When I got home from work late last night, I came across a
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4548862">poignant post regarding the Clintons, and their roots within the DLC. The OP’s composer, in my opinion, layed out a very fair synopsis of the DLC, their agenda, and how the Clintons figure into their ideals and view of the democratic party at-large. The thread points to the true distinctions between the two Senators. It’s not policies that speak to their differences; it’s their agendas that should be focused upon.
Within this “even handed” post, the writer pointed out both the good and the bad of the Clinton years, including the founding of AmeriCorps. By bringing up this program in particular, he incited a sub-thread questioning why such a perceived “hit piece” would list such a successful Clinton program.
Lost in the 250+ responses, in the wee hours of the morning, I weighed in with what I think personifies a large contingent of Obama supporters. I would like to share this with the community.
I am voting for Obama. The OP's pen is singing to the choir with me, though I still hold Hillary and Bill close to my heart. This program is one of the reasons why. But I believe that a good program, does not qualify as a justification to over turn my reasoned understanding of the peril we face as a nation.
The program, though it tends to have an "amateurish feel" at times in its execution of services, plays such a pivotal roll in urban (not abreast of rural) blight reduction. It was one of the key ingredients in Ed Rendell's Renaissance of Philadelphia circa '95.
I can unequivocally say that AmeriCorps saves lives, and pull neighborhoods back from the brink. But I can not, in good conscience, allow the powers that have been running our "cut and run" congress; as so the Telecoms go, replace atrocious with as tamer version of the same. A government that I'm sure will be dogged trough out it's tenure in the White House by the Rethugs, not so much because they have such unharmonistic goals, but because they can't get over not being in the divers seat, and will jeopardize everything to rest that power back.
Remember the episode of West Wing, when Toby and Josh are sitting at the bar after getting left behind by the motorcade with Donna, I think it was “20 Hours in America”? They met a guy there that’s taking his daughter to see Notre Dame. He's worried about paying for college, and confides in Toby “It should be a little easier," he tells Toby. "Just a little easier."
This kind of sums up what I hope to deny fruition with my vote for Obama:
A government in which, can only reach that at risk American who only needs a nudge from the edge of despair to thrive, that can only throw a rope over that edge.
America is there on that edge,
and this is my vote;
this is my rope,
and this,
is my hope.