Joel Pett Courtesy The Lexington Herald-Leader, Cartoonists and Writers Syndicate

Transcription

1 A Change Election The story of the 2008 campaign begins with the contested election of George W. Bush in 2000 and the bitterness it engendered. Some Democrats never really got over the stolen election, and the Bush Administration s actions in taking the country into war in Iraq in March 2003 sharpened their anti-bush views. In 2004, Democrats selected Massachusetts senator John Kerry as the most electable challenger to President Bush in large part because of his Vietnam service. Kerry managed to lose the election despite the efforts of a multitude of liberal and progressive groups that mobilized to defeat Bush. Indeed, in 2004 Democrats waged far more of an anti-bush than a pro-kerry campaign. The November 2006 midterm elections produced a different result. After almost six years of the Bush administration, Republicans lost control of both houses of Congress as well as their majority of governorships and state legislative chambers. The unpopular war in Iraq, the administration s handling of Hurricane Katrina, economic unease, high gas prices, partisan gridlock, and several scandals contributed to the Republican setbacks. Thereafter, matters did not improve for Republicans. President Bush s job approval ratings ranged from the low thirties to high twenties throughout 2007 and into 2008, while the share of those who disapproved of his job performance was often above 60 percent. Even some Republicans saw what has been termed a failed presidency. The war in Iraq continued to exact a heavy toll in blood and treasure. Democratic presidential candidates who had voted for the October 2002 resolution to authorize the use of force had the awkward task of explaining their votes. Starting in the latter part of 2007, economic issues became prominent, particularly with the subprime mortgage crisis and signs of recession. Indeed, the country faced a daunting list of economic challenges, including a $9.4 trillion federal debt, the loss of manufacturing jobs, a high trade deficit, and ever increasing gas prices. Thorny issues such as global warming and illegal immigration loomed as well. During the Bush administration many of these pressing problems seemed to get caught up in partisan politics or go unaddressed. Democrats yearned for a change from Bush politics and towards a more common-sense approach. The political landscape looked very favorable to taking back the White House in The broad theme of change is familiar to campaign observers. Bill Clinton called for fundamental change in his 1992 presidential campaign. In November 2006, Iowa governor Tom Vilsack announced his short-lived candidacy using the slogan The Courage to Create Change. As the 2008 presidential campaign progressed through the early states, inside-the-beltway veterans Sen. Joe Biden and Sen. Chris Dodd fell short on the change-meter, as did Gov. Bill Richardson, progressive representative Dennis Kucinich, and populist former senator John Edwards. For Illinois senator Barack Obama the mantle of change seemed a natural fit. Unknown before he ascended to the national stage in 2004, Obama presented a fresh face, and as an African-American, a different face. He also brought youth to the race; if elected he would be forty-seven years old on Inauguration Day in January Starting with his famous convention speech in July 2004, Obama offered the prospect of a kind of post-partisan politics. He spoke eloquently about unity and hope. His campaign declined contributions from Washington lobbyists and political action committees and engaged supporters to an unprecedented degree over the Internet and with its field organization. New York senator Hillary Clinton claimed the mantle of change as well. She sought to become the first female president. Clinton, and some of the other candidates in the Democratic field, emphasized the importance of experience in bringing about change. Clinton was a less natural candidate of change than Obama, as she carried the baggage 7

2 of her husband s terms, and her campaign seemed at times conventional, poll-driven, and more than ready to engage in petty politicking. Talking about change is easy; implementing change is another matter. The long primary campaign provided ample time for Democratic voters to reach beyond the rhetoric and weigh the two leading candidates records and capabilities, their policy proposals, their characters and convictions, their ability to win in November, and, one hopes, their ability to govern effectively. Joel Pett Courtesy The Lexington Herald-Leader, Cartoonists and Writers Syndicate 8

3 Jeff Danziger Courtesy NYTimes Syndicate Mike Keefe Courtesy The Denver Post 9

4 Ted Rall Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate Ed Stein Courtesy The Rocky Mountain News 10

5 Nick Anderson Courtesy The Houston Chronicle, Washington Post Writers Group Dan Wasserman Courtesy The Boston Globe, Tribune Media Services, Inc. 11

6 Jack Ohman Courtesy The Oregonian, Tribune Media Services, Inc. Matt Davies Courtesy The Journal News (Westchester, NY), Tribune Media Services, Inc. 12