I am not a pundit. I am not an expert. I am simply an American who wants what he believes is best for America.
And what I think is best for this country is the first election of a woman to the presidency of the United States. And just like that, I have shown my bias toward Sen. Hillary Clinton.
I mention this because in the past few days I have been asked by newspapers and other media concerns to opine about Hillary’s chances to be the Democratic nominee and to discuss what her options are and what she should do. I have been consistent in my refusal to suggest any course of action other than that which my friend, the senator from New York, deems appropriate for herself.
The reason is simple. It is because Hillary Clinton has worked harder than any person I know of to become America’s president. She has had to work hard because, as those of us who grew up in the ’60s know so well, women have always had to work twice as much and twice as long just to be noticed.
She knows what it takes to be president and she wouldn’t be putting herself through this most grueling of nomination fights if she didn’t — way deep down — believe that she is the best person for the job.
This has nothing to do with whether Sen. John McCain or Sen. Barack Obama believe they are the best qualified for the job. If they didn’t believe that, they wouldn’t be out there every day doing what they do. The fact is that running for president, and the presidency itself, has to be the hardest job on the planet.
So what I believe or, frankly, what the talking heads, the party leaders, the blowhards on talk radio and cable “news” shows believe is irrelevant. If the candidates think the White House is worth the fight, it is their decision and theirs alone to make.
Besides, whether you want to count all the votes and respect all the voters, or want to do what the Republicans did in 2000 and count only the votes that will let one side or the other claim victory, the fact remains that there are rules to be followed — or not — and the most important one of all is that it takes a majority of delegates to win.
As best as I can tell, neither Obama nor Clinton has a majority of the delegates — an outcome that we probably won’t know until the convention in Denver — so there is no reason to stop counting or to stop campaigning.
Just because the party leaders are scared that they may lose to McCain if this drags on too long is not, in itself, reason to short-circuit the democratic process. It is clearly a reason why the ridiculous rules under which the Democrats are trying to govern themselves must be changed before the next group of candidates is put through the same ringer that is chewing up two very spirited and lively campaigners.
So I will not be one of those weak-kneed Democrats — remember, I have been a Democrat for only four months — who cringes at the thought of any kind of confrontation, any use of hard language or any employment of tactics that, by comparison with what the Republicans will throw against the Democratic nominee, are mere child’s play.
Instead, I cheer the process that has invigorated millions of Americans to participate. I applaud Obama and Clinton for energizing young people, old people, African-Americans and middle class mothers and fathers to participate in this most historic election cycle. And I celebrate this most democratic display of enfranchisement, which for far too long has been a burden to Americans rather than a blessing.
All that said, I do have an opinion about what should be done if the Democrats want to win the White House. It is based on a belief that, right or wrong, I don’t believe Barack Obama can beat John McCain in November. I do believe Hillary can walk to the finish line.
I realize fully half the members of the Democratic Party disagree with me — they would be the people who have voted and will vote for Obama — and I am prepared for the onslaught. But, a careful reading of the exit polls in practically every major state that will be in play in November tells us that white, middle-class voters and senior citizens would just as soon stay home or vote for McCain than cast a vote for a man they still don’t know or, based on what they believe they know, will not even consider the thought.
Understand, that is what I believe today. The whole world can change tomorrow and Barack Obama could become the darling of the swing voters, just as he has become the champion of the far left of the Democratic Party. In that case, he will win because, frankly, this is the year of the Democrat. Losing to McCain would not only be a bad defeat, it would be one for the record books. It is really hard to lose a sure thing!
We all know that the polling this year has been wrong at best. I believe one major reason is that we have an African-American and a woman running for office. People, for good or bad reasons, don’t tell the truth to pollsters when it comes to race or gender. The truth usually comes out in the polling booth, and that truth says that, in the states he must win as a Democrat, he is not doing very well.
So here’s what I think. Whether they like each other or not — and I think deep down they could like each other with time and a cooldown from the heat of the campaign — the division in the Democratic Party on both candidates’ behalf is too deep to heal the wounds between now and November.
It is not just the emotional investment that won’t let some voters open themselves to another possibility; it is a well-reasoned belief that either of the candidates is not compatible with the belief systems of the voters on the other side. There is also a less noble persuasion that is rooted in the fear of the “other,” be it the black other or the female other. It is a barrier that can be broken, but probably not by November.
For all the rhetoric about race- and gender-baiting, this nominating process has been very healthy for at least the Democratic side of the American voting ledger. This debate had to happen, and now is as good a time as any and, as we are learning, may even be a little late. And when this one is fully aired, there is a black-brown discussion that needs to be had and disposed of properly.
We live in a time when a black man or a woman can make history. For sure, together, they will make history and do right by America. If they were to run together, the question, of course, would be who should get the top spot and who the second position.
I am certain Obama’s folks believe he is either entitled to or deserving of the presidential nod. I am also certain that Clinton’s folks believe she should lead the ticket. Nothing short of the votes needed for certain nomination will change those positions.
So why don’t they do what most adults would do in the circumstances? Unless there is a Solomon out there who can make the case that persuades one or the other, they should have a meeting in which they set the ground rules for the role and responsibility the vice president would have in the next administration. It would have to be substantial and meaningful because their supporters would be looking at that agreement as a reason to come out to the polls.
Once that is done, the two candidates should square off, shake hands and call the toss of a coin. I know this is the presidency we are talking about, but I also know people have chosen sides and aren’t likely to move unless they perceive something fair and square has taken place.
We accept the coin toss in every other facet of our lives. We know it is fair and, in this case, it will give America — or at least Democrats — a ticket made up of the two people they like most in the world to be president.
Once that is done, the two of them can make the case to America. An America waiting to change and an America needing to change.
Brian Greenspun is editor of the Las Vegas Sun.
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