The Clintons' campaign increasingly exemplifies a sense of 'entitlement” to the White House that's completely out of step with a country that's endured seven years of the ultimate in leadership of, by and for the privileged. Much of what George W. Bush has done is simply an expansion of Clinton-era policies—which any honest assessment reveals. Hollywood blockbusters aside, you really CAN'T go “back to the future”--which is what“Billary” offers.
No matter who wins, it will be up to progressive movements to hold their feet to the fire to get us out of Iraq quickly, to re-think economic policies on trade, jobs, workers' rights, to restore our Constitution's civil liberties (destroyed not only by Bush's “war on terrorism” but, also Bill Clinton's “war on drugs”) and to (finally) address a range of pressing problems from health care to education inequities and global warming. So, my question about what candidate to support is: Who will be most open to listening to progressive movements? Who has the life experience that would give them REAL empathy for the real lives of all kinds of Americans? Who has a vision that could re-ignite widespread political engagement by ordinary Americans?
Edwards was the candidate I leaned most strongly towards but, I confess that I'm catching some Obama fever. Having spent my entire adult life fighting the backlash that aims to reverse all progressive victories, I'm as hungry for inspiration as anyone. I'm in that 'in-between” generation---too young to be a Baby Boomer who participated in the 1960s, too old to be one of the Millennial Generation.
But, we've already had two Baby Boomer presidents representing:Bush I and Bill Clinton and I've voted Green since 1996. Looking to a new generation and a message of hope might be just the tonic our movements—and the nation—need to get closer to the future we want. As another African-American leader understood, holding on to a dream is half the battle for real change.
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