By Carter Bundy
Over the last six months, I’ve been inspired by both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. But their “first” status isn’t the main thing that inspires me, nor are the speeches.
What has moved me about both, more than anything, is that each has fought for, and staked out for the future, a series of policies that dramatically alter the current trajectory our country is on.
Each of them would reverse Bush policies in everything from foreign affairs to fiscal responsibility to civil rights. They’d also add policies which, if implemented, would signal the re-emergence of
Issue inseparability
Over the last two weeks in
To those Wisconsinites, I asked this simple question: “Why do you care about politics?”
Here’s an initial laundry list of the issues on which Barack and Hillary agree. Both are for strong protection of the environment; willing to fight the root causes of global warming; for dramatic progress in alternative energy; against unfair trade agreements that wreck the lives of American and foreign workers; for job training for displaced workers; for tax policies similar to those of the 90s; for enforcement of labor laws; for basic labor organizing rights; against the test-obsessed and under-funded No Child Left Behind Act; for resources for special education and arts, music, and extracurricular activity in schools; for using science to alleviate suffering without political or religious interference; for stem-cell research; for fair student loans and affordable college; for secure borders; for fair and decent treatment of immigrants we already invited in; against continuing our presence in Iraq; against war with Iran; against terrorism; for using our resources to hunt down al Qaeda; against nuclear proliferation and expansion of our nuclear arsenal; for homeland security based on threats, not politics; for saving Social Security, not privatizing it; for allowing Medicare to negotiate bulk discounts on prescription drugs; against privatization of Medicare and Medicaid; for a reasonable estate tax; for providing veterans’ services; for civil rights, including equal rights under the law for gays and lesbians; for a lasting Mideast peace; supportive of Israel; supportive of a Palestinian state; against torture, particularly as a tool of American policy; opposed to more media consolidation; for protecting individual liberties under the Constitution; committed to nominating qualified and thoughtful U.S. Supreme Court justices; pro-choice; for separation of church and state; for affirmative action; and for balanced budgets that don’t destroy Social Security, health care and basic services.
Here’s a list of issues where there is a substantial difference between Barack and Hillary: Health care.
One of these two terrific candidates is going to be the Democratic nominee, and what’s most inspiring to me is that either one brings a progressive agenda back to
McCain shares maybe two or three positions with Clinton and Obama. He’s pretty reasonable on immigration, and at least until last week, had consistently opposed
On virtually every other one of the above issues, McCain is vehemently opposed to progressives’ vision of the future.
Even on the issue on which Hillary and Barack have the biggest difference – health care – they are far closer to each other than John McCain is to either of them.
I support Hillary because I feel confident she has the experience, knowledge, legislative skills and temperament to actually enact the issues both Dems support. She’s done it for years. Barack? What can he point to that would make me feel he can enact policy?
But if she doesn’t make it, I’ll take my chances with the inspiration-inducing Obama to enact the same things over supporting someone like McCain, who is diametrically opposed to virtually everything I care about.
Popularity vs. progress
While being on the verge of nominating one of two good progressives is inspiring, what hasn’t been terribly inspiring has been the vitriol with which supporters of the candidates have dismissed the other.
It’s been my observation that this has come particularly from some vocal Barack supporters, who have arrogantly and not without vitriol dismissed the tremendous progressive accomplishments of Hillary and relegated her to some status as Republican-lite.
Likewise, Hillary has some voters who dismiss Barack as lacking the experience of John or Hillary.
Both sides seem to be forgetting that policy matters. The ability to implement policy matters. Results matter.
If you don’t think it does, ask yourself, “Why do I care about politics?” Any Dem, progressive, or even moderate independent or Republican who gives an answer other than “I like to feel tingly” couldn’t possibly choose McCain (or even abstaining) over either Clinton or Obama.
Those tingly feelings you might have for McCain aren’t going to do anything for that long, important list you see above. Voting for either Barack or Hillary will.
Bundy is the political and legislative director for AFSCME in