The Dems Stand Up For Jefferson Smith | Oliver Willis

Oliver Willis posted this bit from the filibuster scene in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” Ethereal Girl picked up the post in response to Sam Seder’s musical question “why do republicans hate Jimmy Stewart”? (He’s been filling in for Randi Rhodes on Air America while she’s recovering from surgery – we love you Randi! Heard you today, glad you’re back!).

And after that convoluted beginning, I will now propogate the meme. It’s a worthwhile one still.

Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart):

Just get up off the ground, that’s all I ask. Get up there with that lady that is up on top of this Capitol dome–that lady that stands for liberty, take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something and you won’t just see scenery–you’ll see the whole parade of what man’s carved out for himself after centuries of fighting and fighting for something better than just jungle law, fighting so’s he can stand on his own two feet — free and decent, like he was created — no matter what his race, color or creed. That’s what you’ll see. There’s no place out there for graft or greed or lies or compromise with human liberties. And if that’s what the grown-ups have done to this world that was given to them we’d better get those boy’s camps started fast and see what the kids can do and it is not too late because this country is bigger than the Taylors, or you or me, or anything else. Great principles don’t get lost once they come to light. They’re right here. You just have to see them.