Here is the latest commentary on the elections from the upcoming issue of Dynamic:
With the breakneck pace of today's "horse race"-style elections coverage this summer’s Democratic and Republican National Conventions may as well have taken place years ago. Yet, there are many Americans who watched or attended Barack Obama’s acceptance speech in Denver that can still recall the lines wrapped around the stadium for miles, and the over 80,000 people who were in attendance that day.
At the time, some commentators attempted to portray this closing night of the DNC as a “rock concert” for a narcissistic and shallow “celebrity” candidate.
Some of Obama’s closing remarks addressing these criticisms at Invesco are important to remember now: "What they don't understand is that this election isn’t about me, it's about you...Change doesn't come from Washington. It comes to Washington."
Today, it seems that the only thing that has been predictable or conventional about this election is that it has been unpredictable and unconventional.
Who would have thought that even John McCain would choose a tenth-rate, first-time governor and long-time religious fundamentalist as his running mate? Or that notable Republicans such as Christopher Buckley and Colin Powell would decide to endorse Obama? And as the twists and turns continue, we remain embroiled in one of the worst economic crises in our nation’s history.
So it is not an exaggeration to say that the stakes have grown higher everyday–while the days left until November 4th are fewer and fewer.
There are those who say that this election is “Obama’s to lose” but as history has shown, nothing is ever in the bag.
This is politics and the going will get rough. We have already witnessed this in the increasingly hysterical and demagogic McCain and Palin rallies.
But it would also be unfortunate—and self-defeating—to become too cynical or discouraged under these circumstances.
One of the most trite ways of expressing this has to be the many times you may have heard someone utter the following mantra: “If (insert applicable candidate) wins, I will move to (insert applicable country).”
Of course, these individuals usually do not wind up moving. In fact, they usually revert back to not doing much of anything. This election’s equivalent of this pitiful phenomenon is maybe even worse and more nihilistic: “Obama will never win because Americans are too racist.”
These people should speak for themselves.
Apparently the real sacrifices and accomplishments of the civil rights movement mean nothing to them. Nor, apparently, do the ongoing shows of support for Obama, by tens of thousands of white, working class people in campaign rallies all over the country.
Yes, there have been some disappointments and many difficulties this year. This is part of reality and will always be the case—in any country, in any time, even with the greatest of leaders.
On the other hand, this election continues to exceed—and defy all expectations.
Regarding the most urgent issue of the day, the economy, polls and figures indicate that more Americans have confidence in Obama’s handling of the situation over McCain’s.
Anyone who has watched the presidential and vice-presidential debates cannot honestly say with a straight face that they do not see the increasingly stark contrasts between the candidates.
They are wrong. Let's prove it on Election Day—and beyond.