Sizing up the Democratic race

I'm not one of those "anybody but Bush people". Electing a President is far more complex than that, or at least should be. I'm also not the type of person who would rather see any Democrat in the White House rather than a Republican. I want to see the candidate who addresses the most pressing issues progressively, who has an actual plan in place rather than good sounding rhetoric, a person who is sincere and honest in their campaign. I feel that John Edwards fits this description the best but odds are he won't be on the ballot come the Presidential election.

I like both Edwards and Obama. I like what Obama says, how says it and the revolutionist tone of his speeches, though I feel that Edwards has a much more solid plan in place towards economic reform. Both Obama and Edwards have built their campaigns around change, and in fact when compared between the two of them, both candidates express similar desires. Both want to overhaul the tax codes, eliminating unfair tax breaks given to the elite while shifting the burden away from the middle class. Both further express similar distaste with Washington politics, in particular towards special interests, and seem intent on change there as well. While I will vote for either candidate should they make onto the 2008 Democratic Presidential election ballot, Hillary Clinton will not get my vote should they fail in the primaries.

We need a fresh approach to politics and Hillary is part of the old elitist vanguard, a politician's politician who sidesteps issues to avoid saying the wrong thing. She is better at pointing out the flaws in others rather than the strengths in herself. She has taken to low ball attacks on Obama ever since losing the Iowa primary, a sign of her political immaturity and divisive campaign strategy. Her economic policies are weak, amounting to nothing more than a band aid on a gaping wound, and out of all the Democratic hopefuls, I have seen her interviewed the most and she consistently sidesteps the toughest questions. She doesn't talk straight. She's very cautious and wary, seeking the fine line, and those aren't the qualities I want in a leader. I want a leader who calls a spade a spade, who isn't afraid to piss off a few in order to do what is right. Those are the qualities of a leader. Hillary has the qualities of a politician.

To me this election comes down to getting away from the Washington establishment which is run by special interests and corruption, while combating the destructive fascism that has swept in from the political right and overtaken our economy and political process. Both Edwards and Obama seem to share this concern. Hillary Clinton was raised in the Washington mindset. Out with the old, in with the new. Hillary Clinton will not liberalize this country.

Now if only Edwards would become Obama's running mate...