Spring Break
OP-ED: Still always looking on the bright side of life
by Justin Backal-Balik
Op-Ed | 5/20/08
Posted online at 6:31 AM EST on 5/20/08
March and April were rough months for us hope-mongers. Our candidate of choice, who had looked like he was heading easily to the nomination in February, took a pretty big beating.
Despite a landmark speech on race that impressed many, Barack Obama was still bogged down by the comments of his former pastor and by unfortunately chosen words at a San Francisco fundraiser. The math was indisputably in Obama's favor, but the media went for the jugular in cycle after cycle, playing Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermons over and over again and speculating about what would happen to Obama in the fall if the superdelegates dared confirm him as the choice of the Democratic Party.
Worst of all, Obama seemed out of it in Pennsylvania. Perhaps bogged down by the useless and issue-devoid questions about Wright and flag pins, he just didn't seem to be having a good time. Even I, the most loyal of supporters, began to worry about his prospects, if not for the nomination then certainly in the fall.
Then something great happened. For the Indiana and North Carolina primaries, Hillary Clinton decided to back the same plan for gas price relief that John McCain, the Republican nominee, was offering-a summer suspension of the federal gas tax. Experts agree this would hardly save consumers much money, if any at all. It's a political pander to which people might respond, they say.
Not only did Obama refuse to back the proposal, he came out swinging, even admitting that the issue reinvigorated him. For the first time in a while, the candidates had an honest policy disagreement, and he was on the right side of it.
Every campaign stop, Obama would remind people: "This is how Washington works. People are trying to get through the next election instead of solving your problems." Not only was it true, but it fit in perfectly with Obama's message and reinforced doubts about Clinton's honesty. He cruised to an easy victory in North Carolina and came within 2 percent of victory in Indiana.
Despite a landmark speech on race that impressed many, Barack Obama was still bogged down by the comments of his former pastor and by unfortunately chosen words at a San Francisco fundraiser. The math was indisputably in Obama's favor, but the media went for the jugular in cycle after cycle, playing Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermons over and over again and speculating about what would happen to Obama in the fall if the superdelegates dared confirm him as the choice of the Democratic Party.
Worst of all, Obama seemed out of it in Pennsylvania. Perhaps bogged down by the useless and issue-devoid questions about Wright and flag pins, he just didn't seem to be having a good time. Even I, the most loyal of supporters, began to worry about his prospects, if not for the nomination then certainly in the fall.
Then something great happened. For the Indiana and North Carolina primaries, Hillary Clinton decided to back the same plan for gas price relief that John McCain, the Republican nominee, was offering-a summer suspension of the federal gas tax. Experts agree this would hardly save consumers much money, if any at all. It's a political pander to which people might respond, they say.
Not only did Obama refuse to back the proposal, he came out swinging, even admitting that the issue reinvigorated him. For the first time in a while, the candidates had an honest policy disagreement, and he was on the right side of it.
Every campaign stop, Obama would remind people: "This is how Washington works. People are trying to get through the next election instead of solving your problems." Not only was it true, but it fit in perfectly with Obama's message and reinforced doubts about Clinton's honesty. He cruised to an easy victory in North Carolina and came within 2 percent of victory in Indiana.
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