MARVELOUS MICHELLE; THE LION ROARS AGAIN; AND YET…

Well, last night, the first of four for the Dems, and there was Michelle. Michelle Obama. Bright, forceful, beguiling, strong, sharp, warm, funny, gorgeous, erudite, powerful, compassionate, loving, reflective, passionate, patriotic, endearing–have I left anything out?  My, my; impressive.  Yes, the right-wing will still go after her, find bits and pieces to twist and pervert and manipulate to demonize her. So be it. Can anyone, really, of sound mind and/or heart, look and listen to that woman and not find a smile inside their being in response?

And before her, the Ken Burns’ tribute to Ted Kennedy, and then, there he is. Brave soldier. Summoning up all his strength and passion and commitment to Be There.  I was, I am sure, not the only viewer with a tear in his eye.  Was it the greatest speech in the world?  No.  Will it ultimately change or sway the election in any way?  No.  But watching Ted K. last night, and his intro by Caroline, and assorted Kennedys, Shrivers, et. al. in the audience–moreover, watching not only an infirmed but an old Ted Kennedy–it did grab me.  It was, simply, watching History before us.

So, two special people and two special moments.  But I couldn’t help think:  why, why, why was nary a word said about Bush or McCain?  You KNOW the Republicans are going to be ripping Barack into shreds come next week.  And I’m not saying the Democrats need to “attack” Bush or McCain.  I find it interesting that anything less than a compliment is referred to in politics as an “attack” these days.  And the media, by and large, even now with the decline (one hopes!) of the conservative movement, STILL is under the delusion that they must “balance” to and fro, right and left, with no regard for the quality of what they are or should be scrutinizing, and completely abdicating all too often their responsibility to just speak the truth, call a spade a spade.  So McCain and his cronies play out vicious, lying, demonizing commercials about Obama, and should Obama respond in a commercial outlining McCain’s policies and/or statements, the media will too often review the narrative course as “both sides ‘going negative’.”  Uh uh uh… I don’t think so!  Yes, there is a difference between contrast and negative, between defining your rival and outright lying and smearing and employing McCarthyist and Rovian tactics to bump up your numbers.

For the life of me, for Years, I have said and wondered:  why don’t “they” just tell the truth and tell it like it is.  Why, for example, doesn’t Obama sit on a stool and say: “Look, McCain has voted in support of Bush for nearly every vote that has come before the Senate; he continues to say that Alito and Roberts are great judicial picks; he was drumming up support to invade Iraq within days of 9/11; his bumbling testosterone-filled bluster drones on and on, heating up and veritably inviting war with Iran; now, like an Emperor with no clothes and a big empty fist, he’s ratcheting up the headbutting with Russia over the Georgia incident; he is against the right of women to choose; he has seldom if ever sided with working people and his voting record is all about gifts to corporations; the media continues to spout and has many of you convinced he is a “moderate” but he is one of the most conservative Senators in congress; for all the gobbledeegook about his supposed “Maverick” status, he has reversed his opinion on every single decision he has ever supported in the past that ran counter to the Republican fold; he has pandered to the worst among us in order to score points in his run-up to acquire the nomination; he continues Not to denounce the truly hateful religious zealots he’s alligned himself with to get the evangelical vote; AND ON AND ON; so if that’s the guy you want for Prez, go vote for him.”  I would respond to a clear treatise like that; wouldn’t you? Just tell it like it is.  Before advertising became the substitute for debate and discussion, there was always power in the truth.

Well, tonight it’s Hillary’s night.  She ran a historic campaign and it’s shameful and ridiculous that such a small percentage of women hold congressional positions in America in 2008.  So, more power to her for her “18,000,000 votes and cracks in the ceiling”.  But Obama’s the candidate now, and I am not alone in hoping that her speech tonight will finally end the primary battle and ongoing strife.  There are far too many important things at stake this year than bruised feelings and hurt egos and the disappointment that one candidate didn’t secure the nomination.  So I’m hoping for the best.

Well, there’s too much to talk about, and as usual, too little time.  Believe it or not, I’ve actually got a ‘real job’ to attend to.  These weeks are ‘torment’ for me in being pulled in so many directions.  There’s some work I have to do; AND there are the conventions I wish I could attend to 24/7. AND, for the few who may know, I’m also a huge tennis fan, and there’s hours upon hours of US Open coverage to watch as well.  Oh, that I had 2 clones right now.

Onward and upward folks! The fun continues.

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Zach Newman is a writer and political junkie. His “day job”, though, is as an experienced, reliable and trusted Realtor in the Portland area. He is a longtime member of PABA - Portland’s GLBT Chamber of Commerce. Call Zach at 503.287.8989 or visit his website at: http://www.equitygroup.com/zach.

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