Obama deserves to lose -- unless he becomes bold

If you were an independent voter who doesn’t pay that much attention to politics, who would you vote for?
A. Barack Obama
B. A team led by Obama that includes a Republican secretary of defense (Hagel?), a conservative southern Democratic national security adviser (Nunn?), someone with a long record as a foreign policy expert or diplomat as secretary of state (Biden? Richardson?), and a vice president with national security credentials (Clark? Webb? Gore?)
It is unfathomable that Obama has not sought to address the concerns of those who are, understandably, wary of a newcomer by informing people who his foreign policy leadership will be.
I know announcements of Cabinet officials are usually not made in advance, but to continue this stupid tradition shows an inability to think outside the box. The American people DESERVE to know who their leaders are. Besides, we WERE basically told in 2000 that Colin Powell would be Bush Jr.’s secretary of state, and it was of enormous benefit to the Incompetent One.
Obama’s inexplicable unwillingness to put together a team is one of two main reasons he DESERVES to lose. The second is that he has still not put together a simple-to-explain vision backed up by specific policy proposals.
People voting for Republicans think they are voting for a smaller government, lower taxes, a stronger defense, and better moral values. Of course, they are wrong, but it will take decades for millions of Americans to figure out that the Republicans’ incompetent governance shows that their simple, effective political campaigns are lies.
Why hasn’t Obama put together a list comparable to the above list for independents to vote for? Ex.–A fairer tax system, a better health care system, a balanced budget, and a tougher foreign policy in regards to real national security problems. Why isn’t Obama out there every day talking about the fact that two-thirds of corporations don’t pay taxes and the USA is something like No. 37 in quality of health care? Why aren’t there specific proposals to back up his rhetoric? Why isn’t he putting these plans within a framework that will allow him to claim that he is MORE patriotic than McCain?
Frankly, McCain DESERVES TO WIN. At least, he has a plan for our energy crisis that is easy to understand. It’s, no doubt, deeply flawed, but Americans don’t analyze plans. They know McCain was out in front of the issue and Obama has hemmed and hawed.
From my perspective, Obama thinks he is going to win because he has superior money, enthusiasm, and organization – an extraordinarily stupid viewpoint because he barely won the Democratic nomination with this plan with a far more liberal jury than the American public. And, I’ve concluded, he deliberately is being vague because he fears being painted as a liberal. This cowardice is inexcusable, particularly when Americans favor dramatic changes in taxes, health care, and lots of other issues.
And I’m infuriated by the vapid commentary I keep reading and hearing. It seems like everyone thinks the total answer is to be tough in campaign ads. Yes, McCain’s ads are despicable. And I’m all for calling out McCain on his lies.
Here’s a news flash though – the ads would NOT work nearly as well if Obama presented himself with a team and was far more substantive on the issues. These should be his priorities.
I predict, unfortunately, that Obama will lose a campaign he should win easily by replicating mistakes that Gore and Kerry also made.
Shalom,
Zwrite
Author tags: