Democrats need better candidate

By The News Virginian Staff

Published: May 15, 2008

Now that the Democratic presumptive nominee for president has all but been selected, it would appear that the overly extended and convoluted primary process has yielded yet another seriously flawed candidate.

After Al Gore (2000) and John Kerry (2004), Democratic voters could only hope their party would find a stronger standard bearer in 2008. From all indications, the candidacy of Barack Obama fails to meet this expectation for many reasons.

As a young, first term senator (Ill.), Obama’s political resume is devoid of any real experience at almost any level of the political spectrum — national, international, diplomatic and executive.

His record of accomplishments outside of a single election to the Senate is virtually non-existent and his voting record over the past six years as a U.S. senator has earned him the dubious distinction as “the most liberal” of all 100 senators, surpassing even Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton. (The National Journal, January.)

In addition, Sen. Obama’s rhetoric on the campaign trail as a “uniter” has been called into serious question by a series of controversies ranging from the anti-American, racist remarks of his close friend and pastor Jeremiah Wright, to his refusal to wear an American flag lapel pin and demonstrate proper respect for the flag during playing of the National Anthem.

If considered individually, I doubt if any of the above areas of concern could possibly disqualify a presidential nominee, but when viewed as a pattern of behavioral beliefs/values they raise the inevitable questions … is this the best the Democratic Party can do and is this man really qualified for the presidency?

David H. Edmunds

Albemarle County