A Letter to Howard

Howard,

In these quisling replies to Obama's remarkable speech, in the evident terror from both the GOP and the Clinton campaign that they are up against a potentially great man who must, therefore, be destroyed, we encounter again, in a different form, the politics of hate. This is hate at its most reflexive: hatred of Obama because he isn't as debased as they are, hatred for nobility and dignity and excellence because these qualities, by their very existence, condemn the GOP and Clinton.

For myself, the speech lifted me up and hurled me down. It lifted me because it was intelligent, eloquent, nuanced, mature and even revelatory in its simple honesty. I could not recall the last time a politician had shown such respect for the American people, and I was thrilled to think that a person like this might actually become our president. It hurled me down because even before he had finished I found myself thinking: this guy is too good for America, too truthful, too frank, too decent, too heroic. The Clintons and the Republicans hate him for that. They call it something else, but that's what they hate him for. And what could be more terrible than that? What could paint the future of the nation in darker colors than the notion that excellence itself attracts the sharks?

The speech clarifies and confirms what we already knew, Obama is America's hope, and possibly its last hope. Because if the nation, offered by some miracle a candidate of this caliber, turns him down in the usual access of cynicism, in terror of its own better nature, it will know what it is has done, and it will know implicitly that in doing so it has renounced itself. To pick Clinton or McCain over Obama is an act of despair. It is a way saying that the country is beyond redemption, so we might as well choose a candidate who expresses our despair, a candidate who employs the same low aspirations and brutal methods that have characterized our politics for the past generation. Yes, Clinton is exceedingly bright, and perhaps quite competent, but at a moral and a spiritual level, in matters of vision and leadership, she is simply another pol. McCain, though a decent man, seems to be even less than that. Together, they represent business as usual, and for the nation, at this crucial moment, business as usual constitutes despair, a firm conviction that we can do nothing truly to right this country, reinvigorate and renew our national purpose.

I am not convinced that Obama will be a great or even a good president; the vagaries of his policies and of his commitment to battle give me real pause. But I am convinced that if we do not choose him, if we do not take the chance on this man who suggests such extraordinary possibilities, we will all know we have chosen despair. The press will not mention it, because the press in its "knowingness" is a large part of that despair. And the politicians will say nothing because it is despair that keeps them in office. Only the people, here and there, will privately express to each other their disappointment that this man, who seemed, really, of a different order, never got to lead us. And we will know that this rare opportunity, missed once, will be unlikely to offer itself again.

Comments

[MidaFo]

There is something wrong in America and Bean's letter is a pretty good attempt at defining what it is.

[civitat]

Absolutely right! Politics will always be imperfect, but Obama has an honesty, thoughtfulness, and ability to inspire that are remarkable. I'm a professor on a large university campus (in that purplest of places, Columbus, Ohio) and I'm particularly struck by the enthusiasm that under-30 voters feel for Obama. These young voters aren't naive--they're actually more sophisticated than most older voters I talk to. The youngest generation of voters sees the nuances in all of our challenges, and they respond to Obama as the candidate who can best help us navigate those complex issues, rather than dispensing the same old, rigid formulas.

[SeriousBlack]

PERFECTLY SAID.

[SeriousBlack]

YES.

[Aaror]

It has been the fortunate salvation of our fragile republic that each time the dark clouds descend upon us a great man has stepped forth, often unexpectedly, often in the form of a man we did not expect to be great. Some have been born great, and some have had greatness thrust upon them. We would not exist as a nation, or at least not as the nation we became, if it was not for these great men. Not just Washington, Jefferson, Adams and Hamilton, but also FDR and Teddy, Lincoln and Truman and Wilson.
Again the clouds gather, again the thunder rolls. We can see within Obama the spark of greatness, but one must hope that the same spark is hidden deep within both Clinton and McCain. Else you do lose all hope if the election goes awry.
Bush will be remembered as a worse president than Grant and Nixon rolled together in a burreto of criminality and incompitence. He cannot now save us from ourselves. And yet, the winds of change already blow, and we can either rail at the wind or learn to use it.

[chlllfactor]

I, too, am hopeful of the political process actually working. However, I have to agree with the blogger who said that America may not be ready for change. People fear change; they are more comfortable with the status quo and are afraid to make a grab for the brass ring. Senator Obama has pulled more new voters into the voting process and brought them to the ballot boxes in numbers not seen since the days of JFK. Senator Obama offers hope and a new way of approaching issues in the political arena. However, voters are so turned off by the Bush-Clinton-Bush dynasty that they are mistrustful of any one promoting new ideas and the concept of change. What a sad state of affairs for our country.

[OtayPanky]

I'm sorry - but anyone who talks about ANY candidate as "America's Last Hope" is waiting for Jesus...or Godot...or maybe even Hitler (there, I invoked Godwin's Law).

Obama is a good man - and my sincere hope is that he will become a great president. But if he doesn't - for whatever reason - I think there are other good, sincere men and women in public service who could be inspired by his example and perform well.

It is wise to remember that - when America is working - we are a nation of laws, not men. And the founders of our country - great (and flawed) men like Washington and Jefferson - specifically designed our government so that no man (or woman) would EVER be America's last hope.

I'll say it again: get a grip.

[Maxzx]

Good thoughts but I think its unwise to conflate Clinton-McCain too much. There is a huge difference between Republican & Democratic policies.

This is a once in a generation chance to nominate a candidate & elect a president who carries the hopes of such a diverse coalition of Americans.

Lets hope we raise to the challenge

[netgecko99]

McCain and Clinton have differed on what they think Congress should do. They seem to be awfully similar on what the Executive branch should do - their foreign policies are based on a big stick, they're both secretive and anti-transparency, and both believe in general business-as-usual.

[grendl]

I think this country needs to be realistic in its goals, and not pin the last hope moniker on Barack Obama, because it does sound a bit messianic. That's not to diminish him, or what he's done to energize the democratic party, with his message of hope, and unity, it's just that we're setting ourselves up for a catastrophic let down when the day after his inauguration the clouds do not part, the birds do not sing, rainbows do not form on the horizon leading to some magical land in which the corruption and neglect of the Bush administration is undetectable.

It's going to take more than one man, and we need to heed the message of JFK, even in an instance like this, when a hero has been made so readily available to us. We have to take it upon ourselves to save this country and save this planet, not expect him to. I feel a bit for Barack, who must go to bed wondering what the hell do these people expect from me. Some expect him to wave a magic wand, and racial divides will disappear. Well, there's a helluva lot of anger in the black community still, and Reverend Wright's words, as reprehensible as they might be to many, have a ring of truth to those who have drawn the short straw in the socioeconomic lottery.

And he's allowed his first amendment right to express his anger, just as Geraldine is allowed hers to make insinuations like she made.

We have to be realistic in our goals. Instead of declaring a war of terror, for instance, why didn't we settle for getting the sons of bitches who flew four airplanes into the twin towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field. Would that have been so difficult? No, it has to be heightened rhetoric these days, in order for the masses to get behind it.

Well, I don't believe Barack is our last hope, nor is Hillary, nor Senator McCain. As long as we continue to have a conscience in this country, individuals will arise to lend a voice to our collective hopes, and fears, hopefully as eloquently as Mr. Obama. Yes, he has ignited the electorate, but we're like a man who's been crawling across the desert for eight years. Even the sound of water is a welcome change.

[Thorn]

So anyone who doesn't revel in Obama's speech is -- as you say -- a "quisling"? Wow. (Do you know what that word means?)

[Thorn]

(Gonna take the 24 hours of silence as a "No.")

[DeSwiss]

Excellant! {applause}

[Halsey]

Please please...as tempting as it is..don't think these thoughts...they are far too powerful..
that we would get what we deserve in McCain or HRC...like we did with W and Cheney..
I was stunned when Kerry lost...stunned when Gore lost (well..sort of lost..you know what I mean)..that it could have even been CLOSE beween Gore and W was the crusher.. I don't understand this country..when a Bear Stearns can be bailed out..yet wounded Vets still await medical care...and Katrina victims still await FEMA checks...

I DO Believe Obama could and would be a GREAT president. I look beyond his gifts of oratory...I trust my gut..and my gut tells me...we just might have a shot at redemption IF he is our next President.

If HRC wins...she will be a one-termer..same for McCain..and lord knows..McCain will pick another nutjob (neo con) for VEEP...to get those votes...then he will die in office (old age or something natural)....

The reign of boy George has brought us a national debt that even Bill Clinton couldn't fix...W's brought back hoovervilles...and an endless conflagration in Iraq... that he even has a 30%approval rating is mind boggling...30% still like him?

Just think Good thoughts..let's get karma working for us!

[OldNass]

Mr. Bean-

This is a brilliant letter. Regrettably, all of it is true: the simultaneous sense of our own possibilities articulated and reflected back to us by an extraordinary person to find wandering into U.S. politics; and the conviction that no one that serious and thoughtful could possibly emerge atop the trivialized national discourse and blinking neon lights we accept as a culture. We're amusing ourselves to death, and too habituated to change now. The Clintons (Bill "We're all Eisenhower Republicans now" and Hillary "as far as I know....") and the Republicans: we would have had to do a lot more than we did over the last 30 years to create the conditions to get anyone better.

Howard Dean bested the Clintons in the race for DNC chair, and he bested the million dollar consultants when he called for a 50 state strategy. But he thinks he doesn't have the muscle to call a halt to the Clintons scorched earth policy, and he's too timid to do the things that would rally others around him to take that stand.

But speaking of timid, at least Dean shows his face. Where is Edwards or Gore, or the Democratic Congressional campaign committee, while the Clintons savage the millions of young people that stream into the Obama campaign? When was the last time people in their teens and twenties gravitated towards anything related to the Democratic Party? How many chances to realign U.S. politics do the Democrats think they will ever get? Or is that precisely the problem--the Democrats make too good a living at the same old stand. Yes, give us the James Carvilles, there's public policy pitched at the level to which we're accustomed.

Besides this striking commentary, Henry, in The Believer you made a great film.

[candlegravity]

Well thought out, and precisely how a very large portion of the American public feels. Thank you for putting so many of our feelings into words Mr. Bean.

[XYZ]

Stop your dispare Obama has more money, than Clinton. It's kinda like the cold war, he will just outspend her. She is running into the red, her campaign is about to fall apart at the seams. Unfortunatly for her she still has another 4 weeks till the next primary. Obama for better or worse has hijacked her news cycle. He is already running 3 ads in PA. Hillary will have to slow down on the trail she just doesn't have the money. I don't know if he will win PA but 4 weeks and he is hitting the trail as hard as ever, plus almost 2,000,000 donors, that is a very big net of money. He added almost 1 million donors in less than 30 days.

[rflctammt]

Me too!

Yes WE can!

[rflctammt]

The above comment is in response to Debwarot's comment which was complimenting ParagrafH's comment - which is complimenting Mr. Bean's post.