Dear Arianna,
You've asked me to write 100 words on why I think it's foolish to endorse a candidate right now, on March 14, 2007. Well, my answer may surprise you. I don't think it's foolish to endorse a candidate at this early stage, especially if the endorsement comes for a candidate who, above all others, meets their criteria as someone who they think should become the next American President. I am the last person to take away anybody's passion or studied belief. Incidentally, what I think as an individual probably matters to no one other than myself. So, if you decide to print this, please take that into consideration.
I was an early supporter of Bill Clinton and Gary Hart because I believed those individuals,at that particular time, embodied what I felt were requirements to lead this country. Among the many things they talked about was National Service required of all people at age 18, with no deferments. I still believe that this ought to be a requirement.
We are at probably the most dangerous moment of our history since the beginning of World War II. It therefore requires an extraordinary individual who will be a President for all the people, be it Republicans or Democrats -- a President who deals with people's feelings and thoughts and will bring out the best in all of us. We want a President who is curious. We're looking for leaders who, in a changing global world driven by technology and the internet and threats of asymmetrical warfare with the potential to blow us all to pieces, will guide us wisely and without arrogance and hubris. We need leaders who realize that we live in a world in which instant images are broadcast simultaneously all over the world so that no one can get away with behaving inhumanely. We are all interdependent. We want the people of this nation to be proud to be Americans, led by a President that deals with the world humanely. We need a President that sees us as human beings and that we feel secure has an understanding of human suffering. We want our flag waving, not hitting people in the face.
We need a president, moreover, who recognizes the world for what it is. It is an oftentimes dangerous world and not all of the people in it are nice, sweet and benevolent. It is the nature of man to behave otherwise and we must find leaders who can show us a better way and still maintains a balanced view.
This person, in anybody's estimation, must be a leader who leads by example, who is above politics and special interests, and who knows that our future and our children's future now hang in the balance. There is not much trust these days in either the Congress or the White House or, for that matter, in institutions such as the press. We have to find someone who comes closest to our ideals, knowing full-well that there is no perfection. We need someone who can give us back our faith in our leadership.
I've always felt that this kind of leadership requires somebody who can build a consensus. We know that not everyone will agree with everything, but the American People have always stood up in times of crisis. This, in my opinion, is just such a time. We need people to vote and be a part of the process and the solution in order to operate as a credible democracy.
Our problems lie not only in the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, but also the health care system, the educational system and the need for the reinvigoration of the family, among many other issues. All of these require that each of us sacrifice something and to give up the need for the quick buck. The ultimate reward is a fair society for all the people. We area nation of immigrants bonded by a common goal - to leave our world a better place than the way we found it. That is what our forefathers lived and died for and that is our obligation to our children and our children's children.
We need to be led by a group of men and women as enlightened as our forefathers were, such as Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and F.D.R. That tall order requires me personally to pause, despite my faith in the friendship that I have with a number of the people running, because I know it's probably the most important decision I will ever have to make. Not a big deal, but big enough for me.
Warmest Regards,
Mike Medavoy