Bernie Sanders, coming off a series of primary
victories, is feeling pretty good. Who
can blame him? He’s also feeling more
aggressive, and that isn’t necessarily a good path to take. His recent
assertions that Hillary Clinton is not qualified to be president are more
than a stretch. One may not agree with
her on matters of policy past and present, even vigorously so, but objectively
she remains the most qualified person running in either party. There is likely no more difficult job in the
world than being our president. No one
is fully prepared for what is in some ways the ultimate unknown. It’s like being a parent for the first time
multiplied a thousand fold. Hillary has an
unusual depth of experience beginning with her eight-year birds eye view inside
the White House, another eight years in the senate and then four as secretary
of state. While not serving herself,
she is as close to being an incumbent candidate as we have had since TR ran
against Taft and Wilson.
For reasons expressed in February, I support and expect Hillary
to win the nomination, but would certainly vote for Bernie if he accomplishes
what would be an upset. And that
wouldn’t be a difficult vote since I agree with many of the things he says and
in which he believes. But one of my
problems with Bernie is that he is an absolutist — his long held views are both
admirable and potentially troubling. For sure they strike a chord with many voters
in this discordant and frustrating time, but such fervor may tip the balance
between conviction and feeling possessed of “the” truth. As I’ve often written, that’s bad in religion
and equally so in politics — bad and potentially dangerous. It is exactly what has put governance in
virtual limbo these last years. I’m
sorry to say this, but Sanders’ assertion smacks of “she’s unqualified because
she doesn’t think or act like me”. Maybe
he doesn’t mean it that way, and one hopes it’s only over-the-top campaign
rhetoric, but to me it’s a red flag.
Presidential campaigning, especially with big adoring crowds and some
success at the polls can be a huge ego boost.
It’s addictive. I hope it hasn’t
gone to his head.
Hillary Clinton is hardly a perfect candidate. She continues to have high unfavorable
ratings and has trust problems, some self-inflicted. Just being a Clinton carries a lot of
baggage. Much of Donald Trump’s wealth,
though most of his admirers are blind to it, comes from celebrity rather than
business management. And, like the
political class described in Mark Leibovich’s book This
Town, so does Clinton’s. At the
core, and unlike her husband, Clinton is also private person, not necessarily
ideal on the stump. But she’s no more
private than Obama, though she considers him a more natural politician. Understanding all these perceived deficits, I
think Clinton is a true progressive. She
was onto expanding healthcare before Obama and has been a consistent advocate
for women whether on choice or in the workplace. She is a strong believer in climate change
and its scientific underpinnings; a partner with Obama is seeking global
partners in that regard.
Clinton is a progressive, but not an ideologue. From some of us on the left, that’s a
negative. I don’t agree. Ideologues
claim possession of “the” truth, which stands in the way of getting anything
done, of the compromise necessary not only in politics but in sharing the
planet with others. Whether in our
family life, our friendships and acquaintances, or simply functioning on some
reasonable level, accomplishments are generally more likely with some sense of
modesty, even of some self-doubt. This
is not to argue against conviction or passion but to suggest that the other
person might possibly have it right, or as right. I think Hillary understands that. Finally, unlike many of the Democratic
candidates for office in 2014, she is not running away from either the person
or the record of Barack Obama. Rather
she clearly hopes to build on what he has accomplished in his two terms. She will be different, not the least being
the first female president, but promises continuity.
Contested primaries are essential to the democratic
process, if for no other reason than reminding us that we should always and do
have options. Bernie Sanders has brought
excitement and a refreshing — I think essential — focus on both economic and
political inequality. He has pushed
Clinton and the party to the left, demanding focus and conviction. What he has done will hopefully endure
impacting on the agenda of the next president and the country. His meaningful and vigorous challenge has, as
did that of Obama eight years ago, made her a better candidate. That was evident in her
speech yesterday at Carnegie Mellon University broadcast on C-Span. The coming election, even if Donald Trump
wins the Republican nomination will not be a cakewalk.
The stakes as she said yesterday are high. Of course, we hear that in every election cycle. This time it may be an understatement. Come November, I hope all Democrats will
stand behind and work vigorously for the nominee. I hope too that if Hillary prevails she will not only have benefited from Bernie's vigorous challenge, but that she will
take his message to heart and make much of it part of her own.
