As the primaries in Oregon have now finished, a single quote won’t leave my mind. Winston Churchill once said, “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” Recently in Oregon we have proved this with our unwavering support of Sen. Obama.
Obama is a quality guy. He is smart and is doing a great job of campaigning, but in a state where people don’t like the corporately supported we are spectacularly choosing the flashiest, best-dressed and “charming” candidate off of just that. We have returned to high school where popularity was based not on ability, but on appearance. Obama is winning the hearts of Americans not by being the best, but by turning his campaign into a grownup MTV. What does he have that Clinton doesn’t? Nothing. He has a mediocre education plan, wanting to reform No Child Left Behind instead of focusing on important education issues. His plan for health care doesn’t cover everyone; he won’t mandate that every American be safe from sickness and medical misfortune. His plan for financing higher education is mediocre when you read about Clinton’s. And most importantly, he has little to no political experience at the level he is running for; just read their platforms: while Obama only tells you what he wants to do, Clinton tells you not only what she will do, but how and by when she will accomplish it.
So why do people want Obama to win? Reading the articles all over the Internet, the Oregon Daily Emerald and listening to the radio, supporters simply say they believe he can do it. They believe he is the best candidate. Obama’s own Web site’s main phrase is asking for belief in him and his abilities. But “believe” is such an empty word when it comes to electing the president; it denotes not knowledge, but an idea with no foundation, no proof.
If and when Obama wins, I above all hope he proves my views on him wrong and fixes the mess Bush has left us in. But if he doesn’t, if he gets to the White House and is unable to live up to his ideas for change due to his lack of experience and current planning, then I hope people learn from their mistakes.
Rand Wilcox
University student
[email protected]
Obama winning the popularity contest, but Clinton promises results
Daily Emerald
May 28, 2008
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