DailyKos, we've been entrenched in an intra-party war between candidates for some time now. I myself have always found these perspectives limiting: I believe that the Democratic Party of 2008 is the best Democratic Party seen by the American public, ever, and has accordingly presented the best field of primary candidates seen by the American public, ever. On the heels of a huge victory for the Clinton campaign in New Hampshire, I am both reminded of this strength and greatly encouraged by the prospects for our party and our country in the upcoming election.
In the midst of this intra-party fight, I have moved from supporting John Edwards to supporting Hillary Clinton, in spite of a long-held wariness and animosity of the New York Senator. More on this, and why 2008 is the best election ever for the United States of America, beyond the fold.
My TV has been set on CNN more or less non-stop since the Iowa caucuses. It's a little bit unusual for a 20-year-old to be a political junkie, but it's something that I've carried with myself since middle school. Election night 2004, which happened in my senior year of high school, is still a painful memory for me. In the lead up to the election this year, I found myself increasingly anti-Hillary. The Democratic leadership, since the elections of 2006, has been largely a disappointment; after the first 100 days of rousing success, the leadership put forth failure after failure after failure. The Democratic establishment, today, seems detached from its support, and especially the feelings and needs of the lower class and youth of America...but then, Iowa happened.
My generation has become the first generation that decided to cross the bridge between participation and apathy. My generation became the first generation to decide that we would have a voice in American politics through voting, and demonstrated to the American Democratic Party that we would not go unheard. Ladies and gentlemen, we were heard, and to our gratification, they responded. In a single night, American politics were changed forever. 2008 would not be about the 30- and 40- and way-too-old-somethings. 2008 would be about the future and about insuring the strength of our country for decades to come, and in a night, the Clinton campaign saw that.
The last 5 days have been an unparalleled period of honesty and sincerity in American politics. We have the young people of America and Barack Obama to thank for that. I believe history will look back on Senator Obama as a catalyst for the new era in American politics, defined by a strong move towards liberalism, investment in the future, and the rights of the individual. Yet, Hillary Clinton managed to embody the argument that she had been making all along: experience counts. In a short 5-day period, she turned a 10-point deficit and an expectation for defeat into a 3-point lead and a rapturous victory. The campaign demonstrated its competence, re-focused its message to reach the Democratic populous, and rightfully reclaimed Senator Clinton as a champion for our people and our causes.
Up until recently, I considered myself a John Edwards supporter in a field of great candidates. Today, I declare myself a supporter of Hillary Clinton in a field of amazing candidates. Senator Clinton's campaign pulled victory from the jaws of defeat, and demonstrated the legendary political acumen that the Clintons are famous for: the acumen to get the message right and the acumen to get things done. In the presence of this display, it should be obvious who will go on to win in November and who will go on to fight for our causes and to fight for us with the most success. In an election full of wonderful options, we are truly fortunate to have a great choice from any of the three candidates, and I will go on to support whoever is running in the general...but tonight, my ticket is crystal clear:
Clinton/Obama 2008!