Clinton and Obama: Out of the Mud and Aim for the Stars

Dear Senators Clinton and Obama,

May I presume to give you both a little campaign advice from an opinionated Jane Chu Public (ha! I made an Asian American pun!) and voter?

Look, it's always hard to be a Democrat. Most of the time, especially in the progressive wing of the party, we're holding our noses as we vote and hoping for the best. We don't often attend many victory parties. But we keep hoping and voting.

Between now and April 22, when the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary occurs, I challenge each of you to give a public speech where you inspire us. Step back out of the muck--there's been a lot of it lately--and take the long view. Tell us how wonderful our country is when it's at its best, and how we're going to get there again. Because the road to that exalted state seems really far away. Even more distant when the nominee on the other side of the aisle promises "100 years in Iraq" if that's what it takes. Even if it bankrupts our souls and our pocketbooks.

We know we as a country have troubles aplenty. Some will come back from fighting overseas and will never be whole again, or our families might never be. Some of us on are shaky financial ground--maybe about to lose our houses or face a round of job cuts one cold email message away. Some of us are doing better than ever before, by some miracle. But I think all of us would like to know that our kids or elderly parents are healthy and safe, we have a place to go to when a hurricane or flood or earthquake devastates our town, that there'll be a way to have a roof overhead and something to eat, and enough to get by with a little to spare and to spread among friends and family.

Maybe you can remind us why you entered politics to begin with. What moments made you realize you wanted to devote your respective lives to public service? What could you possibly say to entice our brightest and the best to follow your lead? When tested, what keeps you going? And is that reason enough? Why isn't money everything?

We know you want to be president. We think you're crazy to want to take on the big heaping pile of trouble that's America right now, but when you tell us the potential for good you see in this country, it helps us remember why we all care so much. And why a few dedicated people bother to run. Why we've gotten into heated conversations with friends and relatives and neighbors about who to support. Or why people have shown up at jam-packed caucuses and voting booths, sometimes waiting hours in line in fresh-fallen snow, just to vote.

By now you've visited about two-thirds of the states in the union and talked to millions of people, small group by small group. And I'm sure you have a vision of America now built up from every conversation you've had, every story you've been told, every appeal for you to help in some small way. More than halfway through this insane and exhausting journey to president, you've made eye contact and talked with more Americans than most regular Americans ever will. Not many of us get to have the eagle's eye view of our people and our country in the way that you are experiencing.

One of you will be the nominee. But we also need the other one who is not nominee to give the best of herself or himself in continued public service. As you continue campaigning, hold tight to the image of faces and the voices of people you've met along the way. Keep them foremost in your mind and in your heart, if and when you're asked why you subject you and your families to this process. People are trying to decide about you in good faith. And the way you conduct yourself tells us as much about you as it does what you think of us. Too many disastrous examples from the past eight years of the Bush administration have shown that the leader of our country sets the tone for everything from public discourse to civic engagement to state-to-state relations. That leader can either bring out the better angels in our selves, or give tacit permission for the basest emotions and destructive impulses to emerge.

So tell us about ourselves. Who are we? Remind us who our neighbors are. Bring us together to affirm how, as the poet Walt Whitman wrote about the United States, "I contain multitudes." America contains multitudes. Dare us to dream, work, and play together--alongside each other. Dare us to strive for peace, at home and everywhere.

Sincerely,
An American Voter

Cynematic's personal blog is P i l l o w b o o k.

Comments

[Gunfighter]

I could have sworn Senator Obama has been doing this all along.

[cynematic]

Well, Gunfighter, consider it a gauntlet thrown down to Clinton, then. Senator Clinton: are you capable of taking the high road? Then let's see it for once. Who knows, maybe it would even help her campaign.

[Glennia]

Beautiful. My sentiments exactly.

[debbie - i obsess]

Well said, Cyn. I do agree, though, that Clinton's campaign needs to remove itself from the muck, while Obama's is right where it oughtta be.

[cynematic]

I could still use another inspiring speech by Obama right about now, if only to reinforce his gifts and reaffirm that he is trying to bring the Dems, and by extension, everyone, to the high road.

But Clinton really needs to redeem herself and show that she's capable of this kind of leadership. IMHO.