Presidential-Race.net

What’s consistent here is that Obama made a reasonable, intelligent and logical statement and the rebuttle was merely a transparent play on words. This whole ‘experience’ issue is already a dead horse, but we can look forward to many more months of mindless flogging. The truth is this — Experience doesn’t always mean wisdom. Especially in the absence of humility. Because when someone doesn’t think they have anything to learn, or that they’ve already learned everything there is to learn, they’re ill-equiped for the present. Donald Rumsfeld had a lot of experience– starting his political career under the Eisenhower administration and first serving as Secretary of Defense under Gerald Ford. The problem is, he was a Cold War guy, arguing for military build-up and the importance of staying ahead of the Soviets back then (build more nukes, spend more money), and he still thinks like that today.

Obama let’s the past inform him, but he clearly understands better how the world is changing. You can’t stop it from changing by adhering to old ideals and ways of thinking, what you can do is help to steer the change in a positive direction - namely one that benefits America and the rest of the world. Saying that you’re willing to talk with someone is not saying that you’ll necessarily agree with them or concede anything, but it could be an opportunity to persuade them to think differently.

Without dialog this opportunity simply doesn’t exist, and history bares this out. Treat people respectfully, and they’re more likely to respect you and be willing to hear your side. Also, they’re more likely to see you as a person and more likely to want to agree with you. Jimmy Carter talks about how the Israel/Egypt (Camp David) peace talks had reached a total impasse, Begin said he was withdrawing, when Carter gave Begin an autographed picture for his grandchildren. Carter said he was sorry that they weren’t able to work something out and started to walk out of the room. Begin, stopped him at the door and said he’d sign. His tactic earlier with Sadat was much different. When Sadat threatened to leave at one point, Jimmy told him that their friendship was over because Sadat had promised to stay as long as Carter was willing to negotiate and now he was breaking his promise.

Obama’s life, books and campaign have been an example of this kind of perserverance and diplomatic skill. He is generally warm and non-confrontational, but strong and unbending against lies and broken promises. I personally find his frankness refreshing and his warmth contagious, and I’m convinced other people the world over will too. He’s a likable guy and he seems truly genuine. He doesn’t try to lie or fool people with nonsensical wordplay and he certainly doesn’t go around pointing fingers at people and calling them evil. He knows that doesn’t accomplish anything in the long run.

Trying to understand your opponent’s fears and motivations helps you address them and also might help you see some aspects of your own opinion that should change. This seems pretty intuitive but you get the impression from Obama’s book that he really lives this. I requires a lot of patience, but I think it pays off because you’ll win more people to your side. I find him very persuasive. He makes clear logical arguments that appeal to your reason and your sense of human decency. And he makes reasonable concessions to get you to go along with him, without watering down his ideas or compromising his call for real change. And in calling for real change, he sounds patient and contemplative–he’s more Gandhi than Che.

I know we don’t see 100% eye to eye on every subject, but I take great comfort in the confidence that he’s going to consider issues carefully and come to an informed decision. Basically the exact opposite of how the Bush administration has handled reconstruction in Iraq, energy policy, the economy, health care.

It’s no surprise that McCain doesn’t want to hear people that don’t see eye to eye with him–this has been the Bush administration’s domestic policy all along! What is a wonder is that he thinks Americans are still ready to believe that this strategy works, after so many years of seeing it fail and frustrate.