Time For Some Real Straight Talk

If ever there were a time for straight talk that time is now. But something resembling a shell game continues to play out in the Democratic Party where votes are sometimes fungible entities and different voting systems are said to have greater validity than others, depending on whose calculator is being used. Meanwhile Senator McCain is conducting a modest little campaign trying to attract media attention by intoning vague ‘issue' messages described as major policy statements that offer little in the way of innovation or excitement but which proceed largely uncontested.

On Saturday the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee spent the day discussing ways to re-establish the disallowed delegations from Florida and Michigan in a manner that the two candidates and voters could accept as reasonably legitimate. In the end Senator Clinton got her wish receiving the largest number of votes in both states. But Obama was awarded Michigan's "uncommitted" votes the Clinton campaign had sought to deny him. Her advisors had insisted that "uncommitted" was just that; the candidates could lobby those delegates but none should be awarded outright to Obama.

Obviously Hillary could have had every vote since hers was the only name on the ballot. But that line of reasoning failed to resonate among Clinton supporters since it didn't comport with the goals of the campaign. Angry outcries erupted when the committee's decisions were revealed and advisor Harold Ickes said Hillary might appeal to the Credentials Committee in August. In the end, though, even many Clinton backers on the committee felt that the day-long deliberations had reached the best, most doable solutions under the circumstances and that it was time to work toward establishing party unity.

Party Chairman Howard Dean had opened the meeting by describing his anger at the treatment he encountered when he failed to become the nominee in his own presidential bid. But he quoted Al Gore who said to him at the time: "Howard, it's not about you, it's about your country." Apparently Dean hoped to inject some dignity and high purpose to the proceedings. And to some extent he succeeded except for outbursts from the more egregiously offended attendees at the end.

Unfortunately, the anger that has surfaced during this primary season may not be easily dissipated. And it will take some doing to repair the Clinton image for many who once held her in high regard but who have been shocked and disappointed by her divisive campaign tactics. A lot will depend on whether or not the party faithful are really committed to principles and not just carrying a torch for some personal agenda.

Those supporters who threaten to vote for McCain if Hillary isn't the nominee seem not to understand what really defines the two parties. It is incomprehensible that people who were willing to vote for Hillary could actually consider voting for McCain. Did they just want to see a woman in the White House? Are they unconcerned about women's issues or the kind of government they wish to have?

For his part Senator McCain basks in his warm, uncontested cocoon while Democrats vie in the few remaining primaries. The elder Senator has been ever so condescending about Obama's youth and the fact that he hasn't been to Iraq for ages, offering to escort him there - -  acquaint him with General Patraeus and the troops. How special that the kindly old gentleman would be willing to take the young whippersnapper under his wing.

Yet McCain seems to lack any real understanding of Iraq and its people, and it's hard to accept continued assertions about the strength of his foreign-policy credentials. His advisors often say he just misspoke when he confused Sunnis and Shiites and said Iran was training Al Qaeda insurgents and sending them into Iraq, not that he didn't ‘get it', but it's obvious that he really doesn't ‘get it.' He's also wrong when he says that US troop levels are now below pre-surge levels, they aren't. And his economic policies seem to be based on a mixture of "market forces" and tax cuts.

A decision regarding the Democratic presidential nominee cannot come a moment too soon. Senator McCain shouldn't be allowed to get too comfortable in his guise of a change candidate when he's really kind of like a Good Humor man driving through your neighborhood with the bell jangling on his truck, only when you go out to buy something you discover the only flavor he has is vanilla.