A Sour Grape Couldn't be More Sweet
With the primary season over and the political conventions on the way, talk of selection of presidential running mates again is filling the airwaves. The situation encourages more speculation of the sort that the media thrives on and points up once again how our political system is really an exercise in crass commerce. Now, as both Senator Obama and Senator McCain review their short lists and again weigh the value of choosing their most ardent primary opponents among those who could be possible running mates, American voters will be reminded how easy it is for us to disbelieve what our leaders say. We shall be reminded that, when it comes to winning, it is okay, even expected, that those running for political office are hypocrites.
It would seem unlikely that after the grueling primary campaigns Barack Obama would choose Hilary Clinton or John McCain would choose Mitt Romney to be second in command. Yet, cable news pundits and other political commentators continue to point out the reasons why the soon-to-be nominees could give the nod to the two former opponents whose often underhanded tactics made the primary season of ’08 such a degrading side show. We are told that Hilary Clinton would shore up the Democratic base, bring home the women’s vote and undergird Obama’s appeal to centrists and independents (read those who are uncomfortable with the idea of a black man in the White House). The choice of Romney on the Republican ticket would give the impression that the former corporate raider would be able to somehow adapt his business acumen to help salvage the economy – thereby benefiting the pocketbooks of the average American citizen – and that he would provide a welcome visual contrast with a rapidly aging John McCain.
Hilary Clinton's endorsement of Barack Obama after her primary defeat was an effort to repair the damage Democrats did to themselves -- a move to try to quickly prune the sour grapes among Clinton supporters who had vowed to vote for McCain in the general election or had simply promised not show up on election day. The prospect of candidates embracing primary rivals who often targeted them with unfounded criticism, scurrilous personal attacks and baseless accusations, will, however, remind the electorate of the two key facts for which the '08 primaries will be remembered: in the end, Obama and Clinton acted like who they are – lawyers; McCain and Romney acted like who they are – Republicans.
With the primary season over and the political conventions on the way, talk of selection of presidential running mates again is filling the airwaves. The situation encourages more speculation of the sort that the media thrives on and points up once again how our political system is really an exercise in crass commerce. Now, as both Senator Obama and Senator McCain review their short lists and again weigh the value of choosing their most ardent primary opponents among those who could be possible running mates, American voters will be reminded how easy it is for us to disbelieve what our leaders say. We shall be reminded that, when it comes to winning, it is okay, even expected, that those running for political office are hypocrites.
It would seem unlikely that after the grueling primary campaigns Barack Obama would choose Hilary Clinton or John McCain would choose Mitt Romney to be second in command. Yet, cable news pundits and other political commentators continue to point out the reasons why the soon-to-be nominees could give the nod to the two former opponents whose often underhanded tactics made the primary season of ’08 such a degrading side show. We are told that Hilary Clinton would shore up the Democratic base, bring home the women’s vote and undergird Obama’s appeal to centrists and independents (read those who are uncomfortable with the idea of a black man in the White House). The choice of Romney on the Republican ticket would give the impression that the former corporate raider would be able to somehow adapt his business acumen to help salvage the economy – thereby benefiting the pocketbooks of the average American citizen – and that he would provide a welcome visual contrast with a rapidly aging John McCain.
Hilary Clinton's endorsement of Barack Obama after her primary defeat was an effort to repair the damage Democrats did to themselves -- a move to try to quickly prune the sour grapes among Clinton supporters who had vowed to vote for McCain in the general election or had simply promised not show up on election day. The prospect of candidates embracing primary rivals who often targeted them with unfounded criticism, scurrilous personal attacks and baseless accusations, will, however, remind the electorate of the two key facts for which the '08 primaries will be remembered: in the end, Obama and Clinton acted like who they are – lawyers; McCain and Romney acted like who they are – Republicans.
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