DBR LifeWorks

Bitterness and the Campaign of Hope

Response to the Bitterness Battle

The Ideal In Us All

Hardball and High Ground

Barack’s Contribution

An All American Convention

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.

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.”

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.

Touch!

Touch!
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It is good to touch.
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It is good to feel pleasure and not to feel pain.
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The hand that caresses can also throw stones.
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“I love you!” – “I hate you! – the same voice speaks.
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Words draw us together, words can repel.
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The heart that feels pleasure also feels pain.
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The soul may cringe that once was secure.
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Joy may become sorrow, laughter – tears!
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All is possible, all is choice.
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Choose only to love!
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Feel only love! – Express no hate!
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Love is all that matters.
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Love!