I set aside the venomous pen tonight, indulge a moment, and describe a dream that just might come true. I wrote before that the current Dem front-runner reminds me of nobody quite so much as the posturing phony who will without doubt do everything possible to dig the US into an even deeper quagmire in his remaining time in office. I called Obama 'the forgiver-in-chief'. But maybe that's what America needs.
A free-pass for racists, bigots, corporate scum-bags, corrupt lobbiests, war-mongers, liars, thieves and cheats? G2geek spotted it early. We're talking forgiveness on a massive scale: a Tutu-style amnesty, a leader with Mandela-like majesty who can inspire a nation-wide coming together to end centuries of racial hatred and fear, who can demonstrate to the world, but more importantly to Americans themselves, that America truly is a land where everyone can find a place. God knows, it's been a long time coming.
I retain a deep and abiding affection for Bill and Hillary Clinton, for which I offer no apology. Putting the boot in gleefully now as many are doing with the Clinton star fading requires the courage of a flea. Corrupt Dems in Congress took one look at the 'gays in the military' head-lines and abandoned the first Dem occupants of the Oval Office since Carter to the wolves, only to be later devoured themselves. The Clintons survived, hung together and crafted an eight-year record of job growth and economic stability that will forever give the lie to Republican claims of fiscal responsibility. We can only see now how the Clintons' time has passed. I won't spit on the only two-term Dem President and his partner as they leave the stage. We owe them too much; and its a debt we forget too easily.
Who can be un-moved by the story of John Edwards? If you haven't lost a child or lived in family that's experienced that kind of loss, it's hard to imagine just how deep that kind of hurt goes. Cut a piece out of your heart. It's that kind of pain. Now, with all the success John and Elizabeth look to enjoy comes the cruel news of a grim, relentless disease. Their fierce courage and dedication to this cause is infectious. I have nothing but respect for them both and would love to see them succeed.
Does America need another rich, handsome, white man in the White House, especially now? No matter how competent Edwards is, no matter how fierce and dedicated a fighter Edwards is for the causes I support most, this may now be the time to employ a new set of metrics.
Electing Barack Hussein Obama as the leader of all Americans: black, white, female, male, Hispanic, Oriental, gay, straight, old, young, wealthy, poor may be the most important decision Americans can make. Ever? Right now Hussein can be compared to MLK or Reagan, but these comparisons sell Obama short. The hate-filled Obama love letters penned by some Obama partisans here mis-understand entirely Obama's message of forgiveness and tolerance. Hate is not what Obama's about.
President Barack Hussein Obama is more likely to be America's next George Washington, the anti-slave owning President who will truly drive a spike into the heart of America's racist past. We're talking change on that level. Obama is a leader who will inspire America in the 21st century and beyond. He is competent, wise, and tough enough to make the difficult choices. In that sense, he's one among many. What separates Obama from the pack is his ability to inspire. He can be a new Washington not because of who he is, but because of who you are and because of what you want America to become.
This could be the time, this could be the place and this generation of Americans so weary of George W. Bush and all that he represents could be the people.