John McCain's concession speech was the finest moment of his campaign; he finally had nothing to lose. As he addressed the noiseless crowd we all saw a John McCain we remember -- the one who would have run with a Democrat, Joe Lieberman, just to show the country what unity could mean. I'm reminded of the scene from Hook where a Lost Boy presses the wrinkles out of an aged Peter Pan's (Robin Williams) face until he exclaims "Oh, there you are Peter." There you are John.
I've always resented the effect an election has on the candidate. It forces the candidate to be someone he or she isn't -- or at least to bend his or her image to something that the electorate wants to see. The truly genuine candidate cannot be elected. We selfishly want them to tell us only what we want to hear -- and they do, though it sometimes costs their soul.
John McCain finally had the weight off his shoulders so that he could tell his constituency something they didn't want to hear, but needed to hear anyways. "I urge all Americans who supported me" he said, "to join me in not just congratulating [Obama], but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together."
The periodic boos in the arena at the mention of the resented victor seemed to make Sen. McCain uncomfortable with the supporters he had been leading only minutes before. Those boos were fueled by a long, and often dirty campaign that left few without mud on their hands. John McCain after losing to Bush in South Carolina commented that there was a special place in hell for those that ran the smear campaign against him there. John's now got his own repentance to deal with, but his gracious speech showed that the McCain we remember is still there and willing to make of this country what he dreamed to make of it through the office of the presidency.
Maybe McCain wasn't fit to be president -- at least not this year (2000 sure would have been nice in many people's opinions) -- but he will remain a honorable Senator. "Country First" doesn't die with an election, and if John McCain is still John McCain, he will be at the forefront of competition and comprimise with the new administration to guarantee that the interests of the nation are the priority in Washington. I'm honored to know that John McCain continues to represent us in the Senate and trust that he will lead his battered forces to reconciliation with the new President Elect.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
A New Brand of Democracy
Last night's celebration outside the White House had the excitement of an at home basketball upset over Duke-- District residents "rushed the court." The victory was hardly an upset in the short run - Obama has been expected to win for months - but in the long run this was an upset victory over the pride, political interests, prejudices, and patrimony that mark Washington-as-usual.
Some would deride the recent political enthusiasm as a mark of a radicalism and faction, of the sort criticized by Federalist 10. I beg to differ. What we see in reality is a young, highly educated and compassionate generation reinvigorated by the hope of a new brand of politics. A good friend sent a brief text message saying, "I will admit it was great to feel so inspired by our new leader after so long of not feeling that." Not since a brief period after September 11 has my generation felt encouraged by our democracy. Mark Shields commented in a Newshour interview, "I think there's a sense of goodwill in the country... A sense of goodwill in the world that George Bush had after 9/11 and the country had after 9/11 that was squandered, quite honestly, in Iraq...which has been repurchased in his victory." For many of us our democratic enthusiasm was betrayed in Iraq with lies, deceit, and political interests.
Last night, I saw wounds heal. Last night was a stamp on the self-efficacy of a people, and especially on the self-efficacy of the young and minorities.
The Obama presidency now has the burden and privilege of redefining democracy in America and setting the example of what the standard of politics will be for my generation. In the words of John McCain, a man who paved the way for the kind of politics Obama represents, "Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president."
Godspeed President Elect Obama and Godspeed citizens of the United States of America.
Some would deride the recent political enthusiasm as a mark of a radicalism and faction, of the sort criticized by Federalist 10. I beg to differ. What we see in reality is a young, highly educated and compassionate generation reinvigorated by the hope of a new brand of politics. A good friend sent a brief text message saying, "I will admit it was great to feel so inspired by our new leader after so long of not feeling that." Not since a brief period after September 11 has my generation felt encouraged by our democracy. Mark Shields commented in a Newshour interview, "I think there's a sense of goodwill in the country... A sense of goodwill in the world that George Bush had after 9/11 and the country had after 9/11 that was squandered, quite honestly, in Iraq...which has been repurchased in his victory." For many of us our democratic enthusiasm was betrayed in Iraq with lies, deceit, and political interests.
Last night, I saw wounds heal. Last night was a stamp on the self-efficacy of a people, and especially on the self-efficacy of the young and minorities.
The Obama presidency now has the burden and privilege of redefining democracy in America and setting the example of what the standard of politics will be for my generation. In the words of John McCain, a man who paved the way for the kind of politics Obama represents, "Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president."
Godspeed President Elect Obama and Godspeed citizens of the United States of America.
Virginia Blue
In 1959 public schools in Prince Edward County, Virginia, closed for five years rather than integrate as the federal government had mandated. The state government looked on passively and even provided vouchers for the private educations of white students. My great grandfather became superintendent of the county in 1965 to oversee the integration process begun in 1964. According to my grandmother, it was a battle her father would aver “ruined me among my peers.”
Last night the Commonwealth of Virginia offered its 13 electoral votes in support of a black man as president of the United States. When Barack Obama was born, Virginians would have pulled their children out of school rather than have them go to school with a black boy. Yesterday Virginians affirmed their confidence to hand responsibility for their education, economy, security, and general wellbeing over to a black man of the same generation to which they denied an education fifty years ago. I couldn’t be prouder to be a Virginian today.
Last night the Commonwealth of Virginia offered its 13 electoral votes in support of a black man as president of the United States. When Barack Obama was born, Virginians would have pulled their children out of school rather than have them go to school with a black boy. Yesterday Virginians affirmed their confidence to hand responsibility for their education, economy, security, and general wellbeing over to a black man of the same generation to which they denied an education fifty years ago. I couldn’t be prouder to be a Virginian today.
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