Policy Positions vs Leadership

I'm sure you have seen the online “tests” that match you with the candidate whose policy positions best reflect your own. This approach to choosing a candidate misses what to me are the most critical ingredients in this decision. I support Barack Obama NOT because his positions on policy match my own, but because of his extraordinary and tested character, commitment and compassion. 

As important as policy details and differences are, the presidency is so much larger than the sum of policy positions. With the challenges we will face, it will be tragic if we miss this chance to choose someone who can rise to the moment and be a great president. Not just a smart politician. Not just a great “fighter” for the middle class. Not just someone effective in the ways of  Washington.  We have the chance to elect someone who embodies and reflects American ideals. Since JFK’s and RFK’s deaths, we have lost our way. Both at home and abroad we have become divided, greedy and craven. Our politics has reflected these trends.  

Barack Obama could have cashed in on his brilliance and success at Harvard and enjoyed the self-indulgent lifestyle.  Instead, he demonstrated his commitment and compassion by returning to his community in Illinois to try to help others whom he had seen left behind by the system. This is truly an extraordinary decision for someone with Obama’s background and options.  

Obama is not only idealistic; he is grounded in the practical world and has been effective within the political system, crafting legislation and consensus to accomplish great things. His judgment about our invading  Iraq was spot on. 

If you read his biography, you see that Obama has integrated the diverse and divergent aspects of his extraordinary background. His leadership will show a face of America that mirrors our diversity and reflects it to the world as one country. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a leader we -- and the rest of the world -- could admire and respect. It’s time!  I hope other Democrats and Undeclared voters will vote for character, commitment and compassion when you vote in the NH primary in a few weeks. 

 

Comments

[calvin]

After seven years of "compassionate" George Bush, I'll gladly take a smart politician and a great “fighter” for the middle class who is effective in the ways of Washington and who embodies and reflects American ideals. That would be Hillary Clinton.

John and Robert Kennedy were both people who toiled long and hard in politics before running for President. Neither of them was so naive as to think that just saying nice things would make the world bright and cheery. They were both hard workers who didn't duck the difficult issues (or votes.