Commentary : Voting Is Not Just a Responsibility, but an Important Opportunity

The 1988 Republican National Convention adjourned against the backdrop of balloons and banners, memorable speeches, powerful demonstrations by party loyalists and the unexpected escalation of an obscure Indiana senator to the spotlight of vice presidential politics.

The opening day was Ronald Reagan’s as the party and America said thank you to a President whose mark on history will become even more indelible with the passage of time. During his final address to the GOP as President, he reminisced about the past and cast his hopes for the future. One of those hopes is that George Bush will succeed him and continue the Reagan legacy.

The challenge of succeeding Ronald Reagan would prove formidable for the most able public servant. His communications skills are rare, his love of America is articulated to inspire the most cynical heart, and his leadership skills motivate others to follow. The footprints of the Reagan presidency will be difficult to match in both size and impression.

In his farewell, the President firmly mounted the torch of the Reagan legacy high on a pedestal--a torch fueled by a strong economy, high employment and a nation at peace.

The second day was Dan Quayle’s. The man least likely to be selected by most emerged from the Midwest and was catapulted to the plateau of vice presidential politics. Young, energetic and a proven vote-getter, his initial day in the sun was dimmed by the swirling controversies of his past. In a manner now typical of public life, the media and others have probed into the halls and corridors of the senator’s past seeking out the imperfections and the rough edges.

With it comes the grim reminder that in the past year America has witnessed the demise of leaders on Wall Street, the pulpit and political podium. The appetite of the curious has been nourished by the inundation of books authored by those whose loyalty to service has been only as deep as their pocketbooks. National magazines have been generous in their contributions to those who have been exploited and those who choose to exploit.

Nomination night was special for Orange County. As an evening speaker during the general session of the convention, I was bestowed the memorable honor of delivering a five-minute speech to the delegates and to America. Orange County Congressman Robert K. Dornan delivered a seconding speech in a fiery and inspired way that only he can do. By night’s end, the Republican Party had affirmed what the American people had already predetermined. The visible participation of Orange County representatives was compelling evidence of the political importance of this county.

The closing night was George Bush’s greatest hour as he delivered the speech of his life. As thousands and perhaps millions had hoped, George Bush firmly grasped the torch and began his journey on the track of presidential politics as anchorman of the Republican ticket.

The lights have dimmed and the last balloon has been dropped. Now the focus shifts from New Orleans to the heart and soul of this nation, its people. America will elect the next President of the United States and in so doing, will entrust the future direction of this great nation.

Over the next few months, the American public will be exposed to a barrage of media perspectives, the debates, the attacks and counterattacks. Americans will be inundated with dizzying accounts of daily political venues. Brief media clips will craft public opinion, and we will be fed a daily menu of public issues and stories as prioritized by the press and media.

But when it’s all said and done, the final and conclusive burden of responsibility will rest on the shoulders of those Americans who choose to be part of a process which millions of Americans have abandoned.

Americans, more than ever, must come to a renewal of appreciation for the most fundamental right we have in this great democracy. The right to vote. While other peoples of the world must submit themselves to election by intimidation, fear and oppression, we enjoy the right to cast our ballot and be participants in the process of electing our representatives. Nowhere is that more important than in the election of the President of the United States. As President Abraham Lincoln once said, “No man is good enough to govern another man without the other’s consent.”

Over the next few weeks, Americans should search out the substance of the candidates and explore the depth of the issues. We must look beyond the brevity of electronic media and search for the blend of leadership, ideology and competence that should be the next President of the United States.

But most all, we must inspire a revival and a recovery of the public interest in the priceless value of casting our individual vote. We must do so with consciousness and with conviction. We must inspire our young to embrace this process of leadership by consent. As architects of the future, our vote is not only a responsibility, but an opportunity. Most of all we must channel our dreams, hopes and aspirations into the vote that counts the most, our own.