This article was written the day following the ABC Democratic debate and reflects my thinking concerning the future course of the Obama campaign as a result of that experience.
Two issues face us at this point in the Obama campaign.
First: The campaign is definitely going on too long despite any hoped for positive effect of its outcome other than an Obama victory. The only presidential contender benefiting from this prolonged campaign is John McCain. He can simply sit by and observe the two Democratic contenders inflict further damage on themselves and each other.
Clinton appears to join those wanting to prolong personal attacks rather than discuss issues. Her negative ratings increase as a result, but she apparently sees personal attack as the only means to stop Obama’s momentum. Obama, in turn, seems reluctant to confront Clinton on her “baggage,” perhaps out of respect for a fellow Democratic candidate whom he will support should Clinton win the Democratic nomination. Meanwhile, McCain appears to garner prospective votes, particularly from undecided independents who might otherwise support Obama.
A decision certainly cannot be made to end the Democratic campaign prior to the Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina primaries, but combined results in these major contests should give a sufficiently convincing idea of who the eventual victor will be to enable super delegates to finally declare preferences according to popular vote or personal conviction.
Second: Obama must become willing to stand positively and not apologetically on his record and to participate combatively in debate interchange though subjects may not be desirable. While there is some salutary value in airing frustrations with an enthusiastic crowd of supporters after a disheartening debate performance, prolonged complaining about the inequities of press practices is only counter-productive for campaign success.
Obama has no reason to be ashamed of past associations or actions. His affirmation of Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers underscores valuable contributions both men have made to their communities despite occasional radical statements. Both men are Americans, after all, Jeremiah Wright having served as a Marine. Church members and community leaders of all races respect Wright, who has served for years as a minister of a large Chicago congregation. William Ayers is now a respected professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He was never charged with direct participation in terrorist activity regardless of his statements. Neither individual is seeking to undermine our democracy through subversive activity.
Obama’s association with these men underscores the inclusiveness of his campaign together with his willingness to respect and tolerate views differing from his own. This tolerance is a needed quality in what seems to be a prevailing climate of inquisition in which even Democratic candidates are expected to adhere to a right wing, evangelical Christian, conservative catechism before being selected for office.
Obama had good reasons for associating with these two men. Distancing himself from past inflammatory actions and statements is certainly appropriate provided he does so quickly and clearly without allowing himself to be pulled into apologizing for his overall association with two people who presently make positive contributions to the Chicago communities.
The one benefit to be gained from events such as last night’s so-called debate is for Obama to use this time as a proving ground for what may be an even more challenging Presidential campaign following the conventions. Communicating feelings of discomfort over personal associations and imperfect statements will only translate to voters as uncertainty and faltering conviction. Obama’s great contribution in this campaign is to embrace others in his vision of a new climate of hope and change. This climate is by nature transformative, embracing all Americans, including Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers, regardless of past imperfection of action and comment.
The lesson for Obama and all of us here is to stand firmly and positively beside our convictions and those we befriend despite all criticism designed to bring us down. Then, and only then, can we all be united in this new community of hope.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Reasons I Support Barack Obama for President
These are my personal reasons for supporting Barack Obama. They are written right out of my heart and soul. I'm sure you have other great reasons. Please add them in response and/or use these however you wish for the good of this cause.
He brings a fresh approach to politics. Being comparatively new to Washington is a plus. Abraham Lincoln had less government experience before running for President.
He is intelligent, well educated, broad minded, with fresh approaches and new ideas for effective change.
He is optimistic for America’s future.
His “audacity of hope” heralds a fresh start, a new Spring for America after a long Winter of despair.
The breadth of his cultural and racial heritage gives him consciousness of the vibrant nature of our world community and of America’s meaningful contribution within it.
His varied cultural and racial heritage speaks for a new America of the future that will be multi-racial and multi-cultural in origin in a greater sense than now. America more than any other nation will reflect the coming together of all races and cultures to form a new world humanity heralding a new future for all people.
His ability to get to the heart of an issue inspires us all to think deeply in all aspects of our lives.
He demonstrates the great spiritual and philosophical traditions of all humanity in the personal wisdom and spiritual values he brings to any discussion. This will empower him as a world leader as well as our President.
He is one of those rare individuals, such as Lincoln, Gandhi, Kennedy, who possess a quality somehow beyond the normal because of their depth of commitment.
He is a beautifully human individual, full of love for his family, his country, and for life in general. He knows how to have fun.
He has a sense of humor about himself that protects him from grandiosity and makes it possible for him to recognize and admit a mistake.
He knows how and when to say, “I’m sorry!” – and to say it in such a way as to increase understanding of all issues and bring people together for solution.
He involves everyone in effective change, helping to create a new community called America where all are involved and committed to each other and to the nation.
He is a great organizer, involving everyone from the ground up. Just witness his successful campaign and how so many are enthusiastically involved!
Finally, in the words of one of my readers on the Barack Obama website - He is a great listener who cares deeply for each individual he meets.
Please comment and add your own reasons!
The time for Barack Obama to be president is now, not later. America needs Obama and his leadership at this very moment.
He brings a fresh approach to politics. Being comparatively new to Washington is a plus. Abraham Lincoln had less government experience before running for President.
He is intelligent, well educated, broad minded, with fresh approaches and new ideas for effective change.
He is optimistic for America’s future.
His “audacity of hope” heralds a fresh start, a new Spring for America after a long Winter of despair.
The breadth of his cultural and racial heritage gives him consciousness of the vibrant nature of our world community and of America’s meaningful contribution within it.
His varied cultural and racial heritage speaks for a new America of the future that will be multi-racial and multi-cultural in origin in a greater sense than now. America more than any other nation will reflect the coming together of all races and cultures to form a new world humanity heralding a new future for all people.
His ability to get to the heart of an issue inspires us all to think deeply in all aspects of our lives.
He demonstrates the great spiritual and philosophical traditions of all humanity in the personal wisdom and spiritual values he brings to any discussion. This will empower him as a world leader as well as our President.
He is one of those rare individuals, such as Lincoln, Gandhi, Kennedy, who possess a quality somehow beyond the normal because of their depth of commitment.
He is a beautifully human individual, full of love for his family, his country, and for life in general. He knows how to have fun.
He has a sense of humor about himself that protects him from grandiosity and makes it possible for him to recognize and admit a mistake.
He knows how and when to say, “I’m sorry!” – and to say it in such a way as to increase understanding of all issues and bring people together for solution.
He involves everyone in effective change, helping to create a new community called America where all are involved and committed to each other and to the nation.
He is a great organizer, involving everyone from the ground up. Just witness his successful campaign and how so many are enthusiastically involved!
Finally, in the words of one of my readers on the Barack Obama website - He is a great listener who cares deeply for each individual he meets.
Please comment and add your own reasons!
The time for Barack Obama to be president is now, not later. America needs Obama and his leadership at this very moment.
Bitterness and the Campaign of Hope
Comparing Hillary Clinton’s and John McCain’s characterizations of Barack Obama as “condescending,” “elitist” and “out of touch” with Obama’s remarks describing his recognition of bitterness among rural Pennsylvania voters who feel abandoned by the federal government, one can only view her comments as patronizing (matronizing?) to the very voters she hoped to influence. When Clinton says she does not detect bitterness among Pennsylvania voters she may be saying more about her lack of perception than about the voters themselves.
Clinton gives no indication of responding to voter feeling, she simply asserts what she wants to see. Obama's causal relationship between why he thought Pennsylvanians were not supporting him in droves at least acknowledges that Pennsylvanians have issues that disturb them. While the causal relationship between voter support and economic condition may be debatable, there is nothing condescending in stating that people feel bitter, especially if they say repeatedly in so many ways that they do. Feeling bitter does not mean you just give up and quit as Clinton insinuates.
Someone not in touch with personal feelings can hardly detect the feelings of others. Obama is definitely in touch with his personal feelings. He has no need to manufacture them for the camera; they are genuine. His justifiable anger came through pointedly in his response to Clinton’s and McCain’s comments on Friday, providing clarity to his message that voters need to hear. Obama was considerate to apologize to any who felt offense at his comments. In reality he has offended no one: his intention was not to offend. Each of us must take sole responsibility for how we react to anything if we are to control our own lives.
Posted reactions to Hillary Clinton's statement and to the initial story on the CNN web site were at least ten to one in favor of Obama right from the start. This strong response is enough to indicate that Obama may benefit from the incident. The story was initiated by a “citizen journalist” claiming to be a major contributor to the Obama campaign, present at an event for fundraisers who, like herself, had "maxed out." The veracity of her story is hard to comprehend: this “supporter” issued, not one but two, articles critical of Obama in the Huffington Post last week based on this single event. She then managed to get this story to CNN in time for their Friday news broadcast. She stated she held onto this story for several days, "not wanting to harm the campaign" but finally had to release it for journalistic reasons. She also said she always brings a tape recorder to events. The result was a poorly recorded snippet from Obama’s complete comments aired on national television with no context other than her chosen spin and that of CNN.
Waging a hard campaign is one thing, waging a campaign structured to attack your opponent on any grounds no matter what the cost is quite another. The contrast between the Clinton and Obama campaigns has become painfully evident especially during the past few weeks. Obama has passed up numerous opportunities to ridicule Hillary Clinton over repeated Bosnia “miss-statements” and then Bill Clinton’s re-awakening of the Bosnia debacle. Bill’s remarks provided plentiful ammunition for ridicule, with his illusions to Hillary’s declining faculties because of age, together with misrepresentation of her remarks as an understandable one time slip when “exhausted,” These should at least bring an end to the “three o’clock phone call” ads. Clinton, in contrast, has attacked Obama full throttle at every conceivable, and even not so conceivable, opportunity. Hopes that the Clinton campaign would improve in tone with Mark Penn’s departure seem difficult to realize.
Though the outcome of this long and difficult Democratic campaign may be impossible to predict, two things at least seem evident. First, it is more important for the Obama campaign to maintain the positive tone it has employed thus far regardless of the result. This campaign has been truly a campaign for and by the people. Second, it is vital that the Democratic Party not be so wounded by negativity during the weeks ahead that Republicans are effectively handed victory in congressional races as well as in the presidential campaign.
Clinton seems intent on bringing Obama down at all cost; to the point of doing all she can to ensure McCain’s success in the presidential campaign if she is unable to win the Democratic nomination for herself. McCain and Clinton seem cozily allied in this instance, declaring each other to be the only qualified candidates. Perhaps the nightmare ticket would be Clinton/McCain or McCain/Clinton. What a dream!
Though such an outcome is of course unlikely, the effect seems more real just now than any vestige of Democratic solidarity in the present campaign.
The following link leads to CNN stories on this issue, beginning with Obama’s remarks:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/04/11/obama.remarks.cnn
Clinton gives no indication of responding to voter feeling, she simply asserts what she wants to see. Obama's causal relationship between why he thought Pennsylvanians were not supporting him in droves at least acknowledges that Pennsylvanians have issues that disturb them. While the causal relationship between voter support and economic condition may be debatable, there is nothing condescending in stating that people feel bitter, especially if they say repeatedly in so many ways that they do. Feeling bitter does not mean you just give up and quit as Clinton insinuates.
Someone not in touch with personal feelings can hardly detect the feelings of others. Obama is definitely in touch with his personal feelings. He has no need to manufacture them for the camera; they are genuine. His justifiable anger came through pointedly in his response to Clinton’s and McCain’s comments on Friday, providing clarity to his message that voters need to hear. Obama was considerate to apologize to any who felt offense at his comments. In reality he has offended no one: his intention was not to offend. Each of us must take sole responsibility for how we react to anything if we are to control our own lives.
Posted reactions to Hillary Clinton's statement and to the initial story on the CNN web site were at least ten to one in favor of Obama right from the start. This strong response is enough to indicate that Obama may benefit from the incident. The story was initiated by a “citizen journalist” claiming to be a major contributor to the Obama campaign, present at an event for fundraisers who, like herself, had "maxed out." The veracity of her story is hard to comprehend: this “supporter” issued, not one but two, articles critical of Obama in the Huffington Post last week based on this single event. She then managed to get this story to CNN in time for their Friday news broadcast. She stated she held onto this story for several days, "not wanting to harm the campaign" but finally had to release it for journalistic reasons. She also said she always brings a tape recorder to events. The result was a poorly recorded snippet from Obama’s complete comments aired on national television with no context other than her chosen spin and that of CNN.
Waging a hard campaign is one thing, waging a campaign structured to attack your opponent on any grounds no matter what the cost is quite another. The contrast between the Clinton and Obama campaigns has become painfully evident especially during the past few weeks. Obama has passed up numerous opportunities to ridicule Hillary Clinton over repeated Bosnia “miss-statements” and then Bill Clinton’s re-awakening of the Bosnia debacle. Bill’s remarks provided plentiful ammunition for ridicule, with his illusions to Hillary’s declining faculties because of age, together with misrepresentation of her remarks as an understandable one time slip when “exhausted,” These should at least bring an end to the “three o’clock phone call” ads. Clinton, in contrast, has attacked Obama full throttle at every conceivable, and even not so conceivable, opportunity. Hopes that the Clinton campaign would improve in tone with Mark Penn’s departure seem difficult to realize.
Though the outcome of this long and difficult Democratic campaign may be impossible to predict, two things at least seem evident. First, it is more important for the Obama campaign to maintain the positive tone it has employed thus far regardless of the result. This campaign has been truly a campaign for and by the people. Second, it is vital that the Democratic Party not be so wounded by negativity during the weeks ahead that Republicans are effectively handed victory in congressional races as well as in the presidential campaign.
Clinton seems intent on bringing Obama down at all cost; to the point of doing all she can to ensure McCain’s success in the presidential campaign if she is unable to win the Democratic nomination for herself. McCain and Clinton seem cozily allied in this instance, declaring each other to be the only qualified candidates. Perhaps the nightmare ticket would be Clinton/McCain or McCain/Clinton. What a dream!
Though such an outcome is of course unlikely, the effect seems more real just now than any vestige of Democratic solidarity in the present campaign.
The following link leads to CNN stories on this issue, beginning with Obama’s remarks:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/04/11/obama.remarks.cnn
Response to the Bitterness Battle
I live in a community of 60,000 people in Montana. Many people here have no faith that government will help them: They’ve given that hope up long ago. Many will vote Republican purely because they have no faith that government will even lift a finger to address their issues. Many feel they would do better on their own if they could just fend for themselves. They’ve felt pushed down far too long to even think of “the audacity of hope.” Many can only look to outlets other than positive political or social expression as a means of identity or self-expression.
Here is what I often sense around me as I walk the streets of Great Falls Montana. To say people are not bitter or discouraged is to be truly out of touch!
I sense bitterness and discouragement around me here when I walk into a depressed downtown area where there are few cars driving through in the evening or on weekends when the streets are left to lonely pedestrians who have no public transportation and apparently few places to go where they can find welcome.
I sense bitterness and discouragement at the downtown grocery store that will close soon because it was bought by a bigger corporation that wants to sell out it even though it makes money. People in this downtown area will no longer have a place to shop and little option for finding food anywhere accessible to them.
I sense bitterness and discouragement in the people shopping here who have barely enough money to buy the food they need.
I sense bitterness and discouragement in folks who have only a small place to live and the rent is too high for them to afford and getting higher.
I sense bitterness and discouragement for folks in the midst of an economy that has so few job opportunities that most people just needn’t look anymore.
I sense bitterness and discouragement in a large Native American community here with little opportunity for employment or better housing.
I sense bitterness and discouragement in young people with no sense of future, for whom drugs and gang crime often seem the only options.
I sense bitterness and discouragement from those confined in overcrowded prisons for no good cause and from those released on felony charges with their civil rights reduced for life - their ability to compete for work, housing and healthcare impacted to the point that success on the outside seems impossible.
I sense overwhelming discouragement in those too ill or too old to work who have little or no opportunity to find further meaning in their lives and who have no support for health needs or worthwhile living arrangements. In so many terrible little ways, our society expresses little or no value for those who cannot work.
It is high time this local government, this state government and, most importantly, our national government became aware and responsive of the great need in our country that each citizen have equal opportunity and assistance toward a goal of living a good and fulfilling life within a welcoming and accepting community. This nation must take Barack Obama’s words to heart if it is to truly become the free society it was intended to be.
Here is what I often sense around me as I walk the streets of Great Falls Montana. To say people are not bitter or discouraged is to be truly out of touch!
I sense bitterness and discouragement around me here when I walk into a depressed downtown area where there are few cars driving through in the evening or on weekends when the streets are left to lonely pedestrians who have no public transportation and apparently few places to go where they can find welcome.
I sense bitterness and discouragement at the downtown grocery store that will close soon because it was bought by a bigger corporation that wants to sell out it even though it makes money. People in this downtown area will no longer have a place to shop and little option for finding food anywhere accessible to them.
I sense bitterness and discouragement in the people shopping here who have barely enough money to buy the food they need.
I sense bitterness and discouragement in folks who have only a small place to live and the rent is too high for them to afford and getting higher.
I sense bitterness and discouragement for folks in the midst of an economy that has so few job opportunities that most people just needn’t look anymore.
I sense bitterness and discouragement in a large Native American community here with little opportunity for employment or better housing.
I sense bitterness and discouragement in young people with no sense of future, for whom drugs and gang crime often seem the only options.
I sense bitterness and discouragement from those confined in overcrowded prisons for no good cause and from those released on felony charges with their civil rights reduced for life - their ability to compete for work, housing and healthcare impacted to the point that success on the outside seems impossible.
I sense overwhelming discouragement in those too ill or too old to work who have little or no opportunity to find further meaning in their lives and who have no support for health needs or worthwhile living arrangements. In so many terrible little ways, our society expresses little or no value for those who cannot work.
It is high time this local government, this state government and, most importantly, our national government became aware and responsive of the great need in our country that each citizen have equal opportunity and assistance toward a goal of living a good and fulfilling life within a welcoming and accepting community. This nation must take Barack Obama’s words to heart if it is to truly become the free society it was intended to be.
The Ideal In Us All
The Charleston Gazette gave its endorsement to Barack Obama on Tuesday, April 8, with the following words:
“We support the brilliant, inspiring & eloquent Barack Obama. A rare figure in U.S. politics - a deep thinker who rises above partisan sniping and makes statecraft seem noble. He appeals to the innate decency in all groups of people, beyond party lines, without personal grandiosity. He can restore America's finest values, honor and fairness.”
The Charleston Gazette, Charleston West Virginia. Read the entire article at: http://www.wvgazette.com/Opinion/Editorials/200804070537?page=1&build=cache
While an excellent statement to Obama’s character and worthiness for office, this quotation also points up the qualities to which we all could aspire regarding this campaign. Certainly, none of us is going to be “brilliant, inspiring, eloquent, deep thinker, [rising] above partisan sniping,” doing all with “honor and fairness,” all of the time, not even Obama. We can aspire to it, though, and appreciate these qualities within ourselves whenever we can achieve them in any measure at all. We are capable of being as good and as wise as we dream of being, and our perceived shortcomings can help us better achieve our highest goals if we learn from mistakes rather than become discouraged by them.
Collectively ,then, we might contribute to sustaining and even enhancing the high tone of this campaign during the difficult months ahead until the nomination. Obama’s winning the Democratic nomination and eventually the presidency is not a foregone conclusion, but the issue is no longer really in doubt if we all pull together and act positively on our convictions. The issue is at least certain enough to encourage us to avoid negative infighting as the campaign goes on, and instead to concentrate on the positive values this campaign represents and the important national and internal issues involved.
It is rare for a national leader to emerge who reminds us so strongly of the best each of us can be for ourselves and for our communities. Obama is such a person, and it is generally recognized that the nearest figure like him in presidential politics would be John F. Kennedy. We can best follow Obama’s leadership by aspiring to the qualities within ourselves that we admire in him. In so doing, we will help to bring about much of the change we collectively seek in supporting Barack Obama for president.
Perhaps the Charleston Gazette endorsement best sums up these points in its description of Obama:
”Obama appeals to the innate decency in all groups of people, beyond party lines, without personal grandiosity. He fosters a desire to restore America's finest values of honor and fairness.”
“We support the brilliant, inspiring & eloquent Barack Obama. A rare figure in U.S. politics - a deep thinker who rises above partisan sniping and makes statecraft seem noble. He appeals to the innate decency in all groups of people, beyond party lines, without personal grandiosity. He can restore America's finest values, honor and fairness.”
The Charleston Gazette, Charleston West Virginia. Read the entire article at: http://www.wvgazette.com/Opinion/Editorials/200804070537?page=1&build=cache
While an excellent statement to Obama’s character and worthiness for office, this quotation also points up the qualities to which we all could aspire regarding this campaign. Certainly, none of us is going to be “brilliant, inspiring, eloquent, deep thinker, [rising] above partisan sniping,” doing all with “honor and fairness,” all of the time, not even Obama. We can aspire to it, though, and appreciate these qualities within ourselves whenever we can achieve them in any measure at all. We are capable of being as good and as wise as we dream of being, and our perceived shortcomings can help us better achieve our highest goals if we learn from mistakes rather than become discouraged by them.
Collectively ,then, we might contribute to sustaining and even enhancing the high tone of this campaign during the difficult months ahead until the nomination. Obama’s winning the Democratic nomination and eventually the presidency is not a foregone conclusion, but the issue is no longer really in doubt if we all pull together and act positively on our convictions. The issue is at least certain enough to encourage us to avoid negative infighting as the campaign goes on, and instead to concentrate on the positive values this campaign represents and the important national and internal issues involved.
It is rare for a national leader to emerge who reminds us so strongly of the best each of us can be for ourselves and for our communities. Obama is such a person, and it is generally recognized that the nearest figure like him in presidential politics would be John F. Kennedy. We can best follow Obama’s leadership by aspiring to the qualities within ourselves that we admire in him. In so doing, we will help to bring about much of the change we collectively seek in supporting Barack Obama for president.
Perhaps the Charleston Gazette endorsement best sums up these points in its description of Obama:
”Obama appeals to the innate decency in all groups of people, beyond party lines, without personal grandiosity. He fosters a desire to restore America's finest values of honor and fairness.”
Monday, April 7, 2008
Hardball and High Ground
Barack Obama’s performance on MSNBC’s April 3ed edition of College Hardball, showed the value of an inclusive approach to politics. When asked whether Obama considered the Clinton campaign’s constant allusion to his association with Jeremiah Wright as a “dog whistle,” - meaning coded comments designed to excite racism in a white audience while maintaining plausible deniability - Obama wisely responded that he considered the subject “fair game,” since his association with Wright was a genuine issue to voters.
Obama’s refusal to take what some would consider a cheap shot at the Clinton campaign in return for their repeated referrals to Wright, not to mention those suggesting Obama to be incompetent to be president, showed the superior character he consistently presents as the campaign develops.
Obama observed that he moves further from self-consideration and more toward concern for his family and for the people he hopes to serve as the campaign progresses. Indicating that he always does best when he puts ego aside, Obama showed himself to possess the wisdom we so desperately need from our next president.
In response to a student’s asking about his views on gay marriage, Obama showed his ability to express positions clearly while knowing his views to be controversial. Obama said immediately that he disapproved of gay marriage, but expressed understanding for the questioner’s concern and demonstrated his ability to address issues of inequity that affect all civil unions in our society today. While not providing the affirmation the questioner wanted, Obama fully addressed the underlying concern for fairness and respect needed for all types of partnerships in our society, whether or not we call them “marriage.”
Obama’s most adroit comment came when asked what he would do as president to promote stem cell research. Pointing out that the senate already had enough votes, Obama said he would give the one additional vote needed for passage by becoming president.
The more Obama is able to develop this high ground approach to the campaign, the more value the ongoing campaign will have for the nation’s spiritual recovery. An extended Democratic campaign will serve as a beneficial exercise for all involved to the extent that this high level of dialogue can be maintained and even improved upon during the coming months.
Obama’s refusal to take what some would consider a cheap shot at the Clinton campaign in return for their repeated referrals to Wright, not to mention those suggesting Obama to be incompetent to be president, showed the superior character he consistently presents as the campaign develops.
Obama observed that he moves further from self-consideration and more toward concern for his family and for the people he hopes to serve as the campaign progresses. Indicating that he always does best when he puts ego aside, Obama showed himself to possess the wisdom we so desperately need from our next president.
In response to a student’s asking about his views on gay marriage, Obama showed his ability to express positions clearly while knowing his views to be controversial. Obama said immediately that he disapproved of gay marriage, but expressed understanding for the questioner’s concern and demonstrated his ability to address issues of inequity that affect all civil unions in our society today. While not providing the affirmation the questioner wanted, Obama fully addressed the underlying concern for fairness and respect needed for all types of partnerships in our society, whether or not we call them “marriage.”
Obama’s most adroit comment came when asked what he would do as president to promote stem cell research. Pointing out that the senate already had enough votes, Obama said he would give the one additional vote needed for passage by becoming president.
The more Obama is able to develop this high ground approach to the campaign, the more value the ongoing campaign will have for the nation’s spiritual recovery. An extended Democratic campaign will serve as a beneficial exercise for all involved to the extent that this high level of dialogue can be maintained and even improved upon during the coming months.
Barack’s Contribution
In recent remarks, Barack Obama has helped to restore confidence that the Democratic presidential contest can continue through remaining primaries without damaging party chances in November. More importantly for Obama’s campaign, he once again proved himself a true leader, able to adapt to changing circumstances and regain control of shifting events.
The continued campaign gives voters in several territories and states a rare opportunity to play a decisive role in the campaign’s outcome. However, continued squabbling between the two campaigns between from now anduntil the Democratic Party convention could undermine otherwise positive results gained from the ongoing process.
Hillary Clinton, attacking Obama supporters and others for suggesting she should soon end her campaign, promises to prolong the contest into a convention delegate fight. While demonstrating her combative will to win at any cost, prolonged campaign infighting distracts focus campaign from pressing national and international issues toward renewed personal attacks on the competing candidates and their respective staffs. It is difficult to imagine any benefit to be gained from such contentiousness.
While both the Republican presidential candidate and the present administration show themselves inept at addressing important issues, it is vital for both Clinton and Obama to address these concerns with comprehensive and innovative approaches to possible resolution. The American people will be ill served by an ongoing Democratic campaign that focuses attention on party infighting while pressing national and international issues are sidelined to ongoing debate over which “count” – popular-vote, pledged, super, or even electoral (believe it or not!) - - should count the most.
The months ahead provide fresh opportunity for Obama to show himself as master of his own destiny, meeting the leadership challenge posed by ongoing campaign contentiousness with comments and actions that refocus awareness of the moral high ground while addressing issues of national and international concern with the depth of understanding expected from a true national and world leader.
Barack Obama’s lasting contribution to this campaign, regardless of outcome, may be to lift it once again to the high plane of discourse witnessed at its beginning. By so doing, he will show himself to be the type of president the American people expect. Perhaps then all of us together may gain “the audacity of hope.”
The continued campaign gives voters in several territories and states a rare opportunity to play a decisive role in the campaign’s outcome. However, continued squabbling between the two campaigns between from now anduntil the Democratic Party convention could undermine otherwise positive results gained from the ongoing process.
Hillary Clinton, attacking Obama supporters and others for suggesting she should soon end her campaign, promises to prolong the contest into a convention delegate fight. While demonstrating her combative will to win at any cost, prolonged campaign infighting distracts focus campaign from pressing national and international issues toward renewed personal attacks on the competing candidates and their respective staffs. It is difficult to imagine any benefit to be gained from such contentiousness.
While both the Republican presidential candidate and the present administration show themselves inept at addressing important issues, it is vital for both Clinton and Obama to address these concerns with comprehensive and innovative approaches to possible resolution. The American people will be ill served by an ongoing Democratic campaign that focuses attention on party infighting while pressing national and international issues are sidelined to ongoing debate over which “count” – popular-vote, pledged, super, or even electoral (believe it or not!) - - should count the most.
The months ahead provide fresh opportunity for Obama to show himself as master of his own destiny, meeting the leadership challenge posed by ongoing campaign contentiousness with comments and actions that refocus awareness of the moral high ground while addressing issues of national and international concern with the depth of understanding expected from a true national and world leader.
Barack Obama’s lasting contribution to this campaign, regardless of outcome, may be to lift it once again to the high plane of discourse witnessed at its beginning. By so doing, he will show himself to be the type of president the American people expect. Perhaps then all of us together may gain “the audacity of hope.”
An All American Convention
The Obama campaign must immediately address the lingering impasse over Michigan and Florida delegate selection if Barack Obama is to avoid continued criticism from the Clinton campaign and members of the press. Howard Dean’s remarks during the April 6th edition of “Face the Nation” addressed the necessity of resolving this issue prior to the Democratic National convention. Protracted argument over delegate selection between now and the convention, with a possible floor fight over delegate seating promised by Hillary Clinton, will bring only harm to Obama’s movement. Especially for the sake of disenfranchised primary voters in the affected states, the Obama campaign must immediately take a leadership role in finding a way to recognize Michigan and Florida delegates in the fairest way possible for both campaigns.
There are certainly justifiable arguments for the Obama campaign’s taking no action at all. The campaign did not create this situation, and both camps were equally wronged, though the Clinton side cries the loudest. While it is true that Clinton seemed almost certain to gain a majority vote in both states prior to their exclusion by the Democratic rules committee, it is equally possible that Obama could have pulled ahead during a full campaign. Obama did the only proper thing in Michigan by withdrawing his name from the ballot, while Clinton did not. Still, a good portion of the Michigan vote went for "uncommitted." For Obama to avoid the issue now, however, leads only to charges of election rigging in an all out attempt to win the race at whatever cost. It is of no consequence that opposing arguments are highly questionable.
One of the strongest attributes of the Obama campaign is inclusiveness. A position effectively excluding all Democratic residents of Michigan and Florida from direct convention representation only exposes the Obama campaign to criticism that it is acting against its principals. Counter arguments designed to absolve Barack Obama from responsibility will remain unconvincing to those feeling cheated of their vote if the Obama campaign does nothing to resolve the issue.
Obama’s team would do well to assemble a task force to develop creative solutions for this impasse if one is not already at work. An effective solution must provide fairness for state Democratic voters first of all and then reasonable accommodation for the opposing side, while not overly jeopardizing the Obama campaign. It will have to be one that can reasonably be seen as fair by all voters so that it cannot be refused without exposing the Clinton campaign as only self-serving.
There is no benefit to be gained by the Obama campaign's failing to propose a creative solution to this dilemma agreeable to all involved. Obama's willingness to effectively give ground on this issue - even permitting Clinton to take advantage of an increased delegate count - may work to his advantage in the long term. An equitable and balanced solution to this problem will not only benefit the Obama campaign by demonstrating Obama's concern for the involvement of all Americans in this more perfect nation - it will serve to embrace voters in Michigan and Florida that were excluded through no fault of their own from participation in this new community of hope.
There are certainly justifiable arguments for the Obama campaign’s taking no action at all. The campaign did not create this situation, and both camps were equally wronged, though the Clinton side cries the loudest. While it is true that Clinton seemed almost certain to gain a majority vote in both states prior to their exclusion by the Democratic rules committee, it is equally possible that Obama could have pulled ahead during a full campaign. Obama did the only proper thing in Michigan by withdrawing his name from the ballot, while Clinton did not. Still, a good portion of the Michigan vote went for "uncommitted." For Obama to avoid the issue now, however, leads only to charges of election rigging in an all out attempt to win the race at whatever cost. It is of no consequence that opposing arguments are highly questionable.
One of the strongest attributes of the Obama campaign is inclusiveness. A position effectively excluding all Democratic residents of Michigan and Florida from direct convention representation only exposes the Obama campaign to criticism that it is acting against its principals. Counter arguments designed to absolve Barack Obama from responsibility will remain unconvincing to those feeling cheated of their vote if the Obama campaign does nothing to resolve the issue.
Obama’s team would do well to assemble a task force to develop creative solutions for this impasse if one is not already at work. An effective solution must provide fairness for state Democratic voters first of all and then reasonable accommodation for the opposing side, while not overly jeopardizing the Obama campaign. It will have to be one that can reasonably be seen as fair by all voters so that it cannot be refused without exposing the Clinton campaign as only self-serving.
There is no benefit to be gained by the Obama campaign's failing to propose a creative solution to this dilemma agreeable to all involved. Obama's willingness to effectively give ground on this issue - even permitting Clinton to take advantage of an increased delegate count - may work to his advantage in the long term. An equitable and balanced solution to this problem will not only benefit the Obama campaign by demonstrating Obama's concern for the involvement of all Americans in this more perfect nation - it will serve to embrace voters in Michigan and Florida that were excluded through no fault of their own from participation in this new community of hope.
First Post
I hope this is the first of many posts for this site from myself and from others, maybe most importantly from others though I want to offer as much as I can in the time I have remaining in this form.
I am becoming comfortable with myself as I am, finally after struggling with these changes for a long time. I have resisted dark brown hair changing to silver and a face becoming more lined and like my father's. I have to be more careful for my health now; I can no longer just take it for granted. I know my time is limited: Even though it may be twenty or even thirty years, it has to count for something.
Perhaps I have Reggie, this two-year-old guide dog companion of mine to thank for this new comfort with myself. Reggie is always glad to be with me except when he gets tired of my writing and goes off somewhere else for a while. Just now, he's right here with me.
Certainly I owe a lot of appreciation to my partner, Ruth. She doesn't seem to mind living with an older guy too much anyway. She has been my soul guide since we got together and she has encouraged my writing. I hope you all will thank her for that!
It is a beautiful day outside, the windows are open at last, and a gentle breeze is blowing through the room. The long hard winter is over at last and the gales that will come again even in summer are absent today. It is a good day for a new beginning and this is a new beginning for me.
Please make this site an active feed to your computer if you would like, then you'll know whenever anything new is posted. It isn't as though you would be signing up for Fox News (more properly Fixed News of Fox Noise - as you prefer), so you needn't expect a constant stream of incoming traffic. There may be something on the average of once per day, and I hope it will always bring welcome thoughts to your mind both from its contents and the fact that its there.
I am becoming comfortable with myself as I am, finally after struggling with these changes for a long time. I have resisted dark brown hair changing to silver and a face becoming more lined and like my father's. I have to be more careful for my health now; I can no longer just take it for granted. I know my time is limited: Even though it may be twenty or even thirty years, it has to count for something.
Perhaps I have Reggie, this two-year-old guide dog companion of mine to thank for this new comfort with myself. Reggie is always glad to be with me except when he gets tired of my writing and goes off somewhere else for a while. Just now, he's right here with me.
Certainly I owe a lot of appreciation to my partner, Ruth. She doesn't seem to mind living with an older guy too much anyway. She has been my soul guide since we got together and she has encouraged my writing. I hope you all will thank her for that!
It is a beautiful day outside, the windows are open at last, and a gentle breeze is blowing through the room. The long hard winter is over at last and the gales that will come again even in summer are absent today. It is a good day for a new beginning and this is a new beginning for me.
Please make this site an active feed to your computer if you would like, then you'll know whenever anything new is posted. It isn't as though you would be signing up for Fox News (more properly Fixed News of Fox Noise - as you prefer), so you needn't expect a constant stream of incoming traffic. There may be something on the average of once per day, and I hope it will always bring welcome thoughts to your mind both from its contents and the fact that its there.
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