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 Connect The Dots
by Jim Moss
As Hurricane Ike barreled its way through Texas on Saturday, each candidate issued a statement. McCain’s was the exact kind of meaningless garbage that we have come to expect from our politicians. From his website: Today, Cindy and I join every American in offering prayers and assistance to those along the Gulf Coast reeling from the damage done by Hurricane Ike. The scope of the destruction is not yet clear, but yesterday I was briefed by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Texas Governor Rick Perry about the status of their response operation. Their combined determination to address immediate evacuations and relief support was encouraging, but I am increasingly concerned that there may have been a substantial loss of life. We do know that the economic impact from this storm will be severe. Like most Americans this morning, my concern has been reinforced by scenes of widespread flooding and ferocious winds. And like most Americans, I remain concerned about the impact this storm will have on gas prices across the country, but our priority now must be to help the relief effort in any way we can, and to pray for the safety of those in the storm’s path.” But in taking his campaign to a deeper, more empathetic level, is Obama taking a risk? The expectations of the American voter have been seriously dumbed-down, to the point that we actually see intelligence and sophisticated thinking as detriments to a candidate. These things are no longer a sign that he or she is well-qualified for office. They now mean that the candidate is an “out of touch elitist.” Instead of wanting the guy who actually studied hard and got good grades in college, we tend to prefer the one who was out partying every night and acting like a “regular Joe.” It’s an insane trend in American politics, but given two Bush victories and a competitive McCain campaign, it seems to be true. Personally, I think Obama’s “connect-the-dots” approach will prevail over McCain’s “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” mentality. People really are hurting, and people are looking for real answers on real issues. At some point, they’re going to get tired of the mud-slinging and the distractions, and they’re going to de drawn toward the candidate who speaks to their issues with honesty, sensitivity, and even intelligence. They’re both playing the usual sleazy political games. But right now, the one who is also taking it to a higher level is Obama. What do you think? Is Obama gaining votes when he takes the campaign to a higher level? Or should he play the entire game at McCain’s moronic level? Jim Moss is a Presbyterian minister from York, South Carolina. He publishes a blog and a quarterly newsletter called "Discipline for Justice," which focuses on ways North Americans can live lives that promote peace and economic justice.
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Tags: Jim Moss McCain Hurricane Ike Texas Michael Chertoff
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