Obama's different. He knows to strike back with intelligence, grace, sincerity and he has the speech-writer's ability to articulate truth. Consider how decisively he knocked the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's radical opinions out of the stadium. First he elevated the discussion by acknowledging that race is a big issue and not a one-sided issue. By elevating the conversation, he made news that changed the subject in a way Gore and John Kerry were unequipped to do. Had Kerry taken on the Swift Boaters in such a forthright way, he might've carried the day. No way does Bush's draft-dodging National Guard service in Texas and Alabama trump Kerry's commanding a gunboat on the Mekong River in Vietnam, but somehow, in 2004, Kerry failed to stand up and say it.
There'll be new and resurrected scandals regarding Obama. We'll see tapes ad nauseam about the Rev. Wright, about an associate of Saddam Hussein's named Nadhmi Auchi, about the death penalty, and in each case we'll hear well-timed, news-making eloquence from Obama that'll win hearts and minds.
Second, Democrats are energized as never before. Their history-making primary between a man of color and a top tier female candidate drew millions of new voters. Hillary's speech on Saturday has begun a healing process that'll keep voters in the fold. She's ably dampened prospects of a divided convention, a walkout or other such demonstrations in Denver.
Third, issues favor Obama. We're in Year Six of a war nobody's happy about with the possible exception of McCain. That's glib, but it's close to true. McCain exults in the prospect of armed conflict. Bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb Iran?
It's true McCain and Obama agree on other things, but McCain has flip-flopped on torture, veterans' benefits and other issues. He's way too keen on nuclear power.
Meanwhile the economy is tanking. Millions face foreclosure and / or bankruptcy. Credit card debt is ballooning, fuel prices are rocketing, federal debt is the largest in history. I personally know people who have eschewed potentially life-saving checkups and treatments for lack of insurance. McCain's failure to forcefully address such issues hurts him.
Four, history favors Obama. Only once in my lifetime has a party held the presidency for 12 consecutive years, and that was when George Bush 41 beat Michael Dukakis, to follow Ronald Reagan, in 1988. He did so while Republicans were taking credit for bringing down the Soviet empire, and he did it, in part, by lowering the tone of debate. The Willie Horton ad and other icons of dirty politics were on display.
No party has ever won a third successive term to the White House while the economy spiraled downward during a no-win war as energy costs soared, against the backdrop of a half-dozen scandals, especially while their opponents raised millions more money.
Five. We're ready for change. Even baby boomers are tired of government by boomers. We're weary of culture wars. We've had enough of the radical Christian Right and the Far Left. Yes, Obama's opponents will try to pigeonhole him as a radical lefty, but he's too reasonable, graceful and eloquent to let it stick.
He's a rock star of politics.
His time has come.
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