... perhaps too decent to be President?
I've heard it said before by one of my Intellectual Fathers, Dennis Prager, "There are two types of people in the world, the decent and the indecent." Though, he was quoting his friend Victor Frankl, I learned it from Dennis. Dennis also taught me that sometimes you must confront violent evil with violent good. And although Barack Obama may not fall on the "evil" side, he would unwittingly breed an environment for evil to flourish. And violence is out of the equation, so what to do? John McCain carries with him an old-fashioned, compassionate, conservative, goodness-centered nature. I love him for that. Perhaps his compassion is also his greatest weakness, because it precludes him resorting to the necessary underhanded tactics to win favor in a political race. He is mindful of his position and who he represents. For John McCain, this race is not about ego, it is not about winning “at any cost”, especially the cost of his integrity and that of the office. Obama, on the other hand, is all ego. He is more personality, than substance. He is more driven to make a difference, than to serve a cause.
Perhaps a more effective tactic for McCain's campaign from the beginning would have been, not to treat Obama as an equal, but as an underling. Isn’t that the perception of McCain’s greatest liability, his age? To use this perception as his strength could have congealed this election for him earlier on. Like in Lord of the Rings, everyone loves Gandalf! He should have related to Obama as an inexperienced naïve youngster requiring the tempered hand experience of the wise sage-like father. Instead, he put him on even footing and has given up his staff. And now, alas, the hour is late; and the shadows grow long. It seems the white-hair wizard has fallen to The Dark One. But is this movie really over yet? As I recall, Gandalf always comes riding up at the very last moment to save the day. And through it all he keeps his integrity, his decency. We shall see if it comes to that end.
Hailing John McCain!, "Do not go quietly into that good night!"
1 comment:
Thanks for posting the clip.
McCain has lived a full life as a courageous soldier, honorable public servant who has ruffled feathers on both sides and exhibits fundamental decency as shown in this clip.
Obama is clearly a capable fellow but the whole "we are the change we have been waiting for" and striving to "fundamentally change America" talk just strikes me as someone who is reaching beyond his grasp and being intoxicated by their own campaign's rhetoric.
Here's hoping for a swing toward McCain this weekend as people ponder their vote.
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