New Hampshire will have the First-In-The-Nation Presidential Primary, but most of the action really does occur elsewhere. We're not selfish about that. We like to have the first real vote, but the candidates of both parties know they have to make inroads everywhere, because after all New Hampshire IS just a one-day event sometime next January.
The visit this past week in Selma, Alabama -- or should it be called the "dueling joint tour" -- by U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, with former President Bill Clinton tagging along, was a classic I'm-a-bit-better-than-you exercise.
It was a serious moment, of course. It was the 42nd anniversary of that horrible "Bloody Sunday" civil rights march back in 1965 when African-Americans were fighting for their voting rights. Amazing that in this great nation there was a time people had to fight for equality, isn't it?
Obama, Clinton-Clinton joined one another crossing a bridge on the commemorative march, but the Presidential candidates also spoke separately to large audiences. Senator Obama drew a larger crowd than Senator Clinton, but each did respectable jobs saying what they needed to say to get enthusiastic response.
I did notice, while watching the C-Span and network news coverage and reading the newspaper articles and commentary, some real contrasting styles between these two candidates. It will be fascinating to see how each evolves his or her (isn't it great to say "her" when talking about Presidential candidates?) approaches, gestures, facial expressions, messages, themes, and emphasis during the next several months.
Barack Obama seems more free in his speaking style, although one notices frequent reference to his notes. That can be explained by his inexperience on the campaign trail, of course. Hillary Clinton doesn't seem to need to read so much of what she says, but she sure is hesitant in saying it, and says it with a certain stiffness. It's almost like she's memorized her lines, and she needs to remember which word goes first and what point comes last.
Maybe I'm being too hard on these two candidates -- after all, I like them both and as a Democrat I look forward to seeing each succeed. (For purpose of disclosure, I'm supporting Hillary Clinton.) However, I like my candidates to speak from the heart, with a mix of idealism and conviction. I'm waiting.
I'm not on the payroll of either candidate, so I'll give some free advice to them. I'd suggest they stop doing any more polls of voters, don't do the "focus groups," and forego asking their consultants and speech writers for cute one-liners or neato ways of avoiding core issues.
I'd suggest they stop trying to say things that their pollsters might be telling them people want to hear.
Instead, speak from your soul. Don't read or memorize your speeches. Tell us what YOU believe we should do to end poverty and hunger in America 2007, how YOU believe we can provide for health care for all, and what YOU will do to clean up the corruption mess of politics and Washington.
Tell us how YOU will get us out of Iraq and never get us into another mess like it. You don't have to apologize for past miss-votes and you don't have to brag that you were right way back when -- that's important and we'll make our judgment about your past mistakes or good deeds later. What we need to know is how you'll get us out of this tragedy and bring greater peace to the world.
And while I like Bill Clinton a whole lot, Hillary -- you're not going to win this on either image or nostalgia. You should use him on the campaign trail -- if former Vice President Al Gore had done more so in 2000 his second term would be about half over. But don't bring him everywhere. And while you've got some great on-the-stump speaking ability, Barack -- let's hear some real core conviction coming out from your easy flow of words. Substance is important too, and we know you've got a lot of it.
For both candidates: Challenge us. Confront the issues. Give us some solutions; don't just define the problems.
The real powerful ideas right now among the Democrats seem to be coming from former U.S. Senator John Edwards on poverty and social issues and Congressperson Dennis Kucinich on Iraq, war and peace. That might be because they don't have to play defense right now. Or it may be because the movers and shakers behind those closer to the top of the nomination mountain think they have to avoid making any mistakes, or getting anyone mad at them.
Bottom-line for me, not that I'm a bottom-line sort of guy on all of my politics: I don't think even the impressive assembly of Obama-Clinton-Clinton marching together over that Selma bridge in 2007 equaled the courage and idealism of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his small group of followers back in 1965.
I don't think he had too many consultants writing his speeches or pollsters guiding his every word and watching his every step.
Maybe I'm expecting too much for American politics and our candidates in this media-driven, make-one-mistake-and-it's-on-the-Internet world nowadays?
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