US elections 2008: Will this election bring real change?

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Yes

by Ted Sherman

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Nobody knows. It depends on which candidate wins the White House. I believe John McCain is the most qualified of the three current leading opponents, but despite his record of independence and straying from the party line, he is still a Republican. Considering what terrible damage to American foreign policy and economy over the past eight years, I find it difficult to use the word change and Republican in the same sentence. There's also the nagging question about his advanced age and physical condition.

As for Hillary Clinton, I can never see her without imagining that enormous baggage she carries everywhere she goes. Bill Clinton, in addition to his sleazy personal performances, squatted in the White House during his own eight years and did nothing to stop the growing menace of terrorism. His hatred for the US Armed Forces, which kept him out of the draft during the Vietnam War, as President made him blind to the real need for military preparedness and necessary action.

Bill Clinton managed to luck out on his do-nothing responsibility when he sneaked away from Washington just a few months before his bumbling was one of the reasons the terrorists could come here to murder thousands of Americans on 9/11/01. The fact about Hillary that no one seems to want to say out loud is she'd be nowhere if she hadn't latched on to Bill. Without Bill's conning Arkansas into voting him Governor, and then scamming America into voting him in as President, she'd still be chasing ambulances in Little Rock. Maybe I shouldn't be too harsh on Hillary. She is an experienced politician, a good public speaker and the most understanding wife in the history of marital vows.

Now, we come to Barack Obama. So far, this guy looks like he's the only one of the three candidates who has anything new to bring to the White House. He's one hell of a charismatic speaker, especially after taking his JFK lessons from Ted Sorenson, was a brilliant student, has a fresh, young face and an equally brainy wife. What more can you ask in a President? Will I vote for this young combination of Sir Galahad and Mr. Deeds? As a lifetime Democrat and former volunteer on the JFK and Bobby campaigns, I certainly should.

I'm not sure yet. Are my prejudices still lurking in my brain? First of all, if I were Barack as an ambitious college student thinking about a national political career, I would have chickened out early and changed my name. My own mother, father and all of their relatives were quick to do it as they stood in line at Ellis Island. They were coming to America and wanted to shed all labels of their oppressed past. I know Hillary and McCain will keep hammering Barack about his name, and even when they look silly doing it, some of the venom will stick. Also, when a snarling bigot like Farrakan and some of his pals come out in support of Barack, even if the candidate tries to shy away from them, I am very uncomfortable.

Of course, it is long past time for the US to have a President who is not a male white Protestant. My discomfort is that I must question whether Barack Obama is what he says he is, a sincere young man who will bring change for all Americans with no strings attached. Or will he drag along his own baggage of old freedom marchers, and waste his term in office fighting old racial battles that have already been won.

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.

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