Independent Run, if necessary — Country & its People more important than any Party — Creating a Party of the People to be Led by a Candidate of the People

May 10, 2008 
Category: Analyses & Opinions

Where do informed people of conscience regardless of age, race, economics, gender, sexual interest, religious affiliation, et cetera go if the election is “stolen” by Senator Clinton and the Superdelagates particularly if it is stolen by as person who is even more hawkish on war (Senator Clinton’s nuclear umbrella over the Middle East area) than even McCain? Throughout this Campaign, Senator Obama has shown that his grass roots based approach to the Presidential Campaign through raising the necessary money based on small donations and support from millions of people from around the country without the need of lobbiests and insurance companies, et cetera. Truly making it a “CAMPAIGN OF THE PEOPLE!” What happens though, if it is taken from him for some unfair or subjective reason at the Democratic National Convention? Is there another way that he can create a path to the White House?

People forget that it was Clinton’s second term fiasco, various scandals, and his luke warm support of Al Gore, that lost the White House to George Bush for the past eight years (and six years of House and Senate losses). So, if the Democratic Nomination is “stolen” from Senator Obama by the Superdelagates, would there not be a strong case for him running for President on an INDEPENDENT ticket.

Although there are some intricacies of the Independent Ticket, the main drawback to this option is that the Candidate is not usually truly well known or they are unable to drive the money support to compete with the Democratic or Republican Parties. Senator Obama is well known and he has obviously figured out how to raise the money he needs to run his election without the need for lobbyists, PACs or other funding that is usually provided or made available for a Presidential Race.

Obviously, this type of decision would have to be made after the Convention but it does allow for a backdoor option — an ace in Senator Obama’s back pocket. Then, Obama’s supporters can then count on being able to vote for him and have their voice count in the General Election no matter what Senator Clinton throws at him or the uncommitted Superdelagates.

Although I do not support him and personally see him more in McCain’s Republican camp, the fact still remains, Senator Lieberman did succeed running on an Independent Ticket when he felt the Democratic Party (rightly so) turned their back on him. At this point, he is probably where he had wanted to be for a a long time.

It is clear that Senator Clinton, from the gallop polls and the exit polls in PA, in the areas of trust worthiness and negative campaigning, falls quite short. Obviously, he can win the big states in the General Election when he doesn’t have the Clinton machine using the Republican Play Book and spinning every comment or result to their benefit. And curiously, Senator McCain parrots her remarks.

Indeed, were the tables turned and she was in Senator Obama’s place, she would be yelling to have him get out of the race and allow her to take on the Republicans. Don’t get me wrong, if the campaign was truly about debating positions and ideas of each candidate, the process can and would be appropriate to go to the end. The problem comes up when there is the negativity. All the voters can do without the negativity. Let’s have a heated election based on the issues not on attacking the person.

Although this is not characterized (and I am not saying it should be either) as a racial or gender issue, both of these questions have been raised. We are embarking on a first time ever for a Black Man or Woman to be in the General Election for the Presidency of the United States. Since the process recently has been very negative (can anyone tell the difference between a Clinton ad and a republican ad), we have to be careful that the bitterness that has been exhibited here cannot fall into the likely trap of what is usually characterized as horizontal oppression (where those individuals — both belonging to an oppressed population — attack or oppress another in another oppressed population).

Now, back to the Independent Ticket proposition.

If, in fact, Senator Clinton succeeds in (what can arguably be seen as) corrupting the minds of the uncommitted superdelagates into choosing to overturn the Will of the People (who’s votes yielded the current allocation of pledge delagates) and gravitate her to the role of Nominee for the Democratic Party, an alternative needs to be available. Obviously, Senator Clinton has gone so far as to change the numbering schemes that she wishes to see used to coerce the superdelagates. She has flashed war scenes in the hopes of tearing down Senator Obama. She has said one thing on camera and then turns around and states something else something else (most people would call the person that did this a Liar). She claimed that she would help to unify the Democratic Party. Keep in mind, if the Primary fight was not so bitter, there would not need to be much unification needed. However, in the latest polls, if Senator Obama was nominated, a large percentage of Senator Clinton’s voters said that they would either vote for Senator McCain or stay home (ostensibly a vote for McCain) in the General Election. Ironically, that number is much less for Senator Obama’s voters if Senator Clinton received the Nomination. Although things are heated right now and many things can change between now and November, one has to wonder why there is such an extreme resistance in this. The negative politics that has been mostly used by Senator Clinton recently seems to be the strongest factor that can be applied to this exit polling result.

If the Democratic Party turns their back on Senator Obama by elevating Senator Clinton based on nothing but their fear to go against the Clintons and accept their rhetoric come the General Election, then Senator Obama, and the millions of Americans who support them, would not owe anything to the Party. Senator Obama has the support. People want their chance to have their vote and voice heard and Senator Obama has a right to hear their voices on his way to the White House.

This suggestion comes from someone who has dealt with the deadly genetic disease that Senator Obama included in his speech on Tuesday night in Indiana called Cystic Fibrosis (affects respiratory and digestive systems in the body). I have spent my life of 38 years fighting for each and every day and am now on supplemental oxygen every hour of the day and night. I have my good and bad days but I find that it is always necessary to have hope for the future and the possibility that a cure becomes available for me in time. Dealing with this disease has helped me in how I look at and perceive things in and around my life. I see much of what is going on in the political fight and hope that it will be fixed ultimately but I also have to look at the possibility of “what if it isn’t?” That is why I wanted to propose this idea to Senator Obama. By ALL means, BE FIRM and show your Backbone but don’t back down to Senator Clinton and fall into her trap to go down to her level in the fight. Yes we can but if the Superdelagates say we can’t, then let’s do it without them. The country and its people are more important than any party.

Paul O’Leary, M.Ed.
Springfield, Massachusetts

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