U.S. Presidential Primary

By Rene C. Calandria
This years Presidential primary election is historic yet so intense because there is and could never be a clear front-runner until the Super Tuesday in February 5. Whatever happens, the Democratic Party will definitely make history. The Party has already made history in Iowa and New Hampshire by electing the first black and first woman candidate in the States caucuses. What could be more intriguing and controversial is a battle for Presidential nominee between a white guy from the South and a black guy from the North, that is, between former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina and Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. This is probably what Mr. Edwards is hoping to accomplish and it is only possible if he stays in the race until the Democratic convention in Denver, Colorado comes August 2008.

A political match between Obama and Edwards is not good because it might revive the old social wound of the South depicted in John Grishams novels on The Chamber and A Time to Kill. Edwards childhood story is remarkable but his rhetoric is hypocritical and he has become the reincarnation of Howard Dean in the 2004 Presidential Primary. I have watched the Edwardses in the campaign and Elizabeth looks so tired and worn out trying desperately to help her husband despite her cancer. The least thing America wants is to have a President whos battling to save the nations economy and foreign policy and at the same time struggling to be a good husband to his sick wife and be an ideal father to his little boy. In this presidential primary, there is no fairy tale story about the battle between the South and the North. That is not possible in this election cycle. With John Edwards battle to win the nomination, I rest my case.

The Democratic primary is now between the Senator from Illinois and Senator from New York. Although there are differences in their positions and platforms of government but let it be known that both candidates are promoting Democratic principles and ideologies. My only concern now is electability in the November national election. Although I still hold the position that Senator Clinton has a better chance but with Obamas surge and recent popularity, he could be an asset if he is chosen as Vice-Presidential candidate for the Party. Im not in the Executive Committee so I am only hoping for what could be a strong team to beat a possible Republican nominee.

The Republican Party looks like a three way contest and by the time this article comes out of the press, there is going to be a clear front-runner. The GOP is divided into three ideologues; Mitt Romney – an economic conservative, Mike Huckabee a religious conservative and John McCain a military conservative. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is a Mormon and a corporate executive whose managerial skill has saved the troubles of Salt Lake Citys Winter Olympics. His campaign committee is bragging about this achievement and I guess his advisers think that this is enough qualification to become President of the most powerful country in the world. His record as governor is not impressive although he has done a good job on the States health care program but such principle is more Democratic rather than Republican. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is a former Baptist pastor who is pro-immigrant while serving as governor and is now an anti-immigrant in order to win the hearts of the mainstream Republicans. His economic and tax proposals are offensive and a blatant insult to the pockets of the poor and working middle class.

What the Americans need are both good health insurance and housing assistance and not more than twenty percent tax on our groceries and goods which we need on a daily basis. Senator John McCain of Arizona is a decorated war hero and has dedicated almost all his life to public service. At seventy-one (if my source is right) he has gained reputation for his dedication to the American flag but his military position on Iraq and Afghanistan has become more of a liability rather than asset. He has established more enemies from among the GOP that his only hope is the solid vote of independents. A John McCain nomination is not good for the Democrats but a Clinton-Obama ticket has more momentum in beating a McCain presidency.

I am very passionate about the November U.S. Presidential election for three things and issues that I care about; the economy, health care and immigration. I care less about religious and moral issues because I believe that poverty is the number one cause of crime and moral turpitude. If the citizens have some spending power and are healthy then we would have more time to pray and relate our beings to the Almighty. If people are sick and hungry, no God has and will ever come down from Heaven to feed our stomach and cure our illnesses. The candidates who understand better the flight of the immigrants in this country are from the Democratic Party. This years election is a choice between two distinct political ideologies. We can make the difference.