A Uniter, not a Divider

8 years ago, when Bush first publically uttered the title phrase above, it was a calculated ploy to pull voters over to his side.

I was listening to the news on the radio a few mornings ago, and as usual, they were covering the campaign. They had an audio clip from a McCain rally, and the clip started with a derisive comment about his opponent, followed by the booing of the crowd.

They cut to an Obama rally, where you had a stirring comment by the candidate followed by cheers.

What a contrast this provided. On one hand smear, fear, and anger, on the other hope, ideas, and cheers.

This is the politics of division and derision come to roost. I had high hopes for McCain, a person I was firmly behind in 2000, a man I believed had honor, when this election started. I thought that this would finally be an election where the ads weren't all about how "my opponent is the devil". It started out that way, and it felt like about the time McCain seemed to borrow and bring on some of the scummy architects of Bush's victories that the campaign dove down for the mucky bottom.

You get tired of hearing someone spew anger, hate, and fear and smear. It really became apparent when they brought out Sarah Palin, and she turned out to be an Anne Coulter clone. Is that all they've got? Hate & fear?

The problem with the politics of division is when the people you are setting up as "them" become the majority. Since you can't ever tell when that will be, it's best not to rely on it permanently. You have to recognize when pushing the same buttons doesn't have the same old effect it always did.

What you really want and need in leadership is a person that understands the shared threads of many of the people out there and tries to bring them together in common purpose. Someone that can point out the problems, but offer a concrete solution or at least a good attitude of how to respond to the problem.

It feels like the people are choosing hope over despair, action over fear, and coming together over tearing each other apart.