Enough Gotchas, we’ve got real problems
JACK
I can’t remember a time when good people have been more divided than we are today. I have experienced many different times through history. There have been occasions when we have been split in this country, particularly the days before WWII, and while we were experiencing the crisis in Vietnam. The confusion has never been worse than it is today, starting with our invasion of Iraq and going to the present moment in the campaign for the presidency. On the Republican side it seems serene, and war hero John McCain is in place as the nominee. But now, as we witness the dramatic battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, our senses are being bombarded with one alarming image after another. Before it became a two horse race, I had a certain feeling of equanimity that we had an assortment of qualified candidates. Several weeks ago Sen. Clinton’s story of landing in Bosnia under fire was disrupted by the fact that cameras were there, and that the plane landed in a peaceful setting, with no gunfire and no danger. I have no idea why Sen. Clinton made these statements, which really did not add to her qualifications as President. Now we are bombarded with the re-appearance of Sen. Obama’s pastor venting his anger at the United States and our policies. Sen. Obama at first tried to set himself apart from the statements but not from the man. Now, he says that he really wasn’t present when these statements were made and he must now renounce the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. If the American public is angry and/or confused, there is good reason. Are we angry about what has been said, or about the denials that challenge credibility? Do we ignore the weakness and accept the whole body of activity? Are we content that we support and elect a candidate who falls short of what we would like to see? How does this go down for you?
HILLARY
Personally, I am not offended by the speech made by Rev. Wright. I was very angry after 9/11, and I was one of a small group of outspoken people who suggested that U.S. foreign policy helped to create a climate that made us vulnerable to attack. I was told that my feelings were unpatriotic, and that they were tantamount to treason. This suggestion is so ludicrous that it almost doesn’t deserve a response, yet one could not walk the streets of New York City as I did after 9/11 and not speak of ones feelings. More importantly, I do not believe that a candidate should be judged based on the feelings of one of their associations. John McCain spoke at Fallwell University, but I don’t hear people up in arms about Fallwell’s belief that 9/11 was God’s punishment for America’s acceptance of homosexuals. I assume that John McCain can separate out the messages that he agrees with from those that he does not, and I will not hold him accountable for Jerry Fallwell’s intolerance. So, I guess you can say that I find this whole mess offensive, not because of Rev.Wright’s comments, but rather because the more we talk about this the less time we talk about the war in Iraq, and our failing schools, and the need to rebuild the Gulf Coast.
JACK
I have always prided myself with the ability to see the big picture. We spend hundreds of hours on television, radio, and the Internet in endlessly debating the fringe issues. Of even great horror to me than what we’ve already discussed was seeing two highly accredited television commentators conducting the last debate between Clinton and Obama. I cannot believe that George Stephanapolis and Charlie Gibson spent almost a full hour without asking a single question that is of the greatest importance to all of us. They explored the theoretical elitism of Barack Obama, who was raised under poor circumstances with an ethnicity that is half black and half white, in a society that looked at him with distrust, if not out-right contempt, on this kind of heritage. I have nothing but admiration for a man who raised himself above this humble beginning to become a Harvard Law School Graduate, with a presence, an ability to articulate, and a desire to make the world a better place. My mind then went back to the last Presidential election when war hero John Kerry was made to look cowardly against his draft-dodging opponent. We all have the same real issues - the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economy, and healthcare. For one hour, Charlie and George charged forward, insisting that the candidates defend themselves. I have heard that the press was to blame, or Karl Rove, or maybe it was sunspots. I now come to this conclusion on my personal search for who is really qualified to lead this country around the many landmines to a place where we can enjoy peace and prosperity. We simply do not have the time or the weapons to decide whether Obama should have the denounced the Rev. Wright sooner, or whether Clinton was deliberately injecting a sense of macho in her story. I really want to know what their programs are for this country. I no longer care who was right or wrong in previous judgments or about the company that they chose, or even more ridiculous, that chose them. Please tell me how you’re going to stop the bleeding. How are we going to bring this outrageous war to an end? How will you adjust the economy? How will you make sure that every American receives medical care? And, more importantly, how are we going to put a stop to the destruction of our planet? We have now seen presidents from Nixon to Bush failing in any attempt to bring a sense of peace to the mid-East. How will we stop passively allowing OPEC and “Big Oil” to bleed us dry? Big questions need big answers so please put away the petty accusations and bickering and let the public vote based on the real issues.
Communication is inspiration! Share your thoughts below.
Leave a reply
