Political Fault lines

When Sen. Obama won the democratic primary election the defeat of Sen. Clinton appeared to me to be a pyrrhic victory. The debate continues as to whose fault it was that such a victory took place. The fact remains that if the Democratic Party found the need to reinforce “unity” during their party’s national convention then “unity” must still be a problem for the DNC. The news media was ready for a rowdy crowed at the Democratic convention and had predicted that such a crowed would be indicative of a deep, long and wide fault line zigzagging around rank and file democrats separating family and friends. Many of which are finding themselves on either side of the debate over how the DNC handled their primary election. The debate is about the answers to a few questions like what happened during the democratic primary election and what are the repercussions on a general election? Time will tell and the obvious answers are that Sen. Obama won and Sen. Clinton supporters should not be “sore losers.”

Americans are Divided

Many families and friends around the country are experiencing a political divide caused by friction that emanated from the harshly fought democratic primary election. There have always been people divided by political issues and after primary elections. The difference this election season is that the rift is deep, among democrats and runs all the way up the chain of command. Party leaders are professional and so are emphasizing "party unity" but instinct warns of wounds that run deeper than first thought. Hillary and Bill Clinton did their part to excite democrats during the convention and seemed enthusiastic for the cameras. At the dinner table, however, it’s not a stretch of the imagination to think that Bill, Hillary and Chelsea do not talk about the primary as fondly as the DNC would like. This last democratic primary was fought too tough, too hard and with little and tardy oversight. The DNC threw a wonderful national convention but one effect of Sen. Obama’ pyrrhic victory over Sen. Clinton on rank and file democrats, independents and other voting citizens was to quiet political conversation. Common in many fault zones are friction caused fault lines that run just beneath the surface but are deep and worrisome nonetheless to people that live in earthquake country. That is where citizens are carrying their tension about this last democratic primary; right below the surface waiting for friction to widen the rift.

Be Optimistic

Political polls should always be questioned and the Obama/Biden ticket has begun to take a greater lead (50% Obama to 42% McCain) and that’s good news if you’re a democrat. The hope of a supporter of Sen. Obama is that an eight point or more lead continue and carry the senator to victory. If we forget about or put behind us the tension of a harshly fought primary and don’t forget to be optimistic about the future then Sen. Obama can win and the GOP is already defeated. With that in mind the reality is that citizens and mainstream media are focused on brutally attacking the character of the apposing candidate.

Everywhere people are discussing Gov. Palin for supporting abstinence when her daughter, who is seventeen, is pregnant. The radio, web and cable media outlets were asking the public this weekend “Should the family of candidates be off the table during an election season?” Sen. Obama quickly said that family or children were “off the table.” Others were not as willing to drop the issue as easy as Senator Obama. Some are asking whether the line was crossed between the political and the personal when Gov. Palin asked, as a public figure, that everyone try abstinence and emphasizes it as the best solution for an unwanted pregnancy above all other options. Gov. Palin should be asked to defend her lackadaisical support for educating the public about their full options including abortion and many other issues. Whatever side a person falls on regarding the issue of “abortion,” consider that Gov. Palin has the highest citizen approval rating among any other Governor in our federation so she must be doing something right. Gov. Palin, her daughter and the childes father have decided to take responsibility for the baby. Many citizens find themselves in this same circumstance and so attacking Gov. Palin on this issue risks creating a nasty backlash from sympathetic people that can relate.

Don’t Scratch Healing Wounds

If a woman is being publically attacked for defending her daughter’s decision not to abort a pregnancy then the issue of abortion becomes heated among the electorate. Typically (these days) during an election the issue of abortion is most heated among those debating what judge will be nominated to the Supreme Court. By attacking Gov. Palin the left risk igniting republicans and alienating independents by personalizing the issue. In other words if a woman decided to give birth instead of aborting the pregnancy then it is prudent to take into account that any individual who hints that her decision may have been a mistake risks becoming alienated. After all who wants to say “Ok, my life was a mistake and so was that child.” Other than the jokers among us, who? So, that’s why democratic leadership is trying to remind its troops to be "polite."

Burning Bridges

Consider that many of the complaints about this last democratic primary were about how sexism was not as controlled as it could have been. Making the child of Gov. Palin an issue brings sexism to the forefront and blurs the message of each candidate. While it was commendable that Sen. Obama kept on the high road many democratic foot soldiers did not. The opportunity to paint the Governor as a hypocrite was too enticing to pass up. The Bradley Effect should always be factored into any campaign strategy but this particular election seems like the perfect breeding ground for viewing its effects. The results of a pyrrhic victory are always that bridges are burnt and not much is left after the battle is won to celebrate with.

If democrats are divided and republicans ignited the decisive victory many democrats predict for November may not be as clear cut as some might think This issue further reinforces the unwillingness of many people to speak of politics after this last democratic primary. The best way to defeat this Vice presidential pick is to have the two vice presidential candidates debate as much as possible.

Good luck Democrats