October 19, 2008Obama best-suited to lead America
Our nation is facing its gravest economic crisis since the Depression. It is bogged down in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The standard of living for most Americans, which had been largely flat during the 1980s and 1990s, has fallen during the past decade despite an economic expansion.
The meltdown on Wall Street has eroded the life savings of many Americans by a third. The fallout from the real estate bust could result in a loss of home equity of a third or more. We are far more dependent on foreign oil today than we were 35 years ago, when the oil embargo failed to awaken us from our slumber.
And thanks to a Bush administration that arrogantly chose to go its own way in Iraq and employed bullying tactics rather than reason and diplomacy to achieve its ends, we have alienated many of our longstanding allies around the world.
Change is needed — badly. Since World War II, there has never been a greater need for leadership, for a president who can pull a deeply divided nation together, someone who can help restore our self-esteem at home and help repair our tattered reputation abroad. Democratic Sen. Barack Obama is better equipped than Republican Sen. John McCain to meet that challenge.
Obama has the intellect needed to comprehend the complexities of the times and the ability to articulate his positions clearly and eloquently. He can inspire, and we believe he will be able to bring out the best in the American people at a time when our best will be needed. He also offers the best hope for building coalitions and winning back the support of our friends abroad, which he recognizes is critical, not only to help win the war on terrorism but to restore order in the world financial markets.
McCain has burned too many bridges to lead at home or in the international arena. His abrasiveness and that of running mate Sarah Palin during the debates, at their rallies and in their barrage of attack ads have been in sharp contrast to the respectful presidential manner of Obama.
McCain has alienated the Germans, the Spanish and the French, and set the stage for a new cold war with Russia by stating in a debate that when he looks into the eyes of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, he sees "K-G-B." Thinking it is one thing. Saying it to the world is another.
An ongoing Economist magazine poll of its readers around the world indicates McCain would carry only two nations — Macedonia and Georgia. Obama is preferred by 85 percent or more of the magazine's readers in Canada, Australia and most European, Caribbean and South American nations.
Obama and McCain both have portrayed themselves as agents of change. Obama's claim rings true. McCain's does not. McCain has opposed President Bush and the Republican Party on some issues, including campaign finance reform, global warming and the detention of prisoners held without evidence as terrorists. But on the two most important policy matters, the handling of the economy and the war in Iraq, McCain's views are barely distinguishable from those of Bush.
We aren't entirely comfortable with either of the candidates' tax cut proposals. But Obama's plan, branded as class warfare by McCain, would essentially revert to the tax rates in effect during the Clinton administration. It is hardly radical.
Fiscal realities will likely force the winner of the election to scale back plans for increased spending on energy programs, health care and education. Of necessity, the focus will be on how to manage the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and the quickly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and how best to nurse the economy back to health and regulate the financial markets.
There are two other key considerations that make us tilt toward Obama.
First, should he die in office, the nation would be in the experienced hands of Joe Biden. If McCain, who is 72 and has a history of cancer, should die in the presidency, he would be succeeded by Sarah Palin, whose selection as the vice presidential candidate calls McCain's judgment into serious question. She is not qualified to lead a nation facing its toughest challenges in decades.
Second, dramatic change is needed. That can best be accomplished with a president and a Congress from the same political party. The partisan deadlocks that have prevented Washington from taking decisive action on health care, immigration reform and other issues can't be allowed to slow measures needed to put the nation back on course.
Obama is the right man for these difficult times. He is young and charismatic. He is bright and confident enough to feel comfortable surrounding himself with bright advisers representing different points of view.
Obama is keenly aware of how badly this nation needs to chart a new course — one that is respectful of other nations. He is committed to rebuilding the middle class, working to align America's policies with its long-cherished ideals and making the country the beacon for prosperity and justice once again.
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