Congressman Jamie Raskin was the featured speaker for the 2022 Douglass-Tubman Celebration. Several Democratic candidates for local and state office also took advantage of this opportunity to meet and greet constituents on our Eastern Shore. The Talbot County Democratic Central Committee’s annual event was last held at Easton’s Waterfowl Building in 2019, but Covid expanded horizons. This year’s celebration on Sunday, May 22, became a community fair at Moton Park.
White tent tops hovered over thirty candidates, community organizations, and food and beverage outlets, all marking a pathway to the pavilion, where music played and picnic tables would accommodate nearly one hundred of those awaiting Congressman Raskin’s arrival.
It was easy to pass time with the Union Baptist Choir, and more than twice as many had gathered around the pavilion by the time Maryland Democratic Party Chair Yvette Lewis introduced Congressman Raskin. Having held a book signing earlier in the day, he now spoke of finding that his 2008 book has been banned in Texas. Politically oriented books are evidently no longer welcomed there. His name is also on a list of 700 banned from entering Russia.
“When we win, I’m gonna take my book down to Texas and read it everywhere,” he promised. A professor of constitutional law at American University Washington College of Law for over 25 years, he thinks of our constitution as “a silver platter that frames a heart of gold: Freedom.”
He also reminded us, “Marriage does not appear in our constitution, either.” And he closed with the suggestion that politics is a lot like driving. “Want to move forward? Put it in ”D.” Want to go backward? Put it in “R.”
Heather Mizeur, candidate for U.S. Congressional District 1, suggested that moving forward also requires defeating Andy Harris this November; and she promised to hold him to his word to retire this year. It’s the least he can do after passing the Big Lie litmus test and “failing to reflect upon our needs and values.”
Dave Harden, also a candidate for U.S. Congressional District 1, agrees that we must defeat Andy Harris. He grew up in this district, but having addressed economic crises as a diplomat abroad, he is concerned about the loss of population on our Eastern Shore and eager to help build an economy that works for us here.
Wes Moore, candidate for governor of Maryland, still reeling from Raskin’s speech, allowed, “You wouldn’t want to follow Jamie Raskin, but I’d follow him anywhere,” He then suggested, “Another person I’d follow is my mom.” At age five, his father passed away just hours after being discharged from a hospital. Inspired by his mother to be in public service, he’s running for governor to “help create pathways to opportunity and prosperity.”
John King, also a candidate for governor of Maryland, was U.S. secretary of Education for President Obama. His mother passed away when he was 8, and father passed when he was 12. He appreciates the value of paid family leave, universal child care, public transportation, and environmental and racial justice.
Monique Anderson Walker, running mate of gubernatorial candidate Peter Franchot, is aware of the needs of our state; and she is also particularly concerned by our lack of affordable housing and the burden of student loans.
Former Governor Martin O’Malley, representing candidate for attorney general for Maryland, Katie Curran O’Malley, reminded us that his wife would be the first woman to serve in this capacity in Maryland, and that “we have a lot to fight for in November.”
Patrick Firth, chair of the Talbot County Democratic Central Committee, then presented the 2020 Democrat of the Year award to Ron Walker. This was accompanied by a U.S. flag flown at the capitol contributed by Senator Van Hollen and a citation of congratulations from Senator Ben Cardin, We appreciated seeing positive sentiments painted over campaign signs following the 2020 election, and he just keeps working.
Charlene DeShields, an elementary teacher in Dorchester and hard-working member of the Talbot County Democratic Forum, was surprised and elated to receive her well-deserved 2021 Democrat of the Year award, and her U.S. flag and citation of congratulations.
Tarrence Bailey, great nephew of Frederick Douglass and founder of Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill and Bailey-Groce Family Fund also addressed the crowd, expressing his gratitude for the progress we are making and his hopes for the future.
A group photo was then taken of other candidates who had participated in the day’s events.These included candidates for Talbot County Council, Jim Bruce, Michele Dappert, Phil Jackson, Keasha Haythe, and Scott Kane; candidate for Maryland State Senate District 37, Naomi Hyman; candidate for Maryland Legislative District 37B, Susan De Lean Botkin; candidate for Maryland Senate District 38, Michelle Gregory; and candidate for Maryland House of Delegates District 38A,Todd Nock, .
Michele Smith, candidate for U.S. Senate, and Emily Jackson, candidate for Talbot County Board of Education District 4, also took part in the day’s celebration. Smiles all around. The rain would hold off until much later that evening.
David Tull says
Jamie Raskin is communist as was his father why celebrate evil.
Do you really hate this great nation that much?
Deirdre LaMotte says
Hahaha, another room temperature MAGA IQ
measured in Celsius.
Michael Davis says
It is clear that Mr. Tull does not even know what a Communist is.