives Obama's destructive mideast policy?

James Lambert
Barack Hussein Obama has no interest in upholding laws he does not like
  More columns

Cartoons


Michael Ramirez
More cartoons

RSS feeds

News:
Columns:

Columnists

Matt C. Abbott
Chris Adamo
Bonnie Alba
Jamie Freeze Baird
Chuck Baldwin
Kevin J. Banet
J. Matt Barber
Fr. Tom Bartolomeo
. . .
[See more]

Sister sites