Politics Shouldn’t Overpower Your Principles

I am not a Democrat or a Republican. Having said that. I feel I’m free to speak impartially on the Democratic battle to represent it’s party in the upcoming Presidential elections.

I personally would like to see Obama in the White house, with Clinton as Vice President. That was until I read of Senator Obama’s resigning from his church and the reason he gave for doing so.

He said; according to AP writer Tom Raum; that it’s a personal and not a political decision on his part and he’s protecting the church and it’s members, not his presidential candidacy. I don’t buy that.

At what point did he not understand the process of running for President, and the exposure he would bring to his personal and family life?

Ironically, this could not have happened before Senator McCain denouncement earlier this month of John Hagee, a Texas preacher and Rod Parsley, a preacher from Ohio, for remarks he deemed unacceptable? Looks like political follow the leader. Senator Joe Lieberman appears to be the only person making news for standing on principle and not trying to make political hash.

What Senator Obama should have done was leave at the outset of this controversy, if he truly felt it needed to be done for personal reasons. Not let it linger for months. While this isn’t likely to harm his lead over Senator Clinton for the Democratic nomination, it most certainly has practically handed the Presidency over to Senator McCain and the Republicans for the next four years, barring some misstep by the Senator from Arizona during the Primaries.

If Senator Obama triumphs over Senator Clinton; and there’s no reason at this late date to believe that he won’t; will he be strong enough to carry her supporters?

Here’s the likely break down.

Democratic Presidential nominee Obama:

• Democratic voters: 96% non Clinton supporters / 42% Clinton supporters
• Republican voters: 17% non McCain supporters / .97% McCain supporters
• Independent/ others: 16% Liberal leaning / 7% Conservative leaning

Republican Presidential nominee McCain:

• Democratic voters: 22% non Obama supporters / 1.17% Obama supporters
• Republican voters: 81% non McCain supporters / 99.3% McCain supporters
• Independent/ others: 19% Liberal leaning / 17% Conservative leaning

That’s 29.828% in favor of Senator Obama and 39.911 in favor of Senator McCain. The rest being carried by the Green Party and other’s, who don’t stand a snowball’s chance in Hades of ever making the White house.

That gives Senator McCain an edge in the popular vote and likely will edge out in the electorate as well.

You Democrats are left with three choices if you want to carry the White house.

1. One. Unite behind the eventual winning of your party’s nomination, which in all likelihood is Senator Obama and focus on the real issues that are facing this country. If it wasn’t done, said or orchestrated by the candidate themselves; it’s a non-issue, only useful in selling newspapers and generating tv ratings. It won’t help or hurt the country.
2. Two. Stop being small-minded and understand that every person on this planet, over the age of twenty; and that includes the Pope; has done, known or been associated with some form of controversy in our lifetime. Every person in your life, or who has been in some way connected in your life isn’t strictly A-list. So stop the hypocrisy and stop lying to yourselves. Presidents Clinton and both Bushes have had moments in their lives they’d rather not own up to; but these men have none creditable jobs as President. They weren’t perfect, but I’ve yet to meet anyone who is.
3. Three. Consider 2008 a hopeless case and start gearing up for 2012’s election. And if you want a winner, pick Senators Joe Lieberman and John Kerry. Just reverse the ticket from 2004 and you can’t loose.