Taking the High Road

This entry is outside of our normal scope of topics, but I think there are some points buried within it that are worth sharing with you.

I am a bit disappointed that Senator Clinton did so well in last night’s primaries. On one hand, I do think it is past time that we break the mold of the male-only President’s club. When I worked in a grocery store as a youngster, I recall being disturbed by the fact that I made 50-cents an hour more than my female counterparts. (This was back when 50 cents an hour was a bigger deal than it is today: we’re talking about people making only $2.75 an hour, so 50 cents was really significant.) This was way before any public consciousness of the unfairness in pay scales for women versus men. But I knew in my heart that it was wrong … it was unfair. And I don’t like things that unfair.

But, to me, Senator Clinton represents what is a wrong with the political leadership in this country: she plays the blame game. Her and her husband are famous for it.

No doubt many of you like her and will vote for her, and I am not trying to alienate you or change your mind. I am confident that she has a desire to do what is good for the United States, and for the world as a whole. I personally think she is motivated more by power than a desire to be of service, but that’s just my gut feeling. Regardless, I have not seen her taking the high road, not consistently anyway.

John McCain does take the high road. It seems to me that Barack Obama does, too, although I do not think he is as consistent about it as is John McCain. I have the sense that either of these gentlemen would do their best to unite this country, instead of further polarizing it. That is why I have been more impressed with them than any of the other candidates.

The thing I like most about John McCain is that he has been tested as few people on earth have, and he has passed all tests with flying colors, and he always takes the high road and respects the views of others. He has true experience, whereas Senator Clinton seems to have a bit of an inflated resume to me. I dislike it when people inflate their resumes and try to make it sound like they are more experienced than they are.

Consider an analogy. Say that the CEO of GE decides to step down, after 8 years as CEO, and the Board has to choose a new CEO. Do you think they will approach his wife, and say “we think you can do the job on Day One, because you were married to the former CEO?” Of course not. That’s nuts. So, why is it different in politics?

Anyway, I am trying not to make this a Clinton-bashing post, but one with the message that the high road is better. It seems to me it is better for our nation to have leaders that take the high road, that respect all people, and that are service-minded. In that regard, I hope I can learn something from Senator McCain’s campaigning … I hope I can learn how to be personally better at taking the high road.

And, finally, as regards the campaigning, there is a long way to go yet. In the coming months, Senator Clinton may prove me wrong in my suspicions about her. I will try to keep an open mind, although it is harder for me to do when it comes to politics than when it comes to many other matters in life. I do know I am so very tired of the blame game in Washington, the intense partisanship. I so much want to see someone step up to bat who works to unify.

Thanks for hearing me out, and feel free to post differing views in the comments.