Well folks, it was a crushing defeat for my man, Joe, in Iowa Thursday night. But Joe Biden won't let us be sad. He isn't and we shouldn't be either. Because Joe Biden is a true statesman, who led an honest, open campaign not directed by polls or focus groups but by his intellect, his experience and his heart. The man gave the most up beat, most grateful and gratifying concession speech I've ever heard. I am inspired by him even in his "defeat"--though he is not defeated. Click here to see Joe's concession speech. Joe Biden, you're a class act.
All this being said, now I have to make a new decision. Back in the summer, I included in this blog a list of the Democratic candidates in the order I would consider supporting them. At that time, I listed Barack Obama pretty far back in the pack. I felt he really lacked the experience and the gravitas to be the next President of the United States--at least in comparison to other Democratic candidates. Well, I've changed my mind. I don't think he has picked up tons of new experience, but I have reordered my list, because I have become less enchanted with other candidates and because I have begun to see elements of brilliance and inspiration in Obama's oratory. Click here to see Obama's speech just after his big win in Iowa.
So why not Hillary? Well, it seems that she just wants to be in charge. It seems like her attitude is "I've worked harder than the rest of you. I deserve this more than you." Maybe so, but honey, nobody is going to be right all the time -- even if you deserve it and I just don't think you are going to find it easy to really ask for the help and input you need from people who might not think the same way you do. Nobody is always the smartest person in the room. And if you find you are--it is time to find a new room.
Why not Edwards? Well, I actually voted for him the last time around and I really believe there are two Americas. I am even more sure of it after reading Conscience of a Liberal by New York Times columnist Paul Krugman. But, what have you done for me lately? What have you done for anyone lately, except yourself, since you and Kerry lost the 2004 election? Tooting your own horn and whining about the state of things is not enough.
And folks, barring unforeseen forces like alien invasion (and I mean from outer space, not Mexico) there is no chance that any other candidate is going to win the Democratic nomination, because the news media will not allow it. Nor will the pollsters. According to Iowans writing on the Joe Biden page on Facebook, pollsters would call and ask who was their choice for the nomination. They would answer "Biden" the next question would be something like "Which candidate do you think is strongest in the foreign policy arena--Clinton, Edwards or Obama?" If a Biden supporter said, "None of them, I think Biden is strongest", they would be asked the question again. If they still said "Biden" they were listed as undecided. After Iowa, things are not going to get more open.
As far as I am concerned the media, which mostly means a few, very large corporations, has done this country a horrible disservice by focusing in so early on a few "celebrity" candidates and have attempted to frame the debate in this season into sound bites like "Experience or Change"--implying that they are mutually exclusive. We can and should bemoan this--and loudly. That being said, we are where we are and we have to choose someone who can win. I am going to support Barack Obama.
Why? Well, unlike Edwards and Clinton, he did not readily throw himself into the ring. A run for the Presidency of the United States was not part of his plan for 2008. I am not saying that the thought of one day running had never entered his mind, but he is only 47 years old and he had time. Barack Obama was courted--and courted heavily--to run. Barack himself searched his soul to see if he felt that he was ready to take on this awesome job. And I think, that this man is self-aware enough to know that while he will have to be, in the words of our current President, "the decider", that he will have to surround himself with smart, experienced people. And I think he will actually listen to them. I think that of the three front runners, Obama is the most humble. The most secure with himself to ask for help when he needs it. When we need it. And if he makes a mistake, I think like Kennedy, after the Bay of Pigs, he will be able to recover.
The art of living is getting back up. -Joe Biden
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