He Must Get Elected First

Part of running for office is keeping your eye on the prize. Another key is making certain that you get elected. Having to tweak a bit here, bend a bit there and or compromise to make sure you get elected, well that’s the name of the game. History shows us that there are plenty of quality candidates – names like Biden, Dodd, Kucinich and Richardson – that had a wonderful message and a tremendous presence, but never caught fire and really had no chance to ascend to the presidency.

Barack Obama is no fool. He has had to migrate a little more toward the middle of the road in the past couple of months, but he has definitely not compromised his principles or his values in the process. Yes, he gets unmercifully criticized by Republicans and particularly his opponents when he deviates even a millimeter from what he said a year ago or more, but Barack recognizes that he can’t be rigid, much like George W. Bush, who will not change his mind even when proven wrong, and he must keep current and alter some previously announced decisions based on the conditions as they currently exist.

A prime example of Barack tweaking or even changing his position is the so-called pledge he took to accept public financing in the general election. I do wince when I hear people from John McCain on down criticizing him and calling him a flip-flopper and an opportunist, but Obama would make a critical error ignoring 1.7 million or so individual donors in lieu of a vastly reduced amount of funding for the next five months. Having seen the venomous attacks coming from the well-funded Republican Party and McCain’s own ability to be in continuous attack mode, Barack must by necessity take advantage of every opportunity to stay competitive.

The current FISA discussion is just one more area where Barack must adjust his previously announced position. Let’s face it…there are times when it is better to get half of something than all of nothing, and the ongoing controversy surrounding the FISA legislation is not going to provide Obama’s presidential campaign with a positive outcome that is worth the time and heartache to stick with what looked different one year ago.

The ultimate irony is that Obama cannot be accused of changing positions 180 degrees for political expediency or just to get elected. If you like that sort of candidate, Barack’s opponent will be your guy. McCain has thoroughly and diligently re-invented himself and his original positions so severely that he currently no longer supports bills that he himself authored over the past number of years. Barack Obama, on the other hand, does break a promise to do something here and there, but he essentially is the same man with the same stance and positions that announced that he was a candidate for president in the winter of 2007.

I am proud to stand with Barack and his millions of supporters across this country because I respect a person who is willing to stand up for what he believes in, but is also willing to admit from time to time that he can bend without breaking; in other words, be a person that has the intestinal fortitude to change a position because it is the right thing to do. He doesn’t say or do anything just to get elected, but at the same time he does recognize and acknowledge that he must attain the office before he can truly begin to govern.

Having attained a certain amount of notoriety and stature myself among my family, friends and co-workers as an Obama supporter that has publicly stepped up and put my money where my mouth is, I have from time to time received a bit of ribbing from well-meaning people about Barack’s recent changes in position and rather snide and vehement chastisement from people who seem to thrive on Obama not belng more Bush-like and sticking to his guns no matter what changes have occurred in the interim. I have pretty much weathered the storm, because first of all, our candidate Barack has for the most part maintained his original positions and been a man of his word, and secondly, his chief competitor is in no position to criticize anyone for doing what he has himself has become the master at.

I have told many people over the past several months or so who question me about Obama’s experience, his religion, his foreign exposure, you name it that Barack’s main strength is that he will listen, learn, educate himself and form whatever committee or group he has to to get to the proper decision that best represents what is best for our country and the American people. This is one thing that I feel strongly separates him from John McCain. But his number one task first and foremost is to get to the White House before he can accomplish anything beyond being an excellent candidate.

I can’t wait.