Michelle Obama says something in her stump speech that strikes me as being the central issue of this campaign. It is essentially THE issue that could define whether the United States survives as a major player in the world's affairs or slowly recedes into a long decay.
Michelle Obama's main idea has been that what her husband will bring to this country if he becomes president is--EMPATHY.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Empathy is often characterized as the ability to "put oneself into another's shoes", or to in some way experience the outlook or emotions of another being within oneself, a sort of emotional resonance. Empathy is also a concept recognized as "reading" another person, completely translating each movement into understandable conversation.
Mrs. Obama's stump includes this:
"My husband has said that we are not suffering from a deficit of resources, policies or plans. There are outstanding programs for schools and seniors and even medical care. But you have to be part of the lucky few to benefit. His challenge is that we have an empathy deficit. We are each other’s brothers and sisters, and we must accept the challenge to change," she said.
http://www.thetandd.com/...
This is not something you are used to hearing from a candidate or his wife. Empathy is something that does not exist in the animal kingdom. It is something that eludes those who describe themselves as conservatives.
Empathy is something that comes to those who are most evolved. It is a condition to aspire to. It is what allows one to understand why an occupied people would turn on an occupier. It is what would make someone understand the perspective that a Rev. Jeremiah Wright brings to certain subjects without endorsing his views. It is even what would make us see the utter desperate frustration of a priviledged white woman flailing against the perceived injustice of seeing a man (albeit a man of color)defeat a more experienced woman. We can still see the folly of Geraldine Ferraro but empathy allows us to challenge her without exacerbating her anger. Empathy allows us to understand why a Michelle Obama may/may not be proud of her country for the first time, while a daughter of wealth and priviledge like Cindy McCain piles on.
Empathy allows us to triumph without being arrogant. It is what has been missing from our political leadership for the past 7 years. Empathy is what will bring us closer as a people and a country and help heal the damage of the lost Bush years.
In their 21st century enlightenment, Barack and Michelle Obama are creating a new way of thinking not just for our government but for our citizens and our relationship to each other. This is a development that could be as significant as any new policy formulation.
Can "empathy" drive any votes in the general election?