Position Paper for 2008 Democratic Presidential Candidate Barak Obama
Introduction
Studies by the Center for American Progress and Pew Center for the People and the Press suggest that we are living in a rare moment. The studies point to inter- and intra-party fissures and desires for government to become more committed to the common good of all Americans. The polls' data signify the electorate's dissatisfaction with the current zeitgeist.
We Democrats need to return to our roots and once again become the party that is committed to achieving a common good for our republic. Such a simplified platform will not only distinguish us from Republicans, but also stand on its own merits in that it will not be a reactionary platform such as the one from which we operate today. We must break the cycle of being constantly on the defensive against conservative Republican policies and propaganda.
Advocating, charismatically, politics for the common good, as does our 2008 Presidential candidate, Senator Barak Obama, is the only way that our once-great party can again build a platform that is clear and trustworthy. In the wake of the conservative rise to power, we cannot afford to be a party that stands just for particular policies such as universal health care, environmental protection, or citizenship for illegal immigration, etc. Some policies are discredited; some leave Democrats open to familiar partisan attacks; some just bore the electorate. Voters respond more readily to ideas than to policies. And voters can respond to the one idea that runs through all of Senator Obama's addresses: the idea that we have to band together as a nation, occasionally sacrifice, and, sometimes, look beyond our self-interest to solve our problems and create a better future.
Barak Obama understands, very keenly, and believes in the paradigm of the common good. That belief coupled with his charisma, rhetorical talent, and natural leadership ability allow him to weave the paradigm's message seamlessly and eloquently into prepared and impromptu discourse about a
Studies by the Center for American Progress and Pew Center for the People and the Press suggest that we are living in a rare moment. The studies point to inter- and intra-party fissures and desires for government to become more committed to the common good of all Americans. The polls' data signify the electorate's dissatisfaction with the current zeitgeist.
We Democrats need to return to our roots and once again become the party that is committed to achieving a common good for our republic. Such a simplified platform will not only distinguish us from Republicans, but also stand on its own merits in that it will not be a reactionary platform such as the one from which we operate today. We must break the cycle of being constantly on the defensive against conservative Republican policies and propaganda.
Advocating, charismatically, politics for the common good, as does our 2008 Presidential candidate, Senator Barak Obama, is the only way that our once-great party can again build a platform that is clear and trustworthy. In the wake of the conservative rise to power, we cannot afford to be a party that stands just for particular policies such as universal health care, environmental protection, or citizenship for illegal immigration, etc. Some policies are discredited; some leave Democrats open to familiar partisan attacks; some just bore the electorate. Voters respond more readily to ideas than to policies. And voters can respond to the one idea that runs through all of Senator Obama's addresses: the idea that we have to band together as a nation, occasionally sacrifice, and, sometimes, look beyond our self-interest to solve our problems and create a better future.
Barak Obama understands, very keenly, and believes in the paradigm of the common good. That belief coupled with his charisma, rhetorical talent, and natural leadership ability allow him to weave the paradigm's message seamlessly and eloquently into prepared and impromptu discourse about a