Loved it. As my husband said, “It’s not personal, it’s the dozens.” It was like that scene in Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, when Janie takes the floor in the public realm of the store and verbally castrates Joe by announcing that, when he takes down his “britches, he look lak de change of life.” One of the porch-sitters says, “Ah’d rather be shot with tacks than to hear that bout mahself,” and another says, so perfectly, so succinctly, “Ya’ll really playin the dozens tonight.”
Barack Obama’s verbal dexterity expressed his power – and his control. He remained calm and centered and defended himself against the Clinton machine that has resorted to misrepresentation of facts, particularly over the past few weeks. Obama did not slide into the mud; he elevated the competition.
Not only was this the most engaging debate in television history, thanks to Obama’s word-play, but it was also the most substantive in my memory.
No one will be able to call Obama a “bambi” after this. And I do think we have a clearer sense of what differentiates the democratic front-runners in terms of policy and platform.
Edwards, whom I do admire and think would make an amazing vice-president, took the opportunity to side-step the verbal battle and expressed his substantive ideas for engaging poverty and a failing economy. I am particularly excited about a future Edwards’ vice-presidency given the way Cheney (boo!) and Gore (hooray!) have elevated that office. Cheney’s manipulation of the the Oval Office, and behind-the-seal-of-the-president power should focus our attention more on the winning candidate’s running mate than perhaps we have in past elections. And what Gore has done as former vice-president is akin to what Jimmy Carter has done as former president – both democrats have done simply amazing work since the term of their respective offices ended. Edwards has the vim and vigor to do dynamic work with the nation’s poor, and, especially after last night, I would love to see an Obama-Edwards ticket give him the opportunity to do just that.
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I’ve been saying all along that an Obama-Edwards ticket would be strong. However, I must add that, in the beginning, I wasn’t sure if that ticket, instead, would be Edwards-Obama. All that said, this is not my endorsement for either one of them. Pardon my grammar, but a brother has to make sure they ain’t gonna kill those unborn babies.
John McCann
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So, John, would you really base your decision on the single issue of abortion? Or, is that one of several issues of concern to you as a voter?
Just wondering. I know few, if any, Christian fundamentalists and others for whom abortion rights is an important issue, and I’d like to hear more from that perspective to learn more.
Thanks!
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hey SIs, what I would base my vote on is health insurance. I heart Obama. I do. ANd was so happy to see him come strong on Monday. However, I do take issue with his resistance to universal healthcare. I understand that he doesn’t want to make it a mandatory deduction.. but c’mon, it’s always the ill prepared folk (or folk that would rather have that extra 100 bucks a month for some new sneakers, or some curtains, or blankets.. whatever), boohooing when the shit hits the fan. So yeah, universal health insurance would become like a tax.. but we need it to be universal ie. mandatory, for it to work. and it may just be a deal breaker for me.. I hope he comes around (even if it means his policy will be more like clinton’s and edwards’)or adjusts his policy. can someone whisper that in his ear for me?:)
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I hear you, Zuhairah. That’s a serious issue, one I need more info on to be honest, as, like you, I’m unsure as to why he won’t make his health care program mandatory.
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Responding to Eisa responding to my previous post: I realize there are issues other than abortion. But a candidate’s view on snatching human life says a lot about that candidate. Sure, fix the economy and, thus, look after you and me. I want to eat just like everybody else. But the unborn have voices, too. We just can’t hear them.
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That seems like a balanced response to me. Thanks! As I said, I know very few anti-abortion voters… in fact, I don’t think I know any (until you and I met via “News and Notes” :). I think it’s important for people with different political views to start to really listen and try to understand each other, rather than just going to the mat every election year.
Eisa