Academic

Making History (and Beyond)

By Christopher Bracey

Barack Obama is the first African American to win a major party?s nomination for President of the United States.

More importantly, after 15 months of campaigning, Obama appears more poised and energetic than ever. The growing consensus is that his speech in St. Paul last night ranks among the best that any presidential candidate has delivered in recent memory. The Clinton supporters may disagree, but last night was not Hillary?s night to reflect upon the accomplishments of her campaign effort ? it was America?s night to acknowledge and celebrate the profound achievement represented by Obama?s clinching of the nomination by the Democratic Party.

Team Obama has graciously extended an olive branch to Hillary?s camp, for she has also made history this election season. In the spirit of party unification, and in for the benefit of all Americans, let?s hope she has the good sense to reach out with equal grace in defeat. Not only has Obama has earned the right to appear on the Democratic center stage, the strength of his general election campaign against McCain depends upon it.

Questions for discussion. First, if you were an advisor to Team Obama, how would you advise the candidate to proceed between now and the convention in August? Second, how would you frame the ?debate? between Obama and McCain? Would you stick with the ?Change? metaphor, or would you try something else? Third, if you could provide a short list of potential running mates for Obama, what names would appear on your list? And finally, what role, if any, do you see for Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and her array of supporters?

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Full post as published by BlackProf on June 04, 2008 (boomark / email).