It is fortunate that my time in America has coincided so well with the American Presidential Election.
I moved here to New York last summer, at a time when Senator Barack Obama was still an outside shot for the Democratic presidential nomination. I remember then, reading in Foreign Affairs, his thoughts on “Renewing American Leadership” evoking in the very first sentence three particularly pertinent Presidents: Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy. Though the article was on Iraq, and Obama was writing on the military contributions of this great Democratic triumvirate, they are more relevant to his Presidential Campaign now for different reasons.
In a time of global, and an acute American, financial crisis if Obama were to be successful then like FDR who was elected into office during the Great Depression of the 1930s, he will need to create a New Deal. Both Obama and his Republican adversary, Senator John McCain, have vowed to make public service a centrepiece of their Administrations, and as a fellow at a School of Public Service it is fascinating to see how this debate is playing out. Regardless of who wins the election, there is likely to be an ever greater emphasis on service in America – a trend that I see is mirrored too in the UK Jewish community, with the growth of initiatives such as Mitzvah Day UK.
Harry Truman famously clutched victory from the hands of predicted defeat against Thomas Dewey in 1948. The lesson for Obama, as he increases his lead in the polls, is to take nothing for granted as the vote on November 4th nears. As the election campaign enters a more “dirty” phase with allegations from both sides of past misdemeanours, I hope Obama took notes on Boogie Man - a great film that I saw last week, highlighting the tricks of former Republican Presidential candidates flagging in the polls. The incredible story of the political spin doctor – Lee Atwater – is a cautionary tale for Obama, showing how in 1988 George Bush Snr. overcame a massive deficit in the polls to beat the Democratic frontrunner Michael Dukakis, the son of an immigrant Greek father, by questioning his patriotism.
At 43, JFK was already a bestselling author and the youngest man to be elected President. He was also the youngest to die in office. Much has been written on the threat of assassination that Obama faces – many consider it even taboo to discuss, note Doris Lessing and Hilary Clinton as examples – but I mention it here as it is what is so many Jews refer to when I speak politics with them. Possibly, it is just an excuse as to why Orthodox, and especially older, Jews in particular are unwilling to vote for a candidate whose views on Israel are often questioned, who has a Muslim father (and is still mistakenly believed to be Muslim himself by many) and who for over twenty years was a member of a church whose Pastor, Jeremiah Wright, supported Louis Farrakhan, not a great fan of America, never mind the Jews.
To win the 1960 election, Kennedy had to overcome prejudice about his age and his heritage – as the first Catholic President, many feared then that he would be taking orders from the Vatican. Obama too must confound the prejudices of many voters. Sarah Silverman has been mobilising young Jews to travel to Florida this coming Columbus weekend to convince their grandparents to vote Obama as part of The Great Schlep. Can the Jews help swing the election for Obama? Unlike Jackie Mason, I believe, “Yes, We Can!”
Next blog, Wednesday: The day after the Presidential Debate the night before....
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