Winning and not winning
Last night Barack Obama sewed up the Democratic nomination. Its an event that fills me with hope for the future of this country -- replacing the real fear of 7 years of Bush/Cheney. The damage to this country has been vast: basic democratic principles have been violated with such abandon and with such a lack of repercussions that the country has become unrecognizable. How did this happen? How did Congress just abandon its equal status, and defer completely to the Executive? And what on earth has happened to the Judiciary? How did two co-equal branches of government allow themselves to turn into lapdogs?
The difference in this election between the black guy and the white chick has been the Iraq War: she voted for it, he spoke forcefully against it -- and therein lies a huge statement. So many calculations were obvious in that vote of hers: it just reminded people that she would do the politically expedient thing over the right thing, and reminded them of those trust issues we had with the Clinton presidency. Going into the race, there was definitely the tendency to remember the good old days, when we all got raises and gas and food were affordable and real estate seemed like a safe bet .... when we weren't at war. When terrorism was recognized as deserving policework, not elevated to military action. When we weren't embarrassed by a administration who tortured logic to justify torture. Yes, the Clinton years, flawed as they were, seem great in comparison. However, with that vote, and with subsequent speeches on both Bill and Hillary's part, the electorate was reminded of all the unnecessary drama of the Clinton years, drama facilitated by the Clintons themselves (although Hillary was right: there was a vast right-wing conspiracy).
I have no doubt that Barack Obama can win the General Election. He is smart, and works hard, and when people get to know him they like him. I think it will be a re-run of the Illinois Senate Race. Not that McCain is as deeply flawed as Alan Keyes -- he's deeply flawed, but he's not batshit insane. But the more you see of McCain, the less likable he is. And the more Democrats can tie him to Bush, the more people will vote for Obama. I think that Obama at the top of the ticket also does great things to the down ballot races: that man has coattails. Unlike Bill Clinton, extremely popular but NO coattails whatsoever.
It is amazing that Obama has gotten so far, that he is proving that people of all races will vote for a black man, that no one has attempted to shoot him ... all good things. Michelle's comment that we can't let our lives be ruled by fear was very pertinent in the context of reassuring a supporter who feared for his life, but also so much broader in how the Republicans have attempted to retain power all these years: ruling by fear and fear alone.
Hillary Clinton came so far, did so much for women candidates, did so much on putting certain issues out there, won a ton of votes ... and then revealed a startling lack of class in not graciously conceding defeat and congratulating the winner last night. It was her moment to shine, to celebrate her accomplishments, and to show class in defeat, to begin the process of healing the primary wounds -- to remind us that the real enemy is McCain and the Republicans, not other Democrats. And she didn't do that. Why not? What could have been going through her head? It was her moment of power -- its all downhill from here. She blew it. And in doing so, angered a lot of people. Why? She could have come out looking like a winner, a great woman, a great politician who came up just barely short ... and she lost instead.
McCain has some of the same traits -- stubbornness and a refusal to look reality in the face when it is spitting on him. Unlike Sen. Clinton, his basic values and heart are not in the right place. As Democrats we need to unite and defeat McCain, and get over our minor difference in the face of the vast ones separating McCain and Obama.
Tonight it is reported that Clinton will concede finally on Saturday. Again with the drama. The sooner the better: the longer she holds out, the less respect with which she ends the campaign.
The difference in this election between the black guy and the white chick has been the Iraq War: she voted for it, he spoke forcefully against it -- and therein lies a huge statement. So many calculations were obvious in that vote of hers: it just reminded people that she would do the politically expedient thing over the right thing, and reminded them of those trust issues we had with the Clinton presidency. Going into the race, there was definitely the tendency to remember the good old days, when we all got raises and gas and food were affordable and real estate seemed like a safe bet .... when we weren't at war. When terrorism was recognized as deserving policework, not elevated to military action. When we weren't embarrassed by a administration who tortured logic to justify torture. Yes, the Clinton years, flawed as they were, seem great in comparison. However, with that vote, and with subsequent speeches on both Bill and Hillary's part, the electorate was reminded of all the unnecessary drama of the Clinton years, drama facilitated by the Clintons themselves (although Hillary was right: there was a vast right-wing conspiracy).
I have no doubt that Barack Obama can win the General Election. He is smart, and works hard, and when people get to know him they like him. I think it will be a re-run of the Illinois Senate Race. Not that McCain is as deeply flawed as Alan Keyes -- he's deeply flawed, but he's not batshit insane. But the more you see of McCain, the less likable he is. And the more Democrats can tie him to Bush, the more people will vote for Obama. I think that Obama at the top of the ticket also does great things to the down ballot races: that man has coattails. Unlike Bill Clinton, extremely popular but NO coattails whatsoever.
It is amazing that Obama has gotten so far, that he is proving that people of all races will vote for a black man, that no one has attempted to shoot him ... all good things. Michelle's comment that we can't let our lives be ruled by fear was very pertinent in the context of reassuring a supporter who feared for his life, but also so much broader in how the Republicans have attempted to retain power all these years: ruling by fear and fear alone.
Hillary Clinton came so far, did so much for women candidates, did so much on putting certain issues out there, won a ton of votes ... and then revealed a startling lack of class in not graciously conceding defeat and congratulating the winner last night. It was her moment to shine, to celebrate her accomplishments, and to show class in defeat, to begin the process of healing the primary wounds -- to remind us that the real enemy is McCain and the Republicans, not other Democrats. And she didn't do that. Why not? What could have been going through her head? It was her moment of power -- its all downhill from here. She blew it. And in doing so, angered a lot of people. Why? She could have come out looking like a winner, a great woman, a great politician who came up just barely short ... and she lost instead.
McCain has some of the same traits -- stubbornness and a refusal to look reality in the face when it is spitting on him. Unlike Sen. Clinton, his basic values and heart are not in the right place. As Democrats we need to unite and defeat McCain, and get over our minor difference in the face of the vast ones separating McCain and Obama.
Tonight it is reported that Clinton will concede finally on Saturday. Again with the drama. The sooner the better: the longer she holds out, the less respect with which she ends the campaign.