John McCain is peddling his candidacy as change; so is Obama. I don’t think McCain can truly offer a change for one glaringly obvious reason: he’s a Republican. Granted I trust him a hell of a lot more than I do the current Republican president but, at the same time, you cannot truly have a change with the same political party. There are several definitions for change, including:
- to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone
- to substitute another or others for; exchange for something else, usually of the same kind
I have included these two definitions because I believe the first can define what Obama would be for America while the latter would be McCain. Obama would truly change America for the better, if for no other reason, because he is black. That fact alone would send shockwaves throughout American society and the world that watches it. It would certainly go a very long way to healing some of the wounds inflicted by the current administration over the past eight years.
I also think, to a certain degree, inexperience in foreign affairs is a plus in the current environment. America has led (or dragged as the case may be) the world for a very long time. I think it’s time for us to sit back and learn from others. Obama could do this; then, if he was elected to a second term and the world was ready, America could again lead the world as a lone superpower.
McCain, on the other hand, no matter how much he wishes to separate himself from Bush cannot deny that he is a Republican. He may not be as hawkish as Bush and his war cabinet but the fact remains that he is in favour of leaving troops in Iraq. He has not set out a timetable to remove them from the quagmire. Furthermore, Republicans will always be conservative whereas Democrats are progressive. Progressive equals change.
In summation, while McCain would without doubt be a far better president than our current one, the fact remains that he would not affect change in America as much as he believes and promises. Only Barack Obama can do this; I only hope the rest of America will see this and vote for this change in November.