Like millions of Americans last night I too watched the Democratic debate hosted by CNN. It was our first real look at Senators Obama and Clinton side by side. By all accounts it was a very polite, but substantive debate between the two candidates as to what they believe in and where they want to take America as a nation in 2009.
As an early 40 something black woman who has voted republican pretty much in every election since 1988, I find myself really struggling with supporting someone like Senator John McCain or Governor Romney when I look at Senators Obama and Clinton and what they seemingly offer to America in this election cycle.
There are 3 kinds of conservatives (says Rush Limbaugh): Social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and military conservatives. I am 2 out of the 3 interestingly, but socially I am a moderate at best and I am a devout Christian to boot. That is because I truly believe that my personal moral and religious beliefs have no place in American politics. I am pro-life privately, but believe that abortion should be safe, legal and available for women over the age of 18. I believe in limited government, not government that wants to govern my morals, my body, or my health care.
Can you imagine if we had a political system where the morals and religious beliefs of our leaders had to become our own? Just harken back to 1998 (10 years ago now) and the Clinton sexual scandal in the White House. No thanks. I’d prefer to keep my own counsel and moral code. Moreover, going back to King Henry the 8th and why the church of England was established, remember that Henry wanted to divorce his wife Catherine and marry his mistress Ann Bolin. The Bishops, Cardinals and at least two Popes would not consent, so old Henry decided he would just do away with Catholicsm and the sancity of marriage and start his own church. And so he did. The rest is as they say history.
Thus my problem with the rhetoric I have been hearing from the GOP for years now about morals and values. Remember evangelical minister Ted Haggard? Preaching about family values and marriage all while cheating on his wife with a man nonetheless. You see the fact of the matter is that we are all sinners, all human, and we all make choices that we have to live with and accept the consequences for. We will never be able to legislate morality. The best we can do is choose leaders who posess individual character and integrity, hold them accountable and understand that they too will disappoint us at some point in their term of public service. This is just the reality folks.
As Senator Obama rightly observed last night, it is up to parents and families not Hollyweird to protect our kids from pornographic, obsence, or violent images. This is what America is about folks, freedom of thought, actions, and speech. Our morals and values come from our relationship with God and our families. We live those out because we believe that they matter and that treating other people with respect and dignity is something every human being is entitled to. Bottom line: I don’t want the moral police running America politically.
For the record, I don’t agree with either Senator Obama or Senator Clinton’s views on foreign policy or national security matters I don’t like agree with their calls for the redistrubution of wealth or of reversing established tax cuts, and I really don’t like proposals for Universal health care. I don’t support gay marriage or unions, but I do think gays should be treated with respect and dignity like all human beings.
YET I must say that I find myself feeling energized and uplifted by the passion, vision and energy on the democrat side this year. Obama is inspiring, he is idealistic and God knows we could all use a dose of optimism these days. Senator Clinton is seemingly tougher than Senator Obama on foreign affairs and would likely make a better Commander in Chief and every once in a while when she “finds her voice” and not Bill Clinton’s she impresses me with her intellect and command of the issues. Both candidates talk about and represent change by the very virtue and fact of their gender and race. They both would bring new perspectives, life experiences, and moxy to the Presidency.
I have to admit that is refreshing.
Then I look over to my own political party and what do I see? It is the same old thing again: all white, all male, all privileged (except for Huckabee). And they all are falling over themselves to be the Ronald Reagan of 2008. I am so over that and I think many Americans are also. It is true that whoever the GOP nominee is that he will have to win over the conservative base as well as win disenfranchised democrats, independents, and moderate republicans. But, I just don’t feel anything or sense any hope when I look at what the GOP is offering this year. And the talk radio hosts like Hannity, Levine, & Limbaugh have gone off the deep end over the possibility that McCain may win the nomination. That is sad.
For me, the idea of seeing a woman or black man become President in my lifetime is simply incredible. Don’t let anyone (who is honest) tell you that race and gender don’t matter in this election. They do. They matter enormously. But the real question is what will the Republicans do in this election? Will they stay home and let a democrat win by default or will they unify around the same old tired GOP agenda? Truthfully speaking John McCain is the best GOP candidate to build a coalition outside of just the conservative base. But, the conservatives may opt out in 2008 and that will spell certain victory for the democrats.
To be direct: the GOP has got to stop pandering to the legacy of Ronald Reagan and it has to start looking forward and offering American’s a hope for both their present circumstance and their futures. I long for a republican party that is true to its history and its roots. Sadly, we have no ceded that ground to the democrats. For the past 140+ years the GOP was the party of “firsts” for women and blacks. First blacks elected to Congress/Senate; first woman elected to Congress/Senate; party that freed the slaves, supported the women’s suffragist movement, first party to use the threat of military force to integrate schools in the south, and on an on.
Now look at us? Did anyone even notice in the Washington D.C. metro area that Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia called it quits the other day? That is a loss for the GOP in Congress and for the Commonwealth of Virginia where I live. Davis was a great legislator and an effective coalition/consensus builder. He singlehandidly helped the GOP gain 6 seats in the 2002 election cycle as Chairman of the NRCC. Yet, the GOP in my state would rather go backwards and support Conservative former Governor from the 1990s Jim Gilmore for Senator against popular ex-Governor Mark Warner. Sad, so very sad. As Davis noted, the party is headed in the wrong direction by putting forth social litmus tests on issues like abortion for GOP candidates running for office.
I agree. Only time will tell who is right on this issue, but I have to tell you the democrats so far are looking head and shoulders above our GOP field and that does not leave many good options for people like me in the 2008 election.