The Importance of Rural America

What an exciting time to be a Democrat nationally and in the state of Texas! There is an enthusiasm that is permeating the nation in favor of the Democrats.

We have an outstanding and qualified field of candidates running for president. We have the majority of the House and Senate. We have the first woman elected Speaker of the House. But there is a lot of work to do. We must keep our majority while making progress in programs in which Democrats believe. One area of concern that the Democratic National Committee is addressing is outreach in the rural areas.

I am presently serving on the steering committee of the Rural Committee of the Democratic National Committee. Surprisingly, rural Texas has common ground with rural New York, rural Ohio and most rural areas of the nation. Our rural areas have been taken for granted by the Democrats. The Republicans were able to work those areas by using wedge issues, fear and intimidation.

Values in the Democratic Platform are the same as in rural America. The message is clear that Democrats believe in helping your neighbor, in pay-as-you go economic policies, debt reduction, self-reliance, excellent public education, a fair tax system and honest wages for honest work. Our message is one of outrage on the undeclared war on the middle class. One clear example of this is the out of reach college tuition for our children. The President’s 2007 budget has cut educational funding by 4 percent — hitting smaller, rural areas particularly hard. The budget provides $15.4 billion less for education, though rural schools still face many difficulties, such as recruiting qualified teachers.

Another area that needs to be addressed is the need for adequate health care in our rural areas. It is sometimes difficult to receive important medical services, especially in rural areas. The President’s budget eliminates the rural health flexibility grant program and the Area Health and Education Centers, and cuts rural health outreach grants. It also eliminates distance learning and telemedicine loans, which expand health care and educational resources in rural communities.

We can be successful in our endeavors if we work side by side and precinct by precinct. Rural America can make a difference in an election. When Hillary Clinton ran for Senate in New York, she knew she would not carry some of the conservative rural areas, but knew if she showed up and campaigned that she would raise her percentage points. That helped her get elected. I feel that this example is a valid consideration in winning elections. In a very conservative rural area, the people in that area may need to adjust their thinking of who best represents them. It’s not about winning or losing. It is about how you can raise the Democratic vote in your conservative area.

Let’s say a candidate is working with a low Democratic Percentage Index in a particular precinct. Don’t be unrealistic; set an attainable goal. Plan a strategy to achieve that goal. If the DPI is 38% and a goal of 40% is achievable, when that precinct reaches the goal, there should be a celebration. Those percentage points in that precinct could very well make a difference for a later Democratic candidate in a countywide or statewide race.

I feel that strides have been made to reach out to the rural areas, and one important factor has been Chairman Dean’s 50 state plan strategy. We are fortunate in Texas to have four field directors paid for by the Democratic National Committee but hired by the state party. These field directors are actually out in the field, and their hard work made a difference in the last election cycle. Also, for your information, The National Democratic Committee has a site dedicated to issues facing rural Americans.

In conclusion, the Democrats have a strong message to rural America stating that the Republicans are putting special interests ahead of America’s families. This is certainly shown in President Bush’s FY 2007 budget. This budget assures the demise of the heartland of America. If Democrats join hands and work precinct by precinct and county by county and state by state, we will continue to build a great nation.