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April 7, 2008--This is a column I don’t want to write. It is very painful to comment on what I see, but it has to be said. The current presidential campaign opened like one that a social and political idealist could dream of. Some of the most capable people in America seemed to be offering their talents to serve n the highest office America has—President of the United States. There were senators and governors, mayors and businessmen. A war hero from Vietnam, who was snubbed eight years ago, was trying again. And for the first time gender and race saw that category not being a criteria for elimination. There was a woman who had all the credentials of being a formidable participant. There was a black man with charisma and resounding rhetoric. There was a Native American. The man who was honored for his role in calming to fears of New York City in the hours after the 911 terrorist attack took the forefront. The Baptist minister brought in converts to his simple but effective messages. Ron Paul, a Congressman from Texas, motivated a wide following and earned a flood of yard signs with simple messages like abolish the income tax and nonintervention in foreign affairs. And, of course, Ralph Nader needed his ego fed again as he did eight years ago when he helped defeat Al Gore by draining off Democratic votes. The flawed Democratic primary system quickly disenfranchised Florida and Michigan voters had had the gall to hold their primaries ahead of Iowa. And, of course, Iowa basked in its sunshine by having few people meet in crowded rooms and tell America who should be president. With a loose cannon like Howard Dean as chairman of the Democratic Party little more could be expected. The freeway to the White House expected in the wake of a Republican public relations flogging began to quickly disappear. NY former mayor Rudy Giuliani lost the lead fast and John McCain kissed and made up with the religious right to get their permission to run for president. On the Democratic side, it was a foregone conclusion that the nomination was a sure thing for Hillary Clinton until she forgot where the Iowa cornfield was. That’s where a young man with charisma, a smile and a speech full or promises took the lead. Barack Obama could mesmerize an audience. It didn’t hurt that a TV superstar with no political credentials took his side with her money and influence. Certainly, she saw something in him besides the color of his skin, but many would interpret it that way. Race and gender was taboo t mention, until Bill Clinton went to South Carolina and mentioned how Jesse Jackson had been a candidate before. The man who had been a patriarch of the black community was labeled a racist. Geraldine Ferraro had the audacity to say Barack Obama wouldn’t be where he was if he were a white woman. Wasn’t that kind of obvious? He was there because he was a man and his skin was of a color, but that wasn’t the only reason. Hillary Clinton was running for president because she was a woman and was white, but that was not the only reason. Unfortunately, the perfect dream campaign has turned into a nightmare. Voters are choosing sides based on race, religion and prejudices. If someone favors, Obama it is suspect that it is because he is a black man. It they don’t like him, it is assumed it is because he is a black man. The same with Clinton and being a woman—and the wife of an ex president who had a problem with women and morals. In the meantime, the Democrats are blazing a trail for John McCain to take the White House. The issues got lost along the way. The Americans fighting and dying in Iraq and for how long? What about illegal immigrants—send them home or honor them with citizenship? Fuel the economy with more inflated gas prices? The Democrats promise free health care, but forget to say how it will be paid for. They say pull the troops out of Iraq, but don’t have a solution as to what the vacuum will do to the world and the chaos it would leave. They talk of change with a pie in the sky as if there is a free lunch. McCain has a short fuse, but at least it seems to be an honest one. The next president should be the person with the greatest ability to lead America in a time that is one of the most critical times in history. Instead of talking issues, they are too busy shooting arrows at each other. And America will suffer. It bothers me is the most important loss may be racial tolerance, and a setback for race relations where a person was judged not by the color of his or her skin, but by the person and the ability.
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