I remember as a 13 year old getting riveted by the political cyclone unleashed by a humble man from Vermont. Sen. Jim Jeffords defection from the GOP caused the balance of power to shift in the Senate from GOP to Democrat, and shift all the committee chairmen and women as well. I wrote an essay about it for my social studies current events project, and remember explaining this process in detail to classmates far less interested in this than I was. Here was one man who took a stand and made history.
Unfortunately, Senator Jeffords has passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He leaves behind a legacy of strong and proud advocacy for the disabled, for special education and public education more broadly, health care reform, and consistent support of women and gay rights long before many Democrats adopted that stance. His independent streak lasted throughout his tenure in the Democratic caucus, and it was only fitting he was succeeded any another cantankerous independent in Bernie Sanders.
Long before Specter, Hagel, Lugar, Jim Leach, Lincoln Chaffee, or Bloomberg switched parties, endorsed Democrats, or both-Jeffords was one of the earliest to realize the drift rightward had become permanent. While I lament there will be few Republicans like him left, I am happy that more and more of his issues have found a permanent home in our party and movement.
The times Obit
I spent a few weeks in Vermont during the 2000 cycle and have done a lot of volunteering there for the Green Mountain Club. Jeffords was a good man. I recall when it was clear that he was defecting from the GOP and the Democrats would be in the majority. I remember going into the supermarket after it was announced, thinking everyone would be talking about it, like when Kennedy was shot. But no one was paying attention. My son knew that my husband and I were very excited. He knew how to celebrate. He suggested we make brownies in honor of the occasion. We did make brownies; my son always knew how to make the most of a situation!