“Showing Up For Our Democracy”: Why Rob Sand Is Singing America, The Beautiful at Rallies

DES MOINES, IA – Iowa Starting Line detailed candidate for governor Rob Sand’s “unusual ritual” at the start of every town hall he hosts, which includes raising hands by political party, followed by singing America, The Beautiful together.

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As Starting Line notes, this is an important part of every town hall stop for Rob because it brings the room together after just establishing members of different political parties are in the room, and that this helps “push back against the people who want us divided from each other,” because “they all know that when we’re divided, we’re easier to control.” The Starting Line also notes the energy and excitement behind Rob’s campaign, exhibited at a recent stop in Ellston – population 19 – where Rob “drew 45 people to the event,” more than doubling the town’s population.

Read more about Rob’s “unusual ritual” from The Starting Line here or key quotes below:

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand has been starting his campaign stops across Iowa with an unusual ritual: leading crowds in singing “America the Beautiful.”
Sand, the current state auditor, has held town halls in venues ranging from churches to breweries, where he encourages attendees from different political parties to acknowledge each other before joining together in song.
“So many elected officials from both parties want us to be divided from each other,” Sand told Iowa Starting Line. “It works great for them to amass power if we hate our neighbors and hate our family and are so frustrated with everyone that we disagree with.”
Part of the ritual for Sand is to have folks raise their hands—Republicans, independents, Democrats—and applaud each other “for showing up for our democracy.” He then leads them in song.
And the approach appears to be drawing interest in small communities. In August, Sand’s campaign stopped in Ellston, a town with just 19 residents. He drew 45 people to the event.
“We sing to bring ourselves together. To push back against the people who want us divided from each other,” Sand said. “Let’s face it. They all know that when we’re divided, we’re easier to control.”