Obama and the Courage of our Convictions

A year or so ago I wrote a book entitled The Courage of Our Convictions. It urged Democratic leaders to restate the principles that guided the party successfully through the age of Roosevelt (1932-1968): commitment to national community, security alliances, citizen obligation, and equality and justice. Only when our principles are clear can voters know who we are and identify with us and can we develop persuasive and effective policies,and programs. Principles, policies, programs.

The Iowa caucus results seem to support this ideal. Senator Obama is a man of principle. He is committed to restoring a sense of national community to America. He believes in restoring our security alliances through active diplomacy and engaging those who disagree with us in constructive dialogue. He restates the requirement that we all give something back to America, to become engaged in the public arena, in the national interest. And, most important, he is the walking embodiment of equality and justice.

Already the Obama candidacy has sent a powerful message around a watching world: The torch has been passed to a new generation of American leaders, and we don't care what color it is.

As one who has struggled throughout a lifetime for restoration of idealism to American politics, I can only smile, and perhaps shed a tear of happiness, that our time may have come.

This is a new day in America. Let's call it hope.

Comments

[JohnCitizen]

CONGRATULATIONS TO IOWA AGAIN!

America should congratulate Iowans for doing their duty again, that is, picking the worst possible Democratic candidate, as they have done frequently including John Kerry in 2004. Part of the problem is the crazy Iowa caucus system, but the biggest factor is allowing Republicans to help pick the Democrat who they think is easiest to defeat. Someday, just maybe, America will have a primary system where the real swing states (right now FLORIDA and OHIO) decide who the candidate is? Of course, that would be logical, meaningful and ridiculous. Now instead, we get the government we deserve!

[Boyaca]

It was fantastic that Obama won. But any of the group of candidates would be an improvement over the monkey we have in the White House at this moment. Just the fact that they can speak english is a huge plus. But I really think that Edwards is the only candidate with his finger on the pulse of american citizens. At least those who´s lives have been completely upended by this orgy of corporate greed that has swept the USA over the past 30 years.He is bang on about health care, global trade and taxes.

[SBL]

"Hope" is essential; however, it should be pinned to something earthbound, like experience. I am sorry that in the wake of Obama's victory we lost the highly-qualified Joe Biden and Chris Dodd. It's very frustrating for me as a Democrat who hasn't had the chance to vote in a primary yet to already have my field winnowed.

[ultomatt]

Sorry, but that lump in your throat is a tumor. How people get excited about ANY politician, is beyond me.

Here's a few comments on Obama's advisors, by Alan Nairn on Democracy Now a couple of days ago...

"...Obama adviser, Anthony Lake, he was the main force behind the US invasion of Haiti in the mid-Clinton years during which they brought back Aristide essentially in political chains, pledged to support a World Bank/IMF overhaul of the economy, which resulted in an increase in malnutrition deaths among Haitians and set the stage for the current ongoing political disaster in Haiti.

Another Obama adviser, General Merrill McPeak, an Air Force man, who not long after the Dili massacre in East Timor in ’91—I happened to see on Indonesian TV shortly after that—there was General McPeak overseeing the delivery to Indonesia of US fighter planes.

Another key Obama adviser, Dennis Ross. He oversaw US policy toward Israel/Palestine. He pushed the principle that the legal rights of the Palestinians, the rights recognized under international law, must be subordinated to the needs of the Israeli government—in other words, their desires, their desires to expand to do whatever they want in the Occupied Territories. And Ross was one of the people who, interestingly, led the political assault on former Democratic President Jimmy Carter. Carter, no peacenik—I mean, Carter is the one who bears ultimate responsibility for that Timor terror that Holbrooke was involved in. But Ross led an assault on him, because, regarding Palestine, Carter was so bold as to agree with Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa that what Israel was doing in the Occupied Territories was tantamount to apartheid. And so, Ross was one of those who fiercely attacked him.

Another Obama adviser, Sarah Sewall, who heads a human rights center at Harvard and is a former Defense official, she wrote the introduction to General Petraeus’s Marine Corps/Army counterinsurgency handbook, the handbook that is now being used worldwide by US troops in various killing operations. That’s the Obama team."

[MarkInEugene]

Gary: Your comments demonstrate that you are man with a heart.

As an Edward’s supporter it may sound strange, but I was so proud and uplifted by our fellow Iowan's for doing the impossible Thursday night.

By voting for Barrack Obama, Iowan's sent a stunning message of hope and change to, not only the nation, but to the world.

Today we salute Iowans for their courage and wisdom in giving all of America this rare, joyous, historical moment!

We can't thank you enough!

[factanonverba]

I for one am not charmed. Charm works in finishing school, not in politics. Obama is now fully exposed as the radar focuses on his lack of substance. It is great to promise hope but does hope look like in an Obama world.

There a number of people making comparisons to Bobby Kennedy. Kennedy didn't break labour unions, Obama does.

[Progress08]

If, like me, you receive 10 emails a week from the DCCC, or the DNC, or the DSCC Please start contacting them with this reply:


Every week I receive a bevy of emails from you requesting money. I usually give money directly to candidates, but I'll make you a promise. If you can get Pelosi and Reid to Impeach Cheney and/or Bush I'll give you $100. Additionally, I'll campaign with everyone I know to get donations sent to the DCCC.

If 200,000 signatures won't do it and tens of thousands of hand written letter won't move them, maybe we can bribe them.... They are politicians after all.

[Tonto2]

I think you've missed a not so subtle point.

Sen. Obama wants to fix the health care system with the help of the health care providers and insurers. That's pretty much hiring the foxes to guard the chickens.

Sen. Obama has been bought and paid for by most or all of the same interests that own Sen. Clinton.

Further, his ducking the vote on Kyl/Lieberman is not a sign of idealism or courage, but slippery triangulation.

You'll have to wait at least another election cycle for idealism or courage to enter the arena.

[realistic2008]

Gary, even though I support John Edwards, I will abosultely work hard for Obama will he be the nominee, particularly after I read your reasoning.
Best regards for the NEW YEAR and hopefully later in the year for a NEW REPUBLIC without Republican­s..

[researcher]

I do not believe that a society can stop the decline of a country. it is more than just electing politicans.

the mere fact that this country has not taken to the streets to protest this war in iraq says bundles about the mentality of our society.

we are imperialists at heart and many are war mongers. politicans are only a reflection of the voters mentality.

this country is bi polar and neither side will compromise.

the war in iraq for oil based on lies and fear mongering and 47 million without health care says it all about the american mentality.

too many years of capitalism and individualism and materialism has warped our minds into an arrogant me me society.

[msmaggie]

My concern about Obama is that he will be built up by the media in this sort of rock star fashion, the end game being that he, nor anyone, will be able to live up to the hype. Hope I'm wrong.

[doug108]

I don't know, dude. It's only Iowa. And, they did put Huckabee first, too.

And what about Obama as the candidate of change? What change is he bringing? I liked Obama a lot before that anti-gay preacher thing. Now, I'm not so sure he's that much different from any other pandering politician.

[CommanderWhitehead]

Dear Barticus, who are these advisors "of all political stripes" that you refer to?

A secondly, you don't really explain why he's at all comfortable being surrounded by the particularly nefarious gang that Allan Nairn lists in his piece at Democracynow.org, yesterday.

Also, (and this relates to domestic politics) please tell me how Obama was able to conclude that both the "Katrina" disaster, and the "Jena Six" controversy had no "racial" components, whatsoever.

I worry that many of us are so desperate for change that we're susceptible to serious delusion. Obama will carry water for the same folks that we are all presently appalled by (or he would have been erased by the corporate media months ago).

[Kane]

Sen. Hart,

Your recognizing that Sen. Obama is a man of principle is greatly appreciated. However, your praise of Sen. Obama certainly would have carried far more weight had you made this statement a day before the Iowa caucus rather than a day after. Such a statement would have been an example of the courage of your convictions. Instead, I am left wondering if you would have made a similar statement of praise if Sen. Clinton or Sen. Edwards or Sen. Biden or any of the other Democratic candidates had won.

[rbjep]

I hate to throw cold water on all this euphoria, but I have a sneeking hunch some Repubs. came to the Dem. caucus to vote for Obama as the candidate least likely to win in the national election.