Hillary to the rescue?

It weighs on me. Sarah Palin, with little substance but high TV ratings, is distracting the national debate.

Selecting her was a political stroke, but also an act of singular irresponsibility by John McCain. She is clearly not qualified to be a heartbeat from the Presidency of the United States, especially when in John McCain’s case that heartbeat would be that of the oldest president we ever elected.

But there it is. The cameras like her. The public seems to be attracted.

This election will not be decided by the votes of people who, like me, are passionate and follow every day’s news. We decided whom to vote for years ago.

The election will be decided by the 5-8% of Americans, many in swing states, who will make up their minds in the final weeks. And they seem to like looking at Sarah.

The Democratic Party needs a specific strategy to attract these relatively uninformed, relatively uninterested voters. They are important.

In my view, we have to fight fire with fire.

Only one person can take on Sarah: that’s Hillary.

In order for the Democrats to win, Hillary should go to blows (figuratively) with Sarah Palin, day-by-day, state by state, from now until the election. Hillary has to show clearly that Sarah is no Hillary, and use her appeal to working class voters to compete with Sarah’s.

Joe Biden cannot do it. With Sarah, he will have to walk a tightrope. A man cannot be tough on a nice lady and win, no matter how abhorrent her thoughtless politics might be. He cannot appear to bully her. It won’t help that Joe is hugely more qualified and knowledgeable on the issues than Sarah. That will just make it an unfair fight, and attract sympathy to her.

This is important.

Bob

Michelle Obama and Gay People

The big LGBT event today was the luncheon for delegates, hosted by Rep. Barney Frank, Rep. Tammy Baldwin and the Human Rights Commission. Le tout LGBT world was there. Close to 1,000 people, I’d guess, for a fancy sit-down lunch at the Sheraton Hotel.

But the big surprise was the visit by Michelle Obama, who was received with a powerful standing ovation.

We were so grateful that Michelle had come. Her visit was a statement that Barack is aware and concerned about our problems, and she made that clear in a thoughtful speech.

This was different than the speech the night before at the Convention, where Michelle focused on family and general values. In this speech of over 20 minutes, Michelle showed the good lawyer she is. She discussed the legal issues that affect the LGBT community, and showed her sincere concern and desire to help.

She pointed out that Barack has:

- voted to overturn the so-called Defense of Marriage Act which bars the Federal government from acknowledging any same-sex relationship,
- voted against the Federal (anti-)Marriage Amendment to the Constitution
- opposes the don’t ask/don’t tell rule in the military
- opposes discrimination in the workplace

Some of her remarks brought tears to my eyes. I was so very moved to see our possible future first lady standing strong and clear for LGBT rights. Michelle rightly said that, “discrimination has no place in a nation founded on equality” and encouraged us to work for the world “as it should be”. Alluding to the political issues surrounding LGBT rights, she said “We can win if we can move people away from fear and toward hope.” How true.

I was lucky enough to shake her hand as she left the hall. I thanked her for visiting our community, and told her how much it meant to us. I also asked her to think of us Americans who must live abroad because we have a foreign partner we cannot get a US visa for, and she looked me in the eye, and said, “We have to get you back home!”

That ended it for me. My eyes got moist.

Michelle is terrific.

Bob

Where on earth will you vote? See www.votefromabroad.org

Bob's Interview with Dutch TV

See the TV show! If you don't want to watch the whole show, go straight to the 46.20 minute mark.

My promise

August 2008 will be my first Democratic National Convention. I really don't know what to expect. Whatever happens, I will share it with you. This blog will tell you what I've seen and done, to try to bring you as close to the experience of being there as I can. I'll try not to inject too many of my opinions, if possible. But I will be giving particular attention to gay and lesbian issues, especially those for us "love exiles" that live abroad to be with our non-US partners.

I hope you enjoy it!

Bob Bragar,
Delegate for Obama from Democrats Abroad

Amsterdam, NL