Barack Obama: “Lay Off My Wife” 

Barack Obama, “Lay off My Wife!”

Barack Obama delivered these words to the Tennessee Republican Party a few days ago.

I loved it! At last, I exulted, here is a person with spine who will not take bullying and bullies lying down. The spineless Democrats have at last, and very late, found a candidate who has a bit of steel.

Once there was Dukakis. The GOP attached him via the Willy Horton ads. He either didn’t know how to respond or thought so much about how to do it that he never did it with any power and credibility. Then there was Bill Clinton whose politics of charm was nothing much more than that, and no match for the bullies.  Same with Al Gore in 2000, always looking to find a way to be “nice”.  To say nothing of John Kerry in 2004.  The bullies had a super time with him, literally blew him out of the water. He showed no steel.

So Obama has shown some steel. McKain and company, beware! Obama very clearly has sent them a message.  They know that he knows things about them that they would prefer the country didn’t know. And I think they are beginning to realize that he knows how to use that information – and will use it if they are not careful in what they do.  Witness the scurrying going on now in the McCain camp to “purge” the top ranks of the McKain campaign leaders of people with big lobbying connections. This is not un-related to their growing realization that Obama means business.

So more power to Obama for his quality of steel. And one also has to say that Hilary Clinton also has that edge of steel.  So the Democrats at last have come up with two leaders with spine. For decades they have fallen all over themselves to be “nice guys”.  Probably because they don’t really have the vision or caring or stamina that might generate the will and strength to do what needs doing when it needs doing.

Obama will probably be the Democratic nominee.  We’ll see if the steel he exhibits on behalf of his wife, and on behalf of civilized political discourse, will also be applied to the policy issues he declares he cares deeply about in this campaign.  He wants to win.  At least he’s got that clear: wasn’t true of Gore or Kerry.  But it is true of him.

But in the wings, the Greens have a truly courageous and powerful person with spine and steel to spare. Cynthia McKinney will in all likelihood get the Green Party nomination for president in Chicago July 10-12. If Obama gets elected and if his “steel” isn’t up to the task-- or his party does not match his strength, or both (and that is likely), then Cynthia and the Green Party will show a way forward. Then, as well, the millions of people who will be disappointed yet again with the Democrats will turn to her and the Green Party.

John Rensenbrink
May 20, 2008

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