A Contrast in Character - Why it counts

FrenchieCat

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Fri Mar-21-08 03:38 PM
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A Contrast in Character - Why it counts

I'm mulling over the occurrences of these past two weeks in reference to the Dem Presidential campaign, and trying to sort it all out. There are many lessons to have been learned by the American people in this short time, and that's why we are living history.

I've come to a few conclusions, and here's my thinking:

Hillary Clinton and by extension, Bill Clinton both were familiar with Rev. Wright. Not only did they know of him, i.e., his reputation (his 3 presidential commendations from LBJ), but they actually knew him (prior to Wright being vilified by the media).

There is that picture of Wright at Clinton's Prayer Breakfast (now part of my sig line), on the occasion of Bill Clinton repenting publicly for his sins called "caught lying about Monica Lewinsky". It appear that Jeremiah Wright was a powerful and respected enough figure to have been included on the guest list, as well as being the recipient of a thank you note for his attendance.

The event, in where Wright was in attendance, was without any doubt Bill and Hillary Clinton's greatest hour in need, politically as well as personally. Ironically, there is strong evidence that Rev. Wright was sitting next to Hillary Clinton during that dinner. If that is the case, my analysis is that much more compelling.

In sum, while Rev. Wright was there for the Clintons in their hour of need, they, in turn, were more than willing to sit on the sideline and watch Wright be taken down when it benefited them the most. More telling is Bill Clinton's remark once the photo of him and Wright was published, in where he knifed Rev. Wright one more time by dismissing their acquaintance by his retort; I, Bill Clinton shake thousands of hands.

IN CONTRAST,

Barack Obama has been up and he has been down in this Democratic Presidential race. The incessant playing of the sliced and diced video of the Wright rantings were definitely a down moment for the Obama Campaign. However, Obama, facing the music did something short of miraculous; gave the kind of speech that no one could ignore, and opened up a dialog long overdue in this country. He was able to simultaneously put the media pundit head on the defensive and the offensive, while speaking on a much deeper level to the American people. In other words, Obama forced our nation to think about our future and the path to it (and we are all still thinking about this). And no, he didn't betray his loyalty to Rev. Wright, although he did renounce the words that Wright had spoken. And no, he didn't betray his loyalty to his Grandmother; he held her up as an example that most Americans could connect with. I'm sure that his grandmother would be pleased that her grandson did this; as she will be forever connected to the common American experience.

And then we have today........when Gov. Bill Richardson endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, and in so doing, telegraphed something crucial in a small part of his speech, when he recounted the Debate story, where Barack, having a choice, gave Richardson the help that he needed. As small as that gesture might have seemed at the time, what it told Richardson is that Obama is not the sort willing to do whatever is politically expedient for himself....even in the short view. It would have been easy for Obama not to have helped Richardson out, as he had himself had nothing to gain from it, but instead he instinctually chose to.

In short, I'm hopeful that you get what I am saying; that the truth to be told is that character matters. Obama appears to have an abundance of it. That can only be good for this country, and that's why there is a difference between the Democratic candidates and indeed, we do have a choice.