The Obama Paradox
With Hillary Clinton’s concession on Wednesday the Democrats finally have a presumptive nominee for the White House. This is a very good thing, and yet it leaves the party with some major problems. They have managed to primary and caucus their way into a candidate who as it stands now is unelectable.
Hey! Wait a minute; you are likely saying to yourself, I thought you supported Obama?
I do, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t see some serious problems with his candidacy for president. It’s going to be a long, very uphill battle against people who have no moral qualms whatsoever when it comes to dirty politics. That being said, it’s not as bad for the Democrats as it could have been had Clinton come out on top. The Republicans in power have had nearly two decades to hone their skills when it comes to political assassination of the last name Clinton. The GOP was ready to pounce on Hillary the moment they have a clear field.
Obama winning the primary season means that they are going to have to run a race they have no idea how to run…this doesn’t mean they won’t figure it out very quickly. When it became clear that Clinton and Obama were the Democratic frontrunners, the GOP quietly started polling middle America on how far they could go in slandering women and African-Americans without turning them off to a Republican candidate.
So at this point what can Obama do to make sure he gets the check mark by his name in November?
1. The absolute first thing he must do is heal the rift in the Democratic party that was created by one of the most contentious and bitterly fought primary seasons in the last 30 years. In what must be one of the stupidest political stances in history, Democratic voters have taken the “all, or nothing at all” position when it comes to party politics.
The millions of voters who were fervent Hillary supporters are extremely upset that their candidate lost. Not only did she lose, but also she lost to someone who should have had the good sense to concede very early in the race and let her take the nomination. Hillary should have won damn it!
This is the entitlement mindset he is going to have to prevail against if he wants to reclaim the Clinton faithful and disgruntled. As much as it irks me to say it, the best way to fix this problem is to offer Clinton the VP spot. When she accepts put her immediately to work campaigning in the states she won. Make her LIVE in Florida and Michigan.
2. Find some way to be less black. I would love to say that in the 21st century race is not an issue, but it is…and anyone who refuses to acknowledge that is running around with blinders on.
Obama needs a way to appeal to women and lower class voters. Again, the best way to do this is to nominate Clinton as his VP. She can act as a bridge to voters that typically would not be voting for someone non-white.
3. Experience. He has to show the American people that he has the chops to do what needs done in the oval office. Clinton as a VP can help this, but his eloquence is going to have to come out in debates if he wants people to take him seriously.
That being said, I don’t see his lack of experience as a negative. It just means he has had less time to be exposed to the Washington machine. He may actually some good.
I don’t see this election as a race between Obama and McCain. I see it as Obama in a race against himself. He needs to be able to reach out to people and connect with them in a way that will resonate with them far more than the fear and war that McCain will be promising. If he can do that, he can’t lose.
Hey! Wait a minute; you are likely saying to yourself, I thought you supported Obama?
I do, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t see some serious problems with his candidacy for president. It’s going to be a long, very uphill battle against people who have no moral qualms whatsoever when it comes to dirty politics. That being said, it’s not as bad for the Democrats as it could have been had Clinton come out on top. The Republicans in power have had nearly two decades to hone their skills when it comes to political assassination of the last name Clinton. The GOP was ready to pounce on Hillary the moment they have a clear field.
Obama winning the primary season means that they are going to have to run a race they have no idea how to run…this doesn’t mean they won’t figure it out very quickly. When it became clear that Clinton and Obama were the Democratic frontrunners, the GOP quietly started polling middle America on how far they could go in slandering women and African-Americans without turning them off to a Republican candidate.
So at this point what can Obama do to make sure he gets the check mark by his name in November?
1. The absolute first thing he must do is heal the rift in the Democratic party that was created by one of the most contentious and bitterly fought primary seasons in the last 30 years. In what must be one of the stupidest political stances in history, Democratic voters have taken the “all, or nothing at all” position when it comes to party politics.
The millions of voters who were fervent Hillary supporters are extremely upset that their candidate lost. Not only did she lose, but also she lost to someone who should have had the good sense to concede very early in the race and let her take the nomination. Hillary should have won damn it!
This is the entitlement mindset he is going to have to prevail against if he wants to reclaim the Clinton faithful and disgruntled. As much as it irks me to say it, the best way to fix this problem is to offer Clinton the VP spot. When she accepts put her immediately to work campaigning in the states she won. Make her LIVE in Florida and Michigan.
2. Find some way to be less black. I would love to say that in the 21st century race is not an issue, but it is…and anyone who refuses to acknowledge that is running around with blinders on.
Obama needs a way to appeal to women and lower class voters. Again, the best way to do this is to nominate Clinton as his VP. She can act as a bridge to voters that typically would not be voting for someone non-white.
3. Experience. He has to show the American people that he has the chops to do what needs done in the oval office. Clinton as a VP can help this, but his eloquence is going to have to come out in debates if he wants people to take him seriously.
That being said, I don’t see his lack of experience as a negative. It just means he has had less time to be exposed to the Washington machine. He may actually some good.
I don’t see this election as a race between Obama and McCain. I see it as Obama in a race against himself. He needs to be able to reach out to people and connect with them in a way that will resonate with them far more than the fear and war that McCain will be promising. If he can do that, he can’t lose.