9/19/2008 5:23:00 PM U.S. Election / The PLP’s view Democrats need to step it up Like the PLP, Barack Obama is all about meaningful change
Getting to Know You: Premier Dr. Ewart Brown with Senator Barack Obama at the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference in the fall of 2007 in Washington, D.C.
David Burt
Barack Obama's campaign people think they've got this thing in the bag. They're hoping that a simple message of change combined with America's anger with the current Republican administration will sweep them into power.
They're naïve.
John McCain isn't taking anything for granted. He's on the offensive. Since the stunning announcement that an unknown, hard right-wing Alaska governor would be his running mate, John McCain has been on a roll. He's reinforced his so-called "maverick reformer" credentials and he's hit Obama hard on everything from sexism to his celebrity status to his supposed support for sex education for kindergartners. McCain's efforts are paying off. Polls that all summer showed a slim but steady Obama lead are now showing a dead heat.
In politics, you're either defining your opponent or you're being defined by your opponent. In the U.S. race, while the underlying political environment strongly favours Obama, he's resting on his laurels. Obama needs to get back on the offensive and attack the very core of John McCain's argument.
The troubled economy is a central issue in the American campaign - and it's an issue that favours Obama. Obama needs to own this issue by both feeling the pain of America's working families and by using the economy to define John McCain as a tired, old school Washington politician who is out-of-touch with regular people. That very caricature allowed Bill Clinton to handily defeat another Republican war hero turned Senate lifer, Bob Dole, in 1996.
In August, the Obama campaign scored political points when McCain forgot that he owns eight houses. Did you know that combined, McCain and his VP nominee Sarah Palin own 11 houses? Now would be a good time to creatively remind that fact to the American people. A blunt and relentless focus on McCain and Palin's opulent lifestyles combined with their admitted ignorance on economic issues will put Obama back on the offensive.
Over the next few weeks, thanks to our American television feeds, we in Bermuda will watch the drama unfold with interest, passion and perhaps even some amusement. We'll watch two candidates embrace the mantles of "change" and "reform" because a strong majority of Americans have lost faith in President Bush's leadership.
Here in Bermuda, as the American election comes to a climactic conclusion, we will reflect on the ten year anniversary of the PLP's historic 1998 victory. Set to the backdrop of the U.S. presidential election, we'll all be reminded how important it is to continue reforming government and delivering for the people of Bermuda.
Change is only a powerful force when a government is failing its core commitments to its people. During the December election, the UBP callously tried to claim the mantle of change for political gain. It didn't work. It didn't work because change is a hollow slogan when you're running against a government that has both demonstrated a commitment to reform and produced results.
As was affirmed in the December election, the PLP government is pursuing an agenda of reform and getting the job done. Since the election, we've stepped up our efforts. From a comprehensive crime policy to free day care to expanded HIP benefits to revitalization of our tourism product to steady guidance of our economy through troubled waters, the PLP continues to enact real reform that helps people.
But, we're not done reforming. Not by a long shot. Our next major challenge is to provide high quality health care to our seniors in the form of FutureCare. After a lifetime of hard work, Bermudians will be assured that they'll receive the highest quality medical care without having to worry about the obscene costs.
That's the kind of change all of Bermuda can believe in.
Posted: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Comment by:
Angie
What a ludicrous article!! How can you even compare PLP to Senator Obama. You should be ashamed of yourself. First of all PLP was extremely divisive during the election. All they did was play the race card. Have you ever heard Senator Obama use tha?…never. He doesn’t have to he has his qualification, his accomplishments and his high level education. That’s a far cry from what PLP put on there. You talk about PLP’s accomplishments…are you blind to the increased crime, the lack of law enforcement, the housing crisis? Please, do not insult Senator Obama by such a comparison.
Posted: Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Comment by:
burnell
Ah the big lie. 100% of black people are voting for Obama. This is the biggest lie and is being used to scare the white voter base. Fact: of 20 black American friends 15 for, 5 against Obama. Even though the 5 are against think it is cool Obama is black they see issues like abortion more important than voting for the first black president. Also blacks make up less than 13% and less than 9% vote heck this voting block has to be one of the weakest in the US. On another note take a moment to look at the attacks against Obama just on this website. The thing that jumps out is the fear in the posts, they use all sorts excuses but it is clear it is his race that terrifies them. The inexperience comments are just a cover up their true feelings of terror of a black president. As for myself I am terrified on the thought of a MCCain term, and that not because of his race. If McCain plans runs the country like he runs his campaign, we will look back at Bush’s terms as the good old days. Bad enough he plans continue the policies of Bush but with his temper we will end up at war with Iran. And that terrifies me more than a black man in the White House. On a final note to you fear mongers, there was always Ron Paul, he is not looking so crazy now is he…….
Posted: Monday, September 22, 2008
Comment by:
rich
What an absolutely shallow, pedantic way to grasp unto the Obama machine for political posturing?
Are we not forgetting that the PLP (like the Republican Party) has governed through sowing division? By providing a compelling, if not-so-true narrative of the UBP? Resorting to outright character distoritions and lies (back onto the plantation, Michael Dunkley wants to flog you, etc.)?
And just like the Democrats in the USA, the UBP has tried to appeal to voters minds rather than their hearts. They are clearly the party of ideas, policy and managerial competence, but unfortunately, have failed to provide a compelling counternarrative to the PLP attack machine.
David Burt, Dr. Brown and the rest of that Cabal not representing the PLP as a whole are a throwback to the Lee Atwater/Karl Rove/Steve Schmidt core of Republican strategists that slice and dice electorates in order to win at all costs.
Posted: Saturday, September 20, 2008
Comment by:
Fast Eddie
So the PLP would like to attach itself to Obama's star.
I suspect that if Obama were Bermudian running for office in Bermuda he would be denounced by the PLP as a black man with a white man's heart.
And I am afraid given today's climate, the majority of Bermudians would buy it, as bread/ circus/Beyonce is the meaningful change Bermudians can believe in.
Posted: Friday, September 19, 2008
Comment by:
ELOISE BROWN
You object to the fact that Mc Cain "forgot" how many houses he and his wife own, as it is a sin. Did you remember when Obama said he had visited 57 states in the U.S., and had several more to visit? As we all know, there are only 50 states in the U.S. Did any castigate Obama who is running for the president of the U.S., but didn't know how many states there were?
