Salute to Granny D

I just read that Granny D died at age 100. At age 90, she walked from California to Washington DC to show support for campaign finance reform. She was a true liberal and progressive who was willing to make a personal sacrifice for something she thought the country needed. We need more like her. This is from her local paper in New Hampshire:

A public memorial service will be held Sunday for Doris “Granny D” Haddock, the New Hampshire political activist and senatorial candidate who died Tuesday after years of fighting for campaign finance reform.

She first garnered national attention 10 years ago, when she walked across the country to bring attention to her cause.

She turned 100 in January, and died at her home in Dublin surrounded by her family. According to The Associated Press, her son, Jim Haddock, says Sunday’s service will be held at the Dublin Community Church where his mother worshipped.

In 1999 and 2000, Haddock walked 3,200 miles over 14 months to promote public financing of campaigns. Four years later, she ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate against Republican Judd Gregg.

In a book about her famous walk, Haddock said she sometimes felt foolish, but when she thought about people who doubted her, she became angry and her anger fueled her passion.

But she never came across as an angry person. She was full of positive energy and chose to take a constructive path at a time when politics has become a blood sport. The outpouring of tributes from all political perspectives is testament to the fact that even today, there are people who can bridge the political chasms that have divided America into two camps.