Freckles will tell you that I’ve become quite addicted to the ongoing political debate in our country. And what I’m learning from this debate is that although (some of) the candidates are new, the script is very much the same. And it reads like this…
Last week, the early-bird caucusing Iowans selected Barack Obama as their Democratic Party choice for president. John Edwards and Hilary Clinton finished in a virtual tie for second, relatively far behind Obama. Poor Dennis Kucinich never had a chance. Again.
According to polls, a whopping (considering how many candidates there were) 41% of “first-time voters” (read: youth) voted for Obama. 29% of “first-time voters” voted for Clinton. So new voters turned out in record numbers and an overwhelming number of them voted for Obama. That’s a pretty clear message, right? Well, according to Clinton, not exactly.
After barely mentioning youth her entire one-year-old campaign, Clinton responded to the Iowa result by saying it was clear that she was the voice of the youth. Say what? Obama played the young people trump card in Iowa, and realizing they just might be the key to victory, suddenly Clinton declared herself the voice of youth? OK. On to New Hampshire.
Though generally a dull state, New Hampshire was a hotbed of excitement the last five days. The highlight was undoubtedly the doubleheader CNN/Facebook debate, with the Republicans opening up for the headliners, the Democrats. (Facebook is my runner-up choice for the “Is That Really An Appropriate Presidential Debate Host?” award.) In that debate, John Edwards repeatedly described his campaign as “personal” (“personal cause”; “very personal”; “personal battle”; “deeply personal”; “personal”; “personal”; “personal”; etc). Though our trusty reporters (read: Tim Russert) called the debate a draw, it was clear to this unbiased viewer that Edwards scored quite a few direct blows to Clinton (my favorite being when he likened her to “the status quo”), while, in my opinion, performing far better than a stumbling Obama. If anything, and maybe thanks to redundancy, Edwards was convincing in his claim that his fight was personal. According to Clinton, though, he’s not the only one.
Two days later, in one of her new “young people” speeches, Hilary Clinton responded by tearing up and saying that the election was “very personal to me.” Move over Sally Field, because I think New Hampshire likes Clinton now, they really really like her!
So what happens next? Anyone who has ever followed politics or a good soap opera, could see the ending of this primary from a mile away. The New Hampshire voters, in all their “live free or die”/”you can’t tell us what to do, stupid Iowans!” glory, voted for Clinton. Barely. (I’m not kidding. Though Clinton won the popular vote, Clinton and Obama secured the same number of delegates. That’s how close it was.)
And then, while ignoring the fact that her speechwriters are up for this year’s Best Adapted Screenplay award, Clinton delivered the most transparent, ironic line I’ve ever heard in an election…
[fade in]
[Int. A large New Hampshire gymnasium filled with thousands of screaming fans.]
(Clinton walks to center stage, shaking the hands of the people she passes by. After a few waves of the hand, and a grin that cannot be suppressed, Clinton steps up to the podium looking humble, yet presidential.)
Clinton (personally): “I listened to you and in the process I found my own voice.”
(The fans scream.)
And scene!
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