Name:     Michael L. S.   [E-Mail]
      Location:  Earth
      Website:  Middle East Resource Center

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As we are all well aware, the Democrat Party's primaries are in full swing and, ensuing John Edward's withdrawal, it's a battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama. I have to confess to not having given much of a chance to Obama at the beginning nor did I view him as much of a threat. Hillary was always going to be a shoe-in choice. However, Obama has put up a formidable fight and seriously imperiled Mrs. Clinton's chances of competing against--what is almost certain to be--Sen. McCain in the Presidential election this November.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the key. We can talk about manifestos, agenda and even the candidates’ experience all we want. We all know who and what Hillary is. She may be divisive and she may be abrasive. She may well sell out to corporate interests the minute she walks into the White House. She though is a stateswoman with gravitas, a track-record of concrete policies and a voting record on issues that concern me and appeal to me. ("Me" being a social liberal.) Obama doesn't. He is young and he talks about effecting a change. Big deal. Who reading this can think off the top of their head what Obama actually stands for? I have read and heard a number of his speeches. Yes, rousing, inspired, invigorated... - just as many seasoned commentators have portrayed them. But that's ALL they are: Platitudes, clichés, ephemeral banalities. Other than being African-American, what are Obama's actual credentials? Whether those of us wishing for a utopian, color-blind world like it or not, his ethnicity IS a factor if only so as to prove that his success hitherto demonstrates what a long way the United States has come. That is not all it proves, however; it also proves America has not come far enough.

This isn't about sending any messages about the state, unity, priorities and principles of the Democratic faction. This is about fielding a candidate who can regain the White House from the Republicans whose excesses many feel have long gotten out of hand. The question, therefore, is whether Hillary or Obama can do it against McCain. If it comes down to Hillary and McCain, we can expect a historic battle of the titans. Polarizing though Hillary is unremittingly said to be, she has what it takes to beat a Republican contender. The American people are deeply disaffected and tired of Mr. Bush and his entire establishment. They crave change, which can be witnessed by the record-breaking numbers of people who turned out to participate in the Democratic primaries so far. But does this burning desire for change include a willingness to have an African-American president with recondite policies over a wealthy, Caucasian, straight-talking Vietnam vet? Well, that was really a rhetorical question.

Obama, nice enough a guy though he undoubtedly is, does not stand a chance against Sen. McCain. Unless we want four more years of a Republican administration, it is imperative we vote with our heads, not hearts. The bottom line is: Obama vs. McCain will yield McCain; Hillary vs. McCain will yield Hillary. The question to ask yourself is would you rather have Hillary or McCain as the next U.S. president?

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