Chicago Dispatch 3 - From the Heart

Governor Tim Walz speaks to the Democratic National Convention. Courtesy, yours truly.

On the street in Chicago this week, I saw sisters where matching shirts that read:

Confident, Kind, and Smart Like My Dad

This sums up Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s nomination for Vice President last night at the United Center. Walz as teacher, coach, and father is who we hope our kids, his kids, aspire to be. Doing the right thing, not for any reason other than it’s the right thing.

An Inspired Choice

When Vice President Kamala Harris choice of Tim Walz as her running was inspired. In his brief acceptance remarks, Walz expanded the Democratic tent with the wit, wisdom, and decency we expect from a son of America’s heartland.

Delegates and guests all over the hall waved signs that read “Coach Walz.” Members of his championship West Mankato High School football team assembled, in jerseys, on stage. His former students extolled their experience with a man who instilled in them the virtues of discipline, decency, and hard work.

This folks, was once Republican messaging. While Donald Trump discusses his ‘greatness’ as a yet another nepo baby, Walz did the work, rising from the plains of Nebraska to the cusp of the White House. For Harris and Walz, pulling oneself up by the bootstraps isn’t just playacting.

They’ve lived and navigated the challenges and opportunities of America. Now, in just over two months, they may well complete the journey that so many kids of their backgrounds never thought possible. This is America.

During his speech, Walz said, “Everybody belongs and everyone has an responsibility to contribute.”

Responsibility. He is of the Heartland, speaks its language, lives its self-stated values. As Americans we take our fierce independence to extremes. None of us can do it alone, but individuals can and should take the opportunity to play positive roles in one another’s lives.

Many MAGA goons want to believe they can live without help from anyone. That’s a lie, and patently ridiculous. The louder you scream on TikTok about how tough you are is inversely proportional to how long you’d survive alone in the woods.

Understand the Assignment

As the vice presidential nominee, Tim Walz knows his role. Let’s use a football analogy: The fullback. Largely unheralded, the fullback knows his jobs. He doesn’t try to be the quarterback or the star. He knows he’s there to be tough and do his jobs when called upon.

First, the fullback serves as the lead blocker; making sure he’s out in front of the ball carrier, opening up those running routes and knocking people out of the way. They relish this part of the gig. “Go out and hit somebody!”

The second job is getting those one or two extra yards when the team really needs them. Head down in a cloud of dust, Walz knows he’ll be called on and when he is, he’s proven he’s ready.

Less than a month ago he was a little-known Midwestern governor and last night effortlessly gave the biggest speech of his life is a testament to his innate political ability. In politics we say Walz has “what it takes.”

A Note on What We’re Fighting

During his speech last time, Tim Walz looked down and recognized his family, sitting in the front row. They all stood and waved at him. His son, Gus blossomed with joy, crying and pointing, “That’s my dad!”

Not a dry eye in the house. My friend and I sitting and watching were ugly crying as was everyone around us. Walz himself is crier. I’m a crier. My old man was a crier. My old boss, George W. Bush was known to well up.

This is a sign of strength, not weakness. To be vulnerable is to possess an inner strength and confidence to both know who you are and be who you are. In that moment, Big Tim Walz was more proud of his son that his son of him. Most of us can only hope our kids ever show the kind of unbridled love Gus has for his father.

Right on cue, MAGA reptiles such as Ann Coulter and Dinesh D’Souza took to social media to make fun of Gus. Nothing surprises me about these people anymore and if you expect the worst from them, you’ll never be disappointed.