Colors of the American Election
This 2008 American election is different. This election is not about red and blue - the red states and the blue states which lean Republican or Democratic. The importance of this election is also beyond patriotic fervor and the red, white, and blue of the American flag. The 2008 American election is vitally important for those living beyond the borders of the U.S.
Typically, U.S. elections are focused on domestic issues. Certainly, early on in the campaign there was debate about U.S. foreign policy, focused principally on the decision to go to war in Iraq. But the current financial crisis in the U.S., and now in Europe and Asia as well, has made the economy the number one issue on voters’ minds.
The interconnectedness of the financial markets and the economies across the Atlantic and the Pacific, means that others are interested as never before in developments in the U.S. Fundamental debates about the role of the state in the economy, the design of effective oversight and regulation, and the protection of workers and consumers have returned. The free market and deregulation consensus pushed by Ronald Reagan in the U.S. and Margaret Thatcher in the UK, which spilled over onto the European continent, is now open for discussion.
A few weeks ago here in Twente we organized an event with the Sirius student organization, to watch and analyze the 2nd of the Presidential debates. The room was overflowing with over 50 students. TV Ost was filming the event, to show their viewers the engagement of the University and its students with the real world. Our analysis found that whereas Obama stressed economic themes, McCain emphasized energy issues (‘drill, baby, drill’) and also his history of working together with Democrats. In terms of the personal qualities of the candidates, Obama tried to appear calm and steady in very uncertain times and promised to bring about responsible change, while McCain focused on his theme of experience.
There is an issue that I think is fundamentally important in this campaign, with startling differences between the two candidates: health care. Obama labeled health care a ‘right’ in his final debate. Obama says those who are happy with their current health care coverage provided by their employer can keep it, while others can join a government plan like that available to members of the U.S. Congress. McCain talks about providing tax incentives for those purchasing their own plans, but also proposes for the first time to tax the benefit of health insurance provided by employers, which may result in employers dropping coverage. McCain’s plan will leave many without health insurance – those with pre-existing illnesses denied coverage by private insurance companies, and those that cannot afford coverage.
Moving from issues to personal qualities, I think the question of judgment is important in this election. I believe that Senator McCain’s choice of running mate shows a serious lack of judgment on his part. Many have said that Governor Sarah Palin is just not ready to assume the Presidency on a moment’s notice, an important consideration given the age of McCain.
McCain and Palin have used inflammatory language on the campaign trail, accusing Obama of associating with domestic terrorists. I am saddened when I hear Obama have to say that he is concerned when someone yells out ‘kill him’ at a McCain/ Palin campaign event, and that sentiment is not denounced by those on stage. My country has a history of tragedy with the Kennedy’s and Martin Luther King, which should not be forgotten.
This election campaign not only moves beyond the colors of red, white, and blue to the world– it also has introduced color and race in new ways in US presidential politics. Many Americans are rightly proud that a person of color, an African-American, has been nominated by a major political party and may be on the verge of being voted into the office of President of the United States.
Election night – November 4 – promises to be a very interesting evening with historic implications for the US and the world.
