Friends,
A few partisans will broil at this one. A few cynics will call me an idiot. I promise you, you won’t hear the following from any candidate or party, and you probably won’t hear it from the “mainstream media,” the “right-wing media” or the “liberal media.” But I think this election offers us cause for extraordinary celebration, and should call us to be the best darned voters and citizens this country has ever seen. So, I’m calling for an “appreciative inquiry” about all the good that is possible.
Think about this: after 230 years, which included a century of slavery, we have a man of African heritage nominated to be President. Not just any man, but one raised by a single mom; he made it to Harvard Law School, where he climbed the meritocratic peak with grades that got him on the Harvard Law Review, and by fellow editors who made him president of that review. I could wax on about his commitment to public service and his courage in standing up against a war that most were afraid to resist, etc. We should ALL be proud of a system that offers such a candidate. But wait,
We have a Republican candidate whose father and grandfather were admirals, who himself served admirably, and who couldn’t be cracked in a P.O.W. camp. He has fought courageously in the Senate, at times crossing the aisle to work with Democrats to get great things done, often speaking his mind when it was not popular. Yet we as citizens so often say “those politicians are all the same.” Although the opposing party in the Senate disagrees with what he stands for, very few challenge his integrity and character. We should ALL be proud of a system that offers such a candidate. But wait,
The Republicans have put a woman in the second slot in their ticket, a woman who’s a mom as well as a governor. People will argue about experience, but few can deny that the system has offered this real live person an amazing route into leadership, and you have to marvel at the way she has stepped up to the task. But wait,
Here comes a guy whose wife and young daughter were killed in a car accident just after he was elected to the Senate. He was going to refuse to be sworn in, but was convinced he could serve his country and still serve his sons. He commuted (and still does) 4 hours a day to tend to his home life. He’s fought corruption, at times – unpopularly – supported the president during war, and is now the Dems’ choice for VP.
We should ALL be proud of a system that offers such candidates. We get so down on our system. It’s true: These candidates, parties, and their supporters will – if the pattern repeats – spend much more time tearing each other down, and defending themselves from attacks than talking about a positive future for us. They are told by pollsters (who are just reflecting the numbers) that we pay attention to the negatives. They are being attacked (Biden went after McCain as a Bush-clone, and Palin oozed sarcasm to demean Obama), and they will attack back.
So here’s a crazy idea for us everyday leaders: Let’s focus on the strengths. Have discussions – you’ll need to start them – about whose strengths are really key at this time. Not who’s evil and bad. But who can shine the best for our great country. Not, “whose health care plan sucks,” but who really has a great plan that could work. By the time we’re done with campaigns, our winner has been so whacked and whittled and wasted that we almost ensure a divided country – where half is angry and skeptical, and the other half has to almost blindly support the winner. McCain is not a demon. Neither is Obama. Nor Biden nor Palin. The winners will need our help, not our ire.
Dissent and debate we will have with us. But we have power to uplift our dialogue, our reasoning, and our national mood, if we bring a civil tone and an appreciative mind, and
Lead with our best self,
Dan
A very stimulating passage for this latest RFL blog. I have examined the strengths of the issues raised by the candidates and ignored all the fabricated stories floating around on the Internet. As a result of my evaluation of where the candidates stand and their views on matters that will shape public policy I will be voting for the candidate who I believe shares the same vision of governance that I have regarding foreign policy, health care, international trade, energy, Social Security, jobs, and the forces that have sigficantly eroded our purchasing power and standard of living.
Jim,
I’m going to leave this post in here, but if it spawns more I’m goign to remove it and others. I’m calling for a positive effort where informed people can inform each other about why they are voting FOR someone. You don’t have to guess where my loyalties lie, but this column should be a place where we lead with our best.
I totally appreciate your frustration, but what do everyday leaders do with frustration? Let’s see if we can turn the direction.
Dan
Hi Dan,
I commend you on your honest and thoughtful comments. If only there was some chance of improving the quality of getting the message across. My Mom complained to me during the last camopaign in Michigan because she was tired of seeing all the ads for Jennifer!
I would be amazeed if we ever see the end of the negative bickering fest, media blasts that we call campaign ads. Candidates start off with the best of intentions (and I am being generous here) and pledge to avoid a negative campaign and sure enough a little time passes and they fold to the pols or the powers that be.
John Ashcroft is the only candidate I can recall that kept his promise regarding no negative ads. He ran against Mel Carnahan for Governor of Missouri. Tragically, Governor Carnahan and his son lost their lives in a plane crash just before the election. John Ashcroft refused to cave when the pressure was on to campaign and push for the ads. Some say it cost him the election. I had to respect someone who stood by their word and give John Ashcroft credit for being a statesman.
Some twenty nine years ago I read a study from University of Michigan on voter malaise. The study concluded voters were fed up because of negative ads. Sadly,not much has changed since then.
It seems spin is in and there is no room left anymore for discussion of ideas. Many of the political ads remind me of children complaining “well he started it”. It’s just charge and counter charge with very little substance in the mix. Judging from the advertising, a person could conclude that our candidates are saints and/or the most corrupt, incompetent, money grabbing, special interest loving, individuals in the country. Couple that with the knowledge that our candidates do not live their lives or face the same challenges as your average voter does. It’s no wonder why so many people feel cynical and can’t wait for the election to be over.
It’s suich a shame to feel so frustrated by political ads when some people risk their lives to insure we have the freedom and right to vote.
This was a great piece. What a wonderful moment in American history.
It’s worth considering that negative campaigning is a great alternative to IED’s and bloody combat. Politics is a battle for ideas and for the power to put those ideas into action. Harsh words and character slams have been a part of every campaign since George Washington left office. Let’s just chalk that up to imperfections of our human nature, and enjoy an epic campaign featuring four great characters.
Besides, I can go to a website and get the candidate’s views on every issue at the click of my finger. But I can better get a sense of that person’s character through a hard-fought campaign. Much worse attacks will come when the person becomes president–attacks on our allies or on our own shores–and the campaign gives the voters a sense of how they’ll make quick decisions under stress.
Good message, Dan. But the people that need to read it either won’t, or will pay little attention to it. Can you believe that we are discussing “lipstick on a pig”? Do the campaign planners really believe that the voters don’t know that there are more serious issues out there, or that the voters don’t care?
Either way, I am offended.
Mary
Well said! Just getting around to reading your column! Think I’ll go to yours first!
It is always so wonderful to have a speaker that puts my thoughts so eloquently.
It is time for all of humanity to raise the bar of tolerance and communication. After all, we are all in this together.Today we live in a global village.
We are completely intertwined and interdependent on each other.
Boastful and exclusive support of teams,nations,groups of people only breeds separation and alienation.
What a wonderful world this could be if we all had to walk in each others shoes…actually…if you think about it …we are all walking in the same shoes.
I just want to add …that if one of the canidates had decided not to sling the mud back….that canidate would have stood out like a “NEW PENNY” and I have heard from many people, that they would have voted for that canidate reguardless of their party affiliation.
It certainly would be an amazing experiment.