Political Bandstand

Following eight years of plunder by the Bush administration US citizens are beginning to consider whether our political system truly serves the greater good of the country. One would think a Democrat’s dream would be one of a party change, one where a new president takes the reins and rolls back the policies and agendas of a dictator-like ruler. In 2008, that’s not enough. The majority of voters want a change in ideals, not just policy. And the primaries reflect that. One would think the time is ripe for just any Democrat, running in the wake of George W. Bush, to waltz in and sweep the polls, but what is certainly a boon for Obama may actually be a pitfall for Clinton.

Hillary Clinton may be a Democrat. She may be the wife of former president Bill Clinton. She may also be too much like Bush for the ease of most Americans. Like Bush, Clinton has come to represent catering to big business, spooning with lobbyists and special interest groups, cronieism. Her campaign has brought on lengthy bouts of negativity and smear tactics. These are all traits of an era of politics that has been building since after World War II. It has been an era of politics marked by the lack of a unified goal in America, so politicians have been allowed the freedom to commit themselves, often solely, to political entrenchment. This era has come to a climax with the disenfranchisement of tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of voters with the election and re-election of George W. Bush.

The split between young and old voters represents this divide. With the majority of older Democrats voting for Clinton and younger Democrats springing for Obama. At 60, Clinton still has enough spunk in her to compete against a 45 year old candidate, Obama, so age alone is not a deciding factor for most voters. Bill Clinton called younger voters gullible for supporting Obama.

Older voters gravitate to Hillary Clinton because they’re too wise to be fooled by Barack Obama’s rhetoric, former president Bill Clinton told Pennsylvania voters today. -Bill Clinton: Older voters too savvy to fall for Obama, Political Intelligence, April 15, 2008

Bill Clinton is doing what he’s been doing since the beginning of the Hillary Clinton campaign, trying to boost her standings with Democratic voters by stabbing at Barack Obama. I find his statement disagreeable considering Obama fares better among college educated voters than Clinton does. And while education doesn’t guarantee wisdom, it does give people more tools with which to gain it.

The division between younger and older voters comes down in part topolitical styles. The youth of today don’t have the ingrained unconditional respect for authority instilled in older voters by World War II and the 1969 Moon Landing. They are looking behind the candidate to determine what they stand for. Clinton has sent too many conflicting messages and too many of her actions have been contradictory. Obama has been consistent, stable, and forthcoming.

Older generations seem to accept the dirty politics and nepotism as a part of the political process. They believe all the old stereotypes, that all politicians are liars, cheaters, and thieves, but what makes one politician better than another is that the good ones don’t get caught. Younger voters and less cynical older voters aren’t ready to give up so fast. They believe in a better future, a future where a politician can play the game, maintain dignity, and even keep the game fair. A future like this demands leaders who are conscientious and honorable, and these are traits Obama supporters see in him. When Clinton supporters look at her they see a “fighter.” George W. Bush is also a fighter and we can see the havoc that can wreak on an economy. Younger generations can see there’s been too much fight, not enough diplomacy, and the time is now for a different kind of leader to take charge.

When the United States sets out to solve a clash in ideals the struggle is always bitter. Take the American Civil War, for example. You might say the Democratic party is going through its own civil war right now. The American Civil War slanted in favor of the more righteous set of ideals. If that might be any kind of indicator of how power is divided in America, Obama is about as righteous as modern politics gets. Which means Clinton’s loss represents much more than just the defeat of a high profile extension of a powerful political engine. It also means the rejection of the methods, traditions, and ideology she stands for.