Point: Obama makes 2007 interesting
Point: Obama makes 2007 interesting
Dan K. ThomassonEagle-Tribune
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While the New Year can be expected to bring a series of major announcements about who will or won't run for the presidency, none is more anticipated than a decision from Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. The political world has been abuzz for weeks at the prospect of an African-American making a serious run at the Democratic nomination, and the question of race seems thankfully to be far less a concern than Obama's relative inexperience in both foreign and domestic policy.
Whether this nation is finally grown up enough to accept the possibility of a black becoming president, this much is certain: For the first time, the prospective candidate, if he decides to push ahead, will be coming not from the arena of civil rights and protest, but from a position that is on an equal footing with the other potential nominees, a high elected office. Until now the African-American candidates - there have been several, but the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton come quickest to mind - have approached the task from almost an adversarial position with the white segment of the electorate.
Obama is a handsome U.S. senator with a first-rate mind and a quick wit. He is not given to the fire-and-brimstone racial rhetoric of the old days. In the last election, he was among the most popular and tireless workers for white Democratic candidates as well as for black candidates. He is considered the one black candidate who could overcome the built-in racial negative factor that has plagued other African-American candidates.
Obama brings more excitement to the early speculation than any other candidate with the exception of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. He says he will make a decision next month, as will Clinton. She already has a strong campaign chest, leads him in the early polls and has an organization geared up waiting for the word. She also has the advantage of being married to one of the best campaigners in the 20th century.
Veteran observers believe that Obama will run on the theory that even if he loses the nomination, he will have gained valuable experience. They also contend that the chances for electing a Democrat may never be better, considering the growing unpopularity of President Bush and the Republicans, and that to wait another eight years would be tempting political fate.
Whatever Obama decides, the very fact that he is considered a viable contender in only the third presidential election in the new millennium is refreshing and long overdue. The next few weeks should be interesting.
http://www.eagletribune.com/puopinion/local_story_365094551?page=1
Dan K. ThomassonEagle-Tribune
(page 1 of 2)View as a single page
While the New Year can be expected to bring a series of major announcements about who will or won't run for the presidency, none is more anticipated than a decision from Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. The political world has been abuzz for weeks at the prospect of an African-American making a serious run at the Democratic nomination, and the question of race seems thankfully to be far less a concern than Obama's relative inexperience in both foreign and domestic policy.
Whether this nation is finally grown up enough to accept the possibility of a black becoming president, this much is certain: For the first time, the prospective candidate, if he decides to push ahead, will be coming not from the arena of civil rights and protest, but from a position that is on an equal footing with the other potential nominees, a high elected office. Until now the African-American candidates - there have been several, but the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton come quickest to mind - have approached the task from almost an adversarial position with the white segment of the electorate.
Obama is a handsome U.S. senator with a first-rate mind and a quick wit. He is not given to the fire-and-brimstone racial rhetoric of the old days. In the last election, he was among the most popular and tireless workers for white Democratic candidates as well as for black candidates. He is considered the one black candidate who could overcome the built-in racial negative factor that has plagued other African-American candidates.
Obama brings more excitement to the early speculation than any other candidate with the exception of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. He says he will make a decision next month, as will Clinton. She already has a strong campaign chest, leads him in the early polls and has an organization geared up waiting for the word. She also has the advantage of being married to one of the best campaigners in the 20th century.
Veteran observers believe that Obama will run on the theory that even if he loses the nomination, he will have gained valuable experience. They also contend that the chances for electing a Democrat may never be better, considering the growing unpopularity of President Bush and the Republicans, and that to wait another eight years would be tempting political fate.
Whatever Obama decides, the very fact that he is considered a viable contender in only the third presidential election in the new millennium is refreshing and long overdue. The next few weeks should be interesting.
http://www.eagletribune.com/puopinion/local_story_365094551?page=1
posted by presgore19 at 8:43 AM
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