Obama's inspiring message of Hope got the ball rolling. It's 'sticky', people were drawn to it en masse. Hope rumbled up an avalanche of interest, generated an unprecedented number of new voters and financial supporters who wanted to share in nurturing the dream.
Now it's time to evolve the Hope, Inspiration and Change theme to its logical conclusion, before it's too late.
This morning Senator Casey was on Meet The Press again. I respect him, he's an excellent endorser of the Obama campaign. However he's still repeating the Hope and Inspiration story as his reason for endorsing Obama, and there's nothing wrong with that. But it's old news, and there's a realm of 'experience' to focus on at this stage of the primaries. It would be a rare American who wasn't aware that Hope and Change are points of the difference Obama brought to the table. They make charming appetizers, but uncommitted voters are looking for the beef.
For many voters, hope won't satisfy. They're realists. They're cynical, they're accustomed to being fed rousing speeches by politicians who never quite manage to deliver the promised changes. Those voters are convinced that politicians are essentially the same--they're politicians. Sure, the party alignments are different, but after that they're just politicians. Those voters are innoculated by the disillusion of years of the same old unmet promises. An emotional appeal won't sway them because they've been romanced, and let down before.
I think now's the time for Obama endorsers to shift their message. For example, Senator Casey could have given a more relevant answer than hope and inspiration and when asked why he's decided to endorse Obama. He could have pointed out that he's been paying attention to Hillary and Obama's management of their campaigns, and that Obama has consistently shown the ability to successfully adapt to the current needs of American citizens rather than stick with safe old patterns that have proven themselves unable to solve the problems our country is currently up against. Sen. Casey could have discussed Obama's success in finding new ways to generate financial support rather than relying on special interest, big money donors. Obama has demonstrated his ability for recognizing and maximizing formerly untapped resources. Obama has built a team that creates action plans that are making his vision reality. This shows a management style we need right now, in this country. Not only has Obama gained a huge lead--in dollars, supporters and delegates, he exhibits the wisdom to apply them effectively so they'll produce greatest returns. That kind of insight is important when seeking to stabilize our shaky-if-not-floundering economy, in developing sustainable energy strategies, in determining an equitable solution to insurance and health care crises, in managing our policy in Iraq, Afghanistan and the rest of the world. We've already seen that dumping more and more money and troops on the problem spots--for just another six months--year after year-- is nothing but a temporary bandage on a wound that isn't healing. It merely depletes our limited resources, while the problems themselves fester and spread.
Senator Casey could point out that on the one hand he sees Obama raising sufficient funds to campaign effectively without becoming beholden to special interests, and he's running a successful campaign that doesn't rely on the kitchen sink tactics of deception, manipulation or damaging his democratic opponent. On the other hand, we've all seen the other presidential contenders' campaigns mismanaged into periods of financial distress which has limited their functionality. If I were the senator I'd worry aloud about the disconnect Hillary exhibits when she's able to make a personal loan of 5 million to get her campaign off the rocks, but is unable to make timely payments to the girlscout to whom they owe a couple thousand for the cookies they ordered, or the caterer for the food they ate, or the promotional companies for the services rendered. Hiring small, local businesses was a great idea, but those small businesses aren't sitting on millions they can loan themselves to cover payroll and buy supplies until Hillary's campaign is in a position to pay debts rather than buy tv time and bankroll pricey mis-handlers. I'd worry about what these examples show us about Hillary's priorities, there in PA where many individuals and small businesses are struggling to make ends meet. If I were Sen. Casey I'd say those are the things that influenced me to endorse Obama, in time to make a difference to the folks who voted me into office so I could watch out for their interests. We all know that Bill and Hillary Clinton are masterful at working the system. We also live with the results of a well-worked system that's not working so well for the majority of us.
That's what I would have said if I were Senator Casey. That's what I hope Obama's supporters will remember when they're speaking to voters who are reviewing the candidates' resumes, and concerned that Obama's is lacking in substance.