Who will bring real change?
In case you missed it, the word ‘change’ has become the mantra of presidential candidates from both parties. To listen to them, you would think they invented the word. From Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards, to Mitt Romney, John McCain and Mike Huckabee, they’re all for something called ‘change.’
The problem with this talk about change is it is long on rhetoric and short on specifics. For example, where do they stand, specifically, on such daunting challenges as the sagging economy, our addiction to oil, illegal immigration, the war in Iraq, our soaring national debt, job outsourcing, lagging education, inadequate healthcare, unfair taxation, and so on?
Maybe their respective positions on these and other issues will become clearer as the 2008 presidential election cycle moves through the maze of primaries and caucuses to the national party conventions, and then on to the general elections in November. For their sake and ours, I certainly hope so.
As citizens and voters, we deserve, and should demand, some degree of clarity from those who aspire to the highest office in the land. The last thing we need from them is ambiguity on the pressing foreign and domestic issues facing our nation.
The conventional wisdom among politicians and pundits suggests 2008 will be the year for the Democrats to regain the White House and increase their numbers in the Senate and House. A few months ago, Sen. Hillary Clinton seemed to be on the cusp of coronation. Then, along came Sen. Barack Obama, with the audacity to hope he could derail her best-laid plans. He did so, briefly, in Iowa, with more than a little help from Oprah. He failed to win in New Hampshire, due in part to Clinton’s message and her ‘moment’ of vulnerability or authenticity, and to some lapses in his own campaign as well.
Both Democratic frontrunners have miles to go before one of them earns their party’s nomination. ‘Super Tuesday’ on Feb. 5 will be pivotal. The results that night should tell them and us who the most likely nominee will be. Meanwhile, John Edwards is down, but not out. However, he needs to win in South Carolina to remain a viable candidate going into February.
As for the Republicans, Iowa, Wyoming, New Hampshire and Michigan caucus and primary results indicate the race remains wide open, at least among the three frontrunners. Huckabee won in Iowa, Romney in Wyoming, McCain in New Hampshire, and Romney won again in Michigan. Early favorite Rudy Giuliani is lagging badly now, but counting on Florida to improve his standing. Fred Thompson has also fizzled so far. He needs to win in South Carolina to gain any real traction.
Whoever successfully travels the tortuous trail to the White House will find challenges aplenty, both foreign and domestic. Their mettle will be tested, time and again. So will their capacity for creating and sustaining real, meaningful, positive change for our nation. Out of that crucible should come the answer to the question: ‘Have we turned the corner, or merely circled the block’ on change?
Retired Army Col. Thomas B. Vaughn can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].