The Better Angels of our Nature

Barack Obama’s victory in the presidential election on November 4 naturally leads many to think of the first president from a young party founded in 1856 partly on abolishing slavery.  Obama quoted from Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address in his acceptance speech saying that “we are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.”  I find myself thinking of the end of the Great Emancipator’s speech which finishes with the hope that we will again reflect “the better angels of our nature.”

 

This victory is historic because of the color of the winner’s skin, his strange Muslim name, and his youth, but I am hopeful that it will accomplish something more important than those historic qualities.  Barack Hussein Obama has an opportunity to take us beyond the culture war that has caused so many political problems over the past twenty years.  Hillary Clinton, John McCain, George W. Bush, John Kerry and most other leaders of both parties became politically active in opposition to or support of the Vietnam War.  Obama is not motivated to refight the battles of forty years ago.  He made his admiration for John McCain’s Vietnam service clear from the beginning of the campaign.  Though he ran many negative ads, those ads did not generally attack McCain personally.  He may have an opportunity to work pragmatically with both parties to find the best solutions to our problems.  After eight years of a president who seemed only interested in pleasing the 49% of the electorate who voted for him, it will be refreshing to have one who wants to represent all Americans.

 

Obama’s lack of executive experience has been a concern about him from the beginning of his campaign.  I have often said that I wish he had become governor of Illinois before running for the White House.  We have found out at great cost the danger of electing someone to the Presidency who does not have experience at the national level.  George W. Bush came into power in 2000 having been governor of a state with one of the weakest executives in the country.  Though he had a disciplined and motivated staff, they seemed more interested in winning more power for Republicans than in actually governing the country.

 

I do not think that Barack Obama will be that kind of president.  He has surrounded himself with advisors who are respected by both major parties, and the evidence from the financial crisis suggests that he will listen to them.  George W.  Bush is an ideologue who seemed to want the presidency initially so that he could avenge the loss of his father to Bill Clinton in 1992.  Obama is a problem-solver who is interested in results for the country.  Even if you think he only wants to help Democrats, I think that he sees the path to success for his party to be in helping the country get out of our current foreign and domestic messes.   He will create a long term majority for Democrats if he can show that his is the party that governs from the middle where most of the electorate is.  No one runs for president who does not desire power.  The sacrifices a presidential candidate must accept for themselves and their families are unacceptable to anyone who does not have enormous ambition.  The kind of candidate we want is one who sees his or her personal success being tied to pragmatic success for the country.  I think that Barack Obama is that candidate.  He has an ability to inspire us to do what is good for the nation even when it might be politically difficult.  He is willing to listen to opposition opinions and make decisions after thoughtful consideration.  If we give him a chance to govern, I think we will be proud that we elected this man president.