Obama's Brand Of Politics Is What We Need

Hate & Fear May Win Elections
But They Don't Produce Results

Barack Obama was born four years before black Americans won the right to vote with the Voting Rights Act. That same man in that same country now stands poised to lead it.

In Iowa, Barack Obama has passed his first test on his way to the White House. More importantly, the American people have passed their first test toward empowering themselves in the post-Bush era. What happened last night in Iowa is a testament to what can happen when people demand change. It stands in great contrast to the politics of fear and hopelessness perpetrated by the Bush administration over the past seven years.

After 9/11 George W. Bush could have appealed to the better angels of our nature by uniting the country and the world against the threats that we face around the globe. Instead, he employed the politics of division and fear to consolidate his power and assure himself re-election.

While this brand of negative politics did help Bush edge out a victory in the 2004 election, it has failed him in the governance of this nation.

George Bush's politics produced an underwhelming response to al-Qaeda and international terrorism and it has instead thrown our nation into two wars that we are losing.

It has enabled corporate greed and worsened the economic challenges of those who were already suffering.

It has given us the largest national debt and the largest deficits in our history while doing absolutely nothing to empower people who struggle to do better.

It has put American citizens under surveillance and has attempted to make enemies of the state out of George Bush and Dick Cheney's political opposition.

It has produced an embarrassing government overreach in response to personal decisions of Terri Schiavo's family and it has produced a critical failure of the government to help and protect the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Hate and fear may win elections, but they don't produce results when it is time to get things done.

Barack Obama offers the greatest departure from the Bush Administration just as we need it. When Obama was down in the polls and looking defeated through the spring, the summer and the autumn, he rejected calls from pundits and establishment hacks to employ nasty slash and burn tactics. Rather, in the most positive way possible, he drew contrasts between himself and opponents and made an argument about what kind of country we could be. He didn't tap into anger and he didn't tap into hate. By identifying the problems we face and offering solutions, Mr. Obama tapped into hope and promise.

As someone who worked in politics for a number of years, I have seen cowardice where I wished there was courage. I have seen it from both Republicans and Democrats, even Democrats I have worked for.

I have seen rancor where I should have seen deliberation.

I have seen partisanship where I should have seen thoughtfulness.

I have seen darkness in American politics, and for too long I have seen establishment politicians add to that darkness.

Sen. Obama knows that when there is darkness that you defeat it not by turning up the heat, but rather turning on the light. I am confident that this brand of politics will not only deliver a victory but that it will also produce results when Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of The United States.