2008 Woodie Awards
Our Democratic Candidates
Amanda Arbour
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Opinion
For months all we've been hearing about is Obama v. Clinton, as the American media has endlessly speculated on the front-runners' campaigns. During the first few months of debates, Clinton and Obama each made concerted efforts to differentiate themselves from the other by articulating their policy proposals. Their positions on Iraq, healthcare, the economy, and many other issues were televised and re-hashed until everyone knew where they stood.
But in the last few months as the wide field has narrowed to two, the nature of the campaign has shifted from policy to persona. When it comes down to it, the two candidates really have similar plans for moving our country forward. Yes, there are important differences in how they would do that, but both want to end the war in Iraq, both want to reform healthcare, and they have shared goals on a host of other issues. So the American people have ceased to ask, "What policies would you enact?" and have turned the focus to a different question: "What kind of President will you be?" This is a much more fundamental question, and indeed one that is much harder to answer. It is easy to look at the bullet points of a candidate's platform, but much more difficult to discern how they will lead your country.
I have considered this question a great deal, and concluded that it is a basic ideological difference that separates Obama and Clinton. He is the idealist - she is the pragmatist. He wants to take on the political establishment in Washington - she has spent a lifetime working within that establishment. He is a unifier ready to reach across the aisle - she is a fighter ready to do battle.
In many ways Obama is the rock star of American politics. Everywhere he goes he draws huge crowds, and the student demographic has latched onto him as one of their own. He is a very engaging speaker, inspiring people with his message of hope and unity. People of all political persuasions are drawn to him, and like no other politician in recent history, he has given a lot of Americans hope about the future of our country.
But in the last few months as the wide field has narrowed to two, the nature of the campaign has shifted from policy to persona. When it comes down to it, the two candidates really have similar plans for moving our country forward. Yes, there are important differences in how they would do that, but both want to end the war in Iraq, both want to reform healthcare, and they have shared goals on a host of other issues. So the American people have ceased to ask, "What policies would you enact?" and have turned the focus to a different question: "What kind of President will you be?" This is a much more fundamental question, and indeed one that is much harder to answer. It is easy to look at the bullet points of a candidate's platform, but much more difficult to discern how they will lead your country.
I have considered this question a great deal, and concluded that it is a basic ideological difference that separates Obama and Clinton. He is the idealist - she is the pragmatist. He wants to take on the political establishment in Washington - she has spent a lifetime working within that establishment. He is a unifier ready to reach across the aisle - she is a fighter ready to do battle.
In many ways Obama is the rock star of American politics. Everywhere he goes he draws huge crowds, and the student demographic has latched onto him as one of their own. He is a very engaging speaker, inspiring people with his message of hope and unity. People of all political persuasions are drawn to him, and like no other politician in recent history, he has given a lot of Americans hope about the future of our country.
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