Caroline Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama in the NYT this morning, saying that other candidates have experience and plans, but that that may not be enough. She is appealing to the rich white upper crust of the population to look deep into the eyes of an inspiring leader and find a piece of the politics that so moved their parents.
I think that is the major reason to vote for Barack. Inspiration. To be able to change this country with a change of attitude and a positivist charge would kick-start (or could at least kick-start) as resurgence of America as "America."
On the other hand, presidents of ideals are not so great. Bush was the president of evangelical ideals. The right saw him as the prodigal son of a generation-long investment in conservative public service grooming.
Kennedy, if not for the assassination that defined his role in American history, might be instead remembered for the Bay of Pigs, the attendant collapse of relations wit Cuba that led to the missile crisis, or the beginnings of 'Nam. Bad decisions by an inexperienced president acting on his ideals -- even one surrounded by great advisers.
I am not staking a position for or against these candidates. I just posit this as something to think about.
1 comment:
clarification: President Kennedy didn't begin the war in Vietnam - he inherited it. However, he did choose to escalate it. Your point is well taken, however.
Post a Comment