|
Before the campaign many were wary of Mr Obama's inexperience. We lacked examples of his capacity and judgement in a wide range of situations. In the last two years, however, he has beaten both the Clinton and Republican machines at their own game. He has weathered the campaign with great poise, not to mention an extraordinary combination of humility and cast iron self belief.
The argument goes, not without merit, that to vote for Mr Obama just because he is black is as narrow minded as to not vote for him for the same reason. But that is to miss the point. He is important not because he is black but because he is good - in a way that neither Al Sharpton nor Jesse Jackson ever quite were.
He provides inspiration not just to blacks but to everyone, and not just because he is black but because he is intelligent, charismatic, popular and strong. He chooses smart people to advise him, and he listens well. He reacts calmly and with authority to events of enormous gravity.
His ability to inspire by spoken words alone is no substitute for substance, but is precious nonetheless.
Mr McCain deserves respect, despite his calamitous choice of Vice Presidential nominee and his populist renunciation of the independence which won him much of that respect in the first place. It’s not that he is a bad candidate. It's just that Barack Obama is so very, very much better.
See also: Fear itself Less sexy, please - we’re British
|
|
3 November, 2008 Obama good
Anyone with a nerd-like affection for The West Wing will have seen this presidential race before. The young, charismatic, inspirational, nowhere candidate is forged in a bruising primary. He faces an old -school fighter who needs his party as much as it needs him, despite the fact that neither like each other very much.
Refusing to be defined by race, the Democrat revels in a brutal and bruising election campaign as a means to prove he has the mettle where he lacks the experience. The wily old Republican keeps him honest but just cannot run away from his party's legacy on issues social and economic.
Barack Obama isn't a fictitious character of aspiration, however. He is the best candidate for the presidency.
|
|
Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine Opine Opine opine Opine |
