The Bare Knuckled Pundit
08-18-2008, 09:12 AM
Having acquiesced not only to placing Senator Clinton’s name in nomination, but also allowing her and her husband - former President Bill Clinton – to address the Democratic National Convention and thereby the nation in primetime, Senator Barack Obama has extended the olive branch to the Clintons and their diehard supporters. In light of recent revelations of Clinton campaign strategist Mark Penn’s Rovian proposals and Bill Clinton’s defensive and equivocal remarks about Senator Obama, he has demonstrated both great magnanimity and political acumen in his decision.
With reports indicating that Obama was initially highly reluctant to have Clinton’s name placed into nomination, the burden is now on Hillary and her supporters.
Having been part of the historic Democratic primaries, garnered more than 18 million votes that ultimately resulted in 1,896 delegates; they have every right to expect their moment in the spotlight. Recognizing this and the harm it would do his campaign not to, Obama has gone the extra mile to include not only Hillary, but Bill Clinton as well on the speaker’s roster.
Having lost the nomination, but won the recognition they crave and deserve Senator Clinton and her supporters should justifiably relish their moment in the spotlight. Undoubtedly her placards and signs will fill the convention hall as she is propelled to the podium by the repetitious thunder of her name chanted by thousands. Such heady and historic moments are known by few and should be savored like fine wine.
For those dwindling gray angels born before women were granted the franchise, hers is a journey their mothers could only dream of. Though failing to realize her goal, Senator Clinton has won a victory that will be memorialized in the chronicles of our history and held in the hearts of women across America nonetheless.
Yet, in the end, the Senator and her supporters must similarly acknowledge that while it is their moment, it is Senator Obama’s nomination.
Senator Obama has dealt in good faith and extended every conceivable courtesy to Senator Clinton, her husband and her supporters. Now they must in turn show the maturity, depth of character and ultimately the humility of the vanquished to take their bow, step off the stage and leave the spotlight to Senator Obama.
Accordingly, they must forgo the temptation to engage in any convention floor mischief or last minute Mark Penn mechanizations. They must honor Senator Obama’s good faith with their own and show him the respect and deference they would demand of him were their positions reversed. To do any less confirms the worst opinions and criticisms of the Clintons as egotistical, megalomaniacal sociopaths.
Though giving the Clintons their due, Senator Obama and his staff have nonetheless insured his image will overshadow theirs. In yet another example of their mastery of political stagecraft, Senator Obama will accept the Democratic Nomination not in the convention hall, but amidst the 70,000+ seats of Invesco Field.
On the fortieth anniversary of Martin Luther King, Junior’s legendary “I Have A Dream” speech, accepting a nomination won on the content of his character in spite of the color of his skin, Obama is the manifestation of that dream. Regardless of the outcome of the election, his place in America’s history and conscious is sealed.
The question now is – With the pages of history laid bare to Senator Obama, what will be the first entry he writes in it with his highly anticipated and meticulously parsed acceptance speech? With the eyes of the nation - and the world - upon him, all will be looking to see if he is not only a great orator; but an equally great visionary and leader as well.
Cue Senator Clinton, faithful readers. Exit stage left. Cue Senator Obama, center stage. Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and the pages of history are written before our very eyes.
With reports indicating that Obama was initially highly reluctant to have Clinton’s name placed into nomination, the burden is now on Hillary and her supporters.
Having been part of the historic Democratic primaries, garnered more than 18 million votes that ultimately resulted in 1,896 delegates; they have every right to expect their moment in the spotlight. Recognizing this and the harm it would do his campaign not to, Obama has gone the extra mile to include not only Hillary, but Bill Clinton as well on the speaker’s roster.
Having lost the nomination, but won the recognition they crave and deserve Senator Clinton and her supporters should justifiably relish their moment in the spotlight. Undoubtedly her placards and signs will fill the convention hall as she is propelled to the podium by the repetitious thunder of her name chanted by thousands. Such heady and historic moments are known by few and should be savored like fine wine.
For those dwindling gray angels born before women were granted the franchise, hers is a journey their mothers could only dream of. Though failing to realize her goal, Senator Clinton has won a victory that will be memorialized in the chronicles of our history and held in the hearts of women across America nonetheless.
Yet, in the end, the Senator and her supporters must similarly acknowledge that while it is their moment, it is Senator Obama’s nomination.
Senator Obama has dealt in good faith and extended every conceivable courtesy to Senator Clinton, her husband and her supporters. Now they must in turn show the maturity, depth of character and ultimately the humility of the vanquished to take their bow, step off the stage and leave the spotlight to Senator Obama.
Accordingly, they must forgo the temptation to engage in any convention floor mischief or last minute Mark Penn mechanizations. They must honor Senator Obama’s good faith with their own and show him the respect and deference they would demand of him were their positions reversed. To do any less confirms the worst opinions and criticisms of the Clintons as egotistical, megalomaniacal sociopaths.
Though giving the Clintons their due, Senator Obama and his staff have nonetheless insured his image will overshadow theirs. In yet another example of their mastery of political stagecraft, Senator Obama will accept the Democratic Nomination not in the convention hall, but amidst the 70,000+ seats of Invesco Field.
On the fortieth anniversary of Martin Luther King, Junior’s legendary “I Have A Dream” speech, accepting a nomination won on the content of his character in spite of the color of his skin, Obama is the manifestation of that dream. Regardless of the outcome of the election, his place in America’s history and conscious is sealed.
The question now is – With the pages of history laid bare to Senator Obama, what will be the first entry he writes in it with his highly anticipated and meticulously parsed acceptance speech? With the eyes of the nation - and the world - upon him, all will be looking to see if he is not only a great orator; but an equally great visionary and leader as well.
Cue Senator Clinton, faithful readers. Exit stage left. Cue Senator Obama, center stage. Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and the pages of history are written before our very eyes.