Thursday, May 15, 2008

Obama Gets Edwards: The Old Boys Club at Work


John Edwards has endorsed Barak Obama. Can you believe it?

Initially, I could not believe that Edwards had endorsed Obama after saying that he was not going to touch anyone in the race. Now at the end of primary season, he turns coat and endorses Senator Obama. I would have respected the Senator more if he had not jumped into the fray and sat this one out but I guess that he was just not that intelligent.

It’s just that I keep hearing so many of the Super-delegates say that they respect Senator Clinton and the process. They say that they want to see the process play out. They, including Senator Edwards have said that they are stepping back and allowing the process to play out. They, say that they don’t want to see Senator Clinton forced out of the race. Nevertheless, they have all began to hurl endorsements and pledge delegate votes before the race has even ended.

At the end of the day, the debate that is going on now is healthy for the party and the country. It is a wise process and has made Senator Obama the better candidate for it. I believe that if he is the nominee that he needed this sharpening to be prepared for Senator McCain in the fall. This will be a tough election and this (contest with Senators Obama and Clinton) is not weakening the party but indeed strengthening it. This debate makes the issues that may have otherwise been overlooked front page news.

Right now, Senator Clinton is behind in both delegate and super-delegate votes. She is behind in the popular vote (excluding Michigan and Florida) and her war chest has been severely depleted. What good is it for folk like John Edwards and members of Congress to circle the wagons? What good is it for them to kick her while she is down? NONE!

I was very supportive of Senator Edwards and his positions before this. I thought that he was young progressive and cosmopolitan. I saw him as a picture of the “new south”. Now, I feel as if he is just another member of the old boys club. In some way shape or form I wish that Senator Clinton could clinch the nomination and show the old boys club that this is not just business as usual.

The Democratic Convention should not be just a coronation ceremony. As a former elected delegate, I am a fan of allowing debate on the floor. I am a fan of allowing the process to progress.

Hillary may not win but to publically force her out of the race leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It makes one think that our little daughters can never hope to grow up to be president. Why? In many ways the halls of power in this country, is still just another old boys club.

3 comments:

fuzzy said...

Go Obama!

WhozHe said...

I am desperate for a new President. Now!!!

Darius T. Williams said...

Yup - this is a great move!