There’s a proverb in Urdu that goes, ‘Aik paan ke dus tukdey’ (10 portions of one leaf). The gist of this saying is that all 10 portions of the leaf are of the same nature since they all belong to one leaf.
This saying wholly matches the current election scenario in the United States. Be it Hillary Clinton, Mc Cain or Obama, it’s all the same. Everyone makes claims and promises for the people but the execution goes missing. However, each of these American candidates have their own reasons to grab power.
If Mrs. Clinton comes to power . . .
The Clinton name has been recognized in the US politics due to which Hillary may have the driver’s seat to sweep victory in the Presidential race. She perpetually has her husband’s drawing card to play with and earn support from voters. Though, the battle has a long way to breathe, the popularity element to secure victory is beginning to neutralize. One reason for her success, if at all, might be the towering support from Whites and Latinos who make around 80% of American population compared to African-Americans who are currently the staunch supporters for Obama in minority. Being the first lady in the US to compete for presidency, people may vote her to advocate women’s rights too.
If Obama grabs the seat . . .
If granted the presidency, I feel Obama has a sound reasoning to the issues he shall venture. He is the first nominee for the US president who is willing to talk with leaders of US foes such as the Islamic Republic of Iran and North Korea. He has minimized the ‘supposed’ self-created threat from Iran which presently is an extremely sensitive issue with the Bush administration. Bush is panicky over the possible alliance between Obama and the Iranian President Ahmadinejad who is a blow to the American policies. Probably Obama would also try to build the country’s image that has been tarnishing with the course of war with Iraq.
If McCain is the big man . . .
McCain has a lot of backing from people involving advisors who are pro-war, anti-Islam, conservatives and American allies who support the current policies of the Bush government. Probably he will survive only if unfair elections take place like the previous one. He seems to be the next Bush in place.
What happens to the guiltless Iraq?
The Bush administration has already played very dirty with the Middle Eastern loop. Hillary Clinton supported George W. Bush to invade Iraq back in 2003 and still considers the country to be a danger to the American government interests. So, naturally Clinton’s victory as a president will further upsurge the scores of people butchered in Iraq and mess the status quo further since she favors no timetable for a complete troop withdrawal.
However, Obama strongly opposed war with Iraq prior to the invasion. But even if he comes to power, the war may halt initially but it won’t cruise to a complete halt because reports mention that war with Iraq was planned long back under Clinton’s presidency but implemented in Bush’s government.
But in the end I’ll be surprised if McCain bags the presidential race because his policies are very similar to Bush’s policies that have left the nation at wit’s end. It would also be surprising if Obama comes to power due to his Afro-American background and his willingness to talk to the country’s major foes that is currently out of the question with the Bush administration. But personally speaking, he seems the best option from the triad.
-SJ