The last of the 2008 presidential primaries are behind us. It is clear that Barack Obama is going to be the Democrat nominee. All of his opponents have endorsed him. That includes his most enduring competitor, Hillary Clinton.
Senator Clinton has promised to do everything she can to support the election of Barack Obama. She is committed to seeing a Democrat elected to the White House. That invites the question, "How can Hillary Clinton's services be put to the best use?"
Certainly, Senator Clinton can go a long way to persuade those who supported her in the nomination process that their best next option is to support the election of Barack Obama. This is probably the single most important task for Hillary Clinton. Her consistent enthusiastic message has to be that Barack Obama must become the next President of the United States.
But, what about outside her base of support? Hillary Clinton comes with baggage. There are some people in this country who were determined to vote for anyone who was running against her. Of course, the majority of those aren't going to vote for Senator Obama, either, but some will. Obama needs to use Hillary Clinton's support to the best advantage without stirring up energy for the opposition. That is the challenge.
My recommendation would be that Senator Clinton hit the campaign trail stumping for other Democrats running for office. At every stop she can encourage people to support Barack Obama for President by voting for him and also sending to Washington people who will support his policies. This would need to be done carefully to see that she only appears with candidates in areas where her support is a net benefit, but it could help the Democrats enormously.
This approach is a win for Hillary Clinton as well. Much of politics is based on trading favors. By campaigning for other Democrats seeking office, Clinton builds political capital she can use to push policies in the Senate later.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
July 2, 2008
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Why Not Lift the Gasoline Tax?
Senator John McCain and Senator Hillary Clinton have both been advocating for a summer suspension of the federal gas tax. Senator Barack Obama says the whole idea is a useless gimmick designed to buy votes. Who is right?
The idea that lifting the taxes on gasoline would reduce its price at the pump has appeal. Everyone would like to pay less. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee the consumer would ever see that savings.
* The gasoline retailers might simply use the savings to increase their profit margins leaving the prices where they are.
* The oil companies might increase their prices to the stations to increase their profit margins.
* If neither of those happened, a temporary drop in retail prices would probably spur increased usage of gasoline pushing up demand. This would result in more rising prices.
So, why even propose suspending the gasoline tax? Because it gives the appearance that the government is doing something about the situation. It gives voters the impression that their politicians care and are trying to help. Unfortunately, the most likely beneficiaries would be the oil companies.
It takes courage to tell voters what they don't want to hear. It takes integrity to admit an idea that sounds great on the surface simply won't work. I commend Senator Obama for doing just that. I also wonder what happened to John McCain's straight talk.
That's Wade's 2 cents.
Wade Houston
May 14, 2008
The idea that lifting the taxes on gasoline would reduce its price at the pump has appeal. Everyone would like to pay less. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee the consumer would ever see that savings.
* The gasoline retailers might simply use the savings to increase their profit margins leaving the prices where they are.
* The oil companies might increase their prices to the stations to increase their profit margins.
* If neither of those happened, a temporary drop in retail prices would probably spur increased usage of gasoline pushing up demand. This would result in more rising prices.
So, why even propose suspending the gasoline tax? Because it gives the appearance that the government is doing something about the situation. It gives voters the impression that their politicians care and are trying to help. Unfortunately, the most likely beneficiaries would be the oil companies.
It takes courage to tell voters what they don't want to hear. It takes integrity to admit an idea that sounds great on the surface simply won't work. I commend Senator Obama for doing just that. I also wonder what happened to John McCain's straight talk.
That's Wade's 2 cents.
Wade Houston
May 14, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
If I Had a Do Over
As I mentioned in my post regarding my super Tuesday vote, I cast my vote in the primary for Hillary Clinton. After a lot of internal debate, I made my decision based entirely upon her position on health care. All of my immediate family has some sort of health condition which makes individual health insurance either impossible to obtain or prohibitively expensive. So, this issue carries enormous weight with me personally.
Since that time, there have been new developments in the course of the campaign which have greatly increased my respect for Barack Obama. The exposure of the outlandish statements by Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, was a significant challenge. However, instead of immediately disowning Rev. Wright (as would have been politically expedient), Senator Obama acknowledged the differences between them but affirmed the relationship. This was admirable.
Later, when Jeremiah Wright made additional statements before the National Press Club in which he accused Senator Obama of saying whatever was needed for political reasons, Barack Obama adjusted to this new development with measured, but appropriate, distancing action. This demonstrates the ability to change course when necessary and to face reality. Both times I felt Barack Obama showed enormous strength and depth of character.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton told the blatantly untrue tale of running for cover to avoid sniper fire in Bosnia. She told this story not just once, but several times. It is difficult to believe that someone so normally in command of the facts would have made such a gaff unintentionally. This does not speak well of her character.
Senator John McCain suggested suspending the federal gasoline tax for the summer. Senator Clinton jumped on that bandwagon as well. Either they are both so ignorant they can't see what a useless gesture that would be, or they are political opportunists just looking to buy votes from a gullible electorate. To his credit, Senator Obama is calling this what it is, "a gimmick".
In spite of these developments, if we were having our primary today, instead of back in Feburary, I would still have let the health care issue decide my vote. Universal health care is that important to me. I would mark my ballot for Hillary Clinton, but I might have to hold my nose to do it.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
May 12, 2008
Since that time, there have been new developments in the course of the campaign which have greatly increased my respect for Barack Obama. The exposure of the outlandish statements by Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, was a significant challenge. However, instead of immediately disowning Rev. Wright (as would have been politically expedient), Senator Obama acknowledged the differences between them but affirmed the relationship. This was admirable.
Later, when Jeremiah Wright made additional statements before the National Press Club in which he accused Senator Obama of saying whatever was needed for political reasons, Barack Obama adjusted to this new development with measured, but appropriate, distancing action. This demonstrates the ability to change course when necessary and to face reality. Both times I felt Barack Obama showed enormous strength and depth of character.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton told the blatantly untrue tale of running for cover to avoid sniper fire in Bosnia. She told this story not just once, but several times. It is difficult to believe that someone so normally in command of the facts would have made such a gaff unintentionally. This does not speak well of her character.
Senator John McCain suggested suspending the federal gasoline tax for the summer. Senator Clinton jumped on that bandwagon as well. Either they are both so ignorant they can't see what a useless gesture that would be, or they are political opportunists just looking to buy votes from a gullible electorate. To his credit, Senator Obama is calling this what it is, "a gimmick".
In spite of these developments, if we were having our primary today, instead of back in Feburary, I would still have let the health care issue decide my vote. Universal health care is that important to me. I would mark my ballot for Hillary Clinton, but I might have to hold my nose to do it.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
May 12, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
My Super Tuesday Decision
Super Tuesday has come and gone. My state, Georgia, was one of those participating. Up until the actual day of the vote, I did not know exactly which candidate I would vote for. Until the last few days, I was not even certain which primary I would vote in. Since Georgia is an open primary state, you can actually make that decision when you get to the verification table. Even though I expect to be voting with the Democrats this November, I entertained the possibility of voting in the Republican primary. However, ultimately, I did not.
Among Democrats, at one point I most favored Joe Biden. However, he dropped out weeks ago. After him, I preferred John Edwards. But Edwards suspended his campaigning just days ago. I could have still voted for either candidate since their names were actually on the ballot, but that would have been a waste. Instead, I decided between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama based on one and only one issue. That issue was health care. Of all the health care proposals advanced by any of the candidates, I favored John Edwards' plan the most. Of the remaining candidates, the one with the health care plan most like John Edwards was Hillary Clinton. In fact, at one point, Edwards accused Clinton of copying his own plan almost verbatim. So, when I got out of bed Tuesday morning, I decided to vote for Hillary Clinton.
Does that mean I am going to be upset if Barack Obama ends up winning the Democratic nomination? Hardly! However, it does point up my deep concern that Obama's health plan leaves out too many people and ultimately becomes actuarially unfeasible. Barack Obama is an intelligent man. Surely he will realize this problem if he ever really makes health care a truly high priority. I would sleep easier if Barack Obama adopted John Edwards' health plan also. That way, whoever gets the Democratic nomination would have a health plan I could believe in.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
February 6, 2008
Among Democrats, at one point I most favored Joe Biden. However, he dropped out weeks ago. After him, I preferred John Edwards. But Edwards suspended his campaigning just days ago. I could have still voted for either candidate since their names were actually on the ballot, but that would have been a waste. Instead, I decided between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama based on one and only one issue. That issue was health care. Of all the health care proposals advanced by any of the candidates, I favored John Edwards' plan the most. Of the remaining candidates, the one with the health care plan most like John Edwards was Hillary Clinton. In fact, at one point, Edwards accused Clinton of copying his own plan almost verbatim. So, when I got out of bed Tuesday morning, I decided to vote for Hillary Clinton.
Does that mean I am going to be upset if Barack Obama ends up winning the Democratic nomination? Hardly! However, it does point up my deep concern that Obama's health plan leaves out too many people and ultimately becomes actuarially unfeasible. Barack Obama is an intelligent man. Surely he will realize this problem if he ever really makes health care a truly high priority. I would sleep easier if Barack Obama adopted John Edwards' health plan also. That way, whoever gets the Democratic nomination would have a health plan I could believe in.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
February 6, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Kennedy Endorses Obama - How Important Is It?
This week, the final State of the Union address by the current U.S. President, George W. Bush, was completely overshadowed by the announcement that Senator Edward Kennedy was endorsing Barack Obama in his quest for the Democratic nomination. It almost made the State of the Union address a non-event. Post speech commentators found it hard not to mention that Senators Kennedy and Obama were sitting together.
Both the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns made sure the public was aware of which members and how many of the Kennedy family were supporting each candidate. This was somewhat ironic in that the Obama camp has made much of the fact that two families, the Bush and Clinton families, have had such a dominate role in our political scene. We were directed to believe that another prominent political family was jumping on the "change" theme.
How important is an endorsement from a member of the Kennedy family? Apparently, it is quite important if only for the publicity. Frankly, I feel it is overrated. We need to remember that the Kennedy family is made up of individuals each of whom have varying talents and skills. Certainly none of them are worthy of an unquestioned following.
Barack Obama has been compared to John F. Kennedy. People who put forward this comparison are being quite selective in their memories. JFK has been almost deified in the minds of some. This is largely because of his tragic assassination. The Kennedy family has artfully kept this in the forefront of American consciousness along with his boldness in standing up to the Soviet Union during the Cuban missile crisis. Keeping these events prominent in the memories of that period has been advantageous in shoring up the Kennedy clan powerbase.
However, Barack Obama would be well advised to stay clear of pointing out too many similarities between himself and JFK. Many of today's voters have little memory of that time. An objective review of the history of the Kennedy administration would reveal that the Bay of Pigs fiasco came on John F. Kennedy's watch. It was JFK who put the U.S. military in the midst of the Vietnam conflict. If John F. Kennedy had lived, it would have been he, not Johnson, who suffered the eventual political fallout. Also, there is still much uncertainty regarding the personal moral conduct of both John and Robert Kennedy. Obama will do well to avoid inferring too many similarities.
The endorsement from Senator Edward Kennedy does mean something. But, it should not be because it is from a Kennedy. Rather, it should be because it comes from a man who has a long history of public service and championing the causes Barack Obama also supports. This is the United States of America. We have no royal families here. Let's keep this endorsement in its right perspective.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
February 1, 2008
Both the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns made sure the public was aware of which members and how many of the Kennedy family were supporting each candidate. This was somewhat ironic in that the Obama camp has made much of the fact that two families, the Bush and Clinton families, have had such a dominate role in our political scene. We were directed to believe that another prominent political family was jumping on the "change" theme.
How important is an endorsement from a member of the Kennedy family? Apparently, it is quite important if only for the publicity. Frankly, I feel it is overrated. We need to remember that the Kennedy family is made up of individuals each of whom have varying talents and skills. Certainly none of them are worthy of an unquestioned following.
Barack Obama has been compared to John F. Kennedy. People who put forward this comparison are being quite selective in their memories. JFK has been almost deified in the minds of some. This is largely because of his tragic assassination. The Kennedy family has artfully kept this in the forefront of American consciousness along with his boldness in standing up to the Soviet Union during the Cuban missile crisis. Keeping these events prominent in the memories of that period has been advantageous in shoring up the Kennedy clan powerbase.
However, Barack Obama would be well advised to stay clear of pointing out too many similarities between himself and JFK. Many of today's voters have little memory of that time. An objective review of the history of the Kennedy administration would reveal that the Bay of Pigs fiasco came on John F. Kennedy's watch. It was JFK who put the U.S. military in the midst of the Vietnam conflict. If John F. Kennedy had lived, it would have been he, not Johnson, who suffered the eventual political fallout. Also, there is still much uncertainty regarding the personal moral conduct of both John and Robert Kennedy. Obama will do well to avoid inferring too many similarities.
The endorsement from Senator Edward Kennedy does mean something. But, it should not be because it is from a Kennedy. Rather, it should be because it comes from a man who has a long history of public service and championing the causes Barack Obama also supports. This is the United States of America. We have no royal families here. Let's keep this endorsement in its right perspective.
That's Wade's two cents.
Wade Houston
February 1, 2008
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