Change

The word Change has become a mantra this campaign season. A talisman, that once bandied about, magically translates into votes. One has to listen to the campaigns closely to understand their particular understanding of the word. I'm not so interested in what the Republican field has to say regarding change, since they really don't know what it means except that it focus groups okay.

When Barack Obama uses the word, it's in the context of building a people-powered movement that, like a tsunami, will sweep away all the entrenched corporate and special interests from its path. The focus isn't on his particular influence, rightly recognizing that no man has that sort of power, and that change is only possible by building broad coalitions. His goal is to bring into this coalition republicans, independents, and, of course, democrats. He always uses "we" when describing the change that he envisions. This is well and good. It is "We the People" after all. If I wanted authoritarianism, I would vote for a republican (or maybe Hillary).

When Hillary discusses change, she focuses on her experience as the key to bring it about. This is wrong headed. There simply isn't a single personality powerful enough to do what needs to be done; regardless of the level of experience of the person involved. She learned that lesson in NH: her message of experience wasn't as appealing as Obama's message of hope. If people were interested in experience as Hillary defines it, they would have been better served voting for Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, or Bill Richardson.

Let's think about the "change" Hillary will bring about. When confronted with the question in the NH debate, she said that simply having a woman in the White House would be change. That is well and good, of course. If Hillary wins the nomination, which is quite likely I'm afraid, then we will commence re-litigating the 90's. The "we" I'm speaking of are the republican's. Hillary is to republican activists, what shit is to flies. With the less than exciting candidates running on the republican side, nothing is more appealing to the republican base than a Hillary candidacy. It matters not who they vote for as much as who they vote against. Let's recall the greatest hits of the 90's: Remember FBI filegate? Travelgate? Whitewater? etc. etc. If you don't, you're lucky, but pulling a lever for Hillary in the primaries will afford you the opportunity of a crash course in these so-called scandals during the general election if she gets the nomination. There is nothing "change" about a candidacy that will be mired in defending itself against the past. It will be politics as usual.

I happen to agree with much of what Hillary stands for. If it were anyone other than Hillary that had her positions on the issues, that person would get my support. I don't have a personal grudge against her, but I want a meaningful change in Washington, and that starts with removing the people who convey, imbue, and embody the Establishment. John Edwards was right, Hillary is the status quo. She speaks of change without understanding the deeper meaning of it that Obama represents. Obama is exciting, inspirational, intelligent, articulate and most important of all: free from the luggage of the past. Obama represents the best opportunity we Democrats have of bringing about a people-powered movement that sweeps away special-interests and brings about a government Of the People, For the People, By the People. The right kind of experience is what is needed (as Bill Clinton famously said in 1992), and Obama has it. Besides, there isn't anything other than On the Job training for the Presidency. The key ingredient necessary is Judgment, and judgment is what Obama has demonstrated. When the country, still reeling from 9/11, was moving towards the abyss of war with Iraq, Obama spoke eloquently against this folly five months before the war began. Considering the mood of the country at the time, this took political courage.

It is time to vote for people who embody change rather than recite what is politically expedient. Obama embodies the change we need. A fresh start. A new America. One where every person has access to health care, where government is responsive to the needs of those who are struggling. The social darwinism inherent in republican policies must dwindle and die. A vote for Obama is a vote for change of the most meaningful sort.