Brian asked me to write a piece for “The Backchannel Blog” about my recent decision to support Barack Obama in this presidential race. The Backchannel Blog
(The Backchannel Blog is an independent creation by regular posters on political commentator and author Craig Crawford's Trailmix)
Craig Crawford's Trail Mix
It probably seems like a sudden change of heart but in reality I was conflicted over what to do if Hillary didn’t win the nomination. My ire was certainly raised after the Iowa caucuses when the MSM determined that Obama had “dethroned” Hillary and he would be the party nominee. I didn’t think it was fair to Hillary or the other 49 states (not to mention Puerto Rico) to say it was basically over even before it really got started. So I was angry.
As the state primaries and caucuses rolled on, I was getting more angry, at what I read in the MSM, in blogs, and particularly news articles where some powerful Democrats were pressuring Hillary pushing to drop out. The Democrats who sided early with Barack made me so angry that I reactively determined I’d vote for McCain (just to stick it to the power elites of the party). But could I (a lifelong Democrat) truly do that? After a lot of thinking, I decided I couldn’t. Then I decided on another candidate: Ralph Nader.
RALPH NADER??? WHAT WAS I THINKING? He’s the guy who gave us G.W. Bush in 2000 through his self-serving campaign to keep Gore out of the White House no matter the cost. The point is, I wasn’t thinking; I was reacting - reacting to MSNBC’a anti-Hillary mantra, what seemed like a MSM that was so enthralled with Barack that he was portrayed as a saving “messiah” ready to walk on water to save the people., Maureen Dowd’s dedication in Hillary hating-and-bashing and the growing animosity between Obama and Clinton supporters online. But when it came down to issues, it was hard to really see that MUCH of a difference between Hillary and Barack (though I think Hillary’s healthcare plan better addressed the fundamental changes needed for the American people).
In spite of anger and frustration, I tried to keep an open mind. It wasn’t long after New Hampshire that it seemed a long shot to me that Hillary would ultimately win enough pledged delegates to become the nominee. It must be said that I never hated Barack Obama; I simply loved Hillary Clinton. I wanted to see a woman President and I felt the time was long overdue. I clearly understand that for Barack supporters, the same dynamic was in play: the chance to finally see an African-American as U.S. President besides in the tv show “24” or the film “Deep Impact”. Still, I felt that it was a woman’s time, and a capable one at that. After it was clear that Barack had the requisite number of delegates I decided to do a write-in vote for Hillary but only if there was no chance of McCain taking Washington State.
After all the brouhaha from this election campaigning cycle, some of Hillary supporters are pledging that they will vote John McCain. Taking a quick glance on where they stand on various issues, I wonder if voting McCain instead of Obama is even worth consideration. Here are just a few differences:
OBAMA AND MCCAIN: HOW THEIR POLICY POSITIONS DIFFER
John McCain and Barack Obama will be trying to attract same voters as battle gets serious
Iraq
Obama: Immediate withdrawal; all combat forces out by 2010.
McCain: Keep a large combat force. Hopes to have achieved victory by 2012.
Taxes
Obama: Wants to lower taxes on lower and middle-class families, raise taxes on the wealthy. Wants to raise capital gains tax and close some corporate tax breaks.
McCain: Wants to extend President Bush’s tax cuts, and make further tax cuts for companies and upper-income families.
Healthcare
Obama: Wants ultimately to give health insurance to all Americans. His campaign says it will cost $110 billion.
McCain: Wants to give more choice for people to buy health insurance, but his plan will not provide cover for many uninsured. His aides estimate it will cost up to $10 billion.
Supreme Court
Three vacancies could open up in the next few years among three of the court’s liberal justices.
Obama: Will seek to appoint justices that will protect abortion rights, gay rights, left, tighten gun ownership and maintain ideological balance of court.
McCain: Pledged to shift it decisively to the right, a move that could mean the right to abortion declared unconstitutional.
Trade
Obama: Has campaigned as a protectionist and called for pause on all new free trade deals.
McCain: Unapologetic free-trader.
After all the back and forth debate I was having with myself, I remembered my activism in support of Jesse Jackson for President in both 1984 and 1988 and what hope I felt in his message. Again I went back to Barack Obama’s inspiring keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. It was so clear to me: if Hillary Clinton had not been a candidate, I would have been supporting Barack Obama from the get-go. Then I started wondering what good it would do to stay angry and denigrate anything coming from his supporters.
I was also moved by Hillary’s excellent concession speech and her determination to support Barack’s campaign.
Then the clincher: an article in The New York Times:
Ready to Attack Obama, if Some Money Arrives
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. — A Bible verse taped to a whiteboard in Floyd Brown’s office that he uses to track his efforts to attack Senator Barack Obama reads, “That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.”
Mr. Brown, 47, a 6-foot-6 bear of a man is perhaps best known for his involvement with the Willie Horton television advertisement that helped sink Michael S. Dukakis’s candidacy in 1988..."
*****************************************************************
Mr. Brown has made it CLEAR to me -that my idea of writing in Hillary's name, while maybe nice for me, and others who do it, does not advance our country or our cause. Mr. Brown's hate has made me convinced that the only SANE thing to do is to vote for Barack Obama
We need a President who will respect our allies. We need a President who will work FOR the American people in issues of health care, equal rights, women’s reproductive freedom, and bringing qualified Supreme Court nominees who will hold up the liberal tradition of our great nation.
The choice is clear: Vote Barack Obama in November. Hopefully with Hillary as his running mate, but no matter what, it’s time to get a progressive agenda back on the drawing board.
BARACK OBAMA ‘08