Joel Hirschhorn: First Woman, First Black, First Latino, or First Honest President?

[babylonsister]

http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/cgi-bin/blogs/voices.php/2007/11/23/first_woman_first_black_first_latino_or_

First Woman, First Black, First Latino, or First Honest President?
Joel S. Hirschhorn


The phrase honest politician has become an oxymoron. We should not be impressed by the prospect of having the first woman, first black or first Latino president. What would be far more radical would be to have the first honest president, if not ever, certainly in a very long time.

Presidents in recent memory have been excellent liars, contributing mightily to our culture of dishonesty. Bill Clinton had the audacity to look right into the TV camera and blatantly lie to the American public. George W. Bush has probably set a record for official lying, though it might take many decades to fully document them. Carl M. Cannon saw the bigger truth: “posterity will judge {George W. Bush} not so much by whether he told the truth but whether he recognized what the truth actually was.”

Things have gotten so bad that hardly anyone can even imagine an honest president. But if we don’t expect an honest president, how can we expect to trust government?

Don Nash made these insightful observations, “If America was ever faced with a politician who spoke truth to the people, no-one would know what to make of the oddity. This politician could probably not get elected to office. Sadly, Americans can’t handle the truth. …Lies, then, are the consequential destruction of American democracy. Little by very little, the lies and lying politicians have chipped away at America’s Constitution and the American form of government.”

snip//

Tragically, Americans have become used to lying politicians. Can our democracy survive when most people believe that an honest president is both impossible and unnecessary?

Of course, honesty by itself is no guarantee that someone will be a great president. Nor is it by itself sufficient reason to vote for someone. But imagine if we insisted that it be a necessary, minimum requirement for supporting politicians.

In the end, without honesty, every reason we use to vote for someone is a joke. Delusional thinking about candidates has produced our delusional democracy. Time to stop voting for liars. Better to not vote at all. Voting for liars only encourages more lies.

[Bunkie0913]

1. Where is Honest Abe?

That is an article every American should read. The average American expects all politics to be filled with lies and deceptions, that's what we've lived with for years so why think it will ever be any different. Dennis Kucinich will answer any question, anywhere and from anyone, now that's honesty. His 40 years in politics without accruing massive wealth is indicative of his honesty and integrity. Not bought, not bossed by any special interest group. Speaking truth to power and holding elected officials accountable for deceit and treason, I'm voting for Dennis Kucinich.

[babylonsister]

2. Welcome to DU, Bunkie0913, and

I think you've made a sound decision. I have so much regard for DK, too. I just wish money wasn't an issue to get attention in this race, and that's why I think he's being ignored. :(

[Bunkie0913]

6. Thanks, Babylonsister

I've been visiting this site for a year or so. DU is where I get my news! I figure if it is relevant to my left wing liberal ideals it will be posted here. The time came where I was no longer content to read what everyone else had written, my freedom of speech would no longer be denied.
BTW, I love your signature line.

[Joanne98]

3. I'm supporting the honest candidate. John Edwards!

And I don't care if he's not the first! GO JOHN GO!

[AndyA]

4. Agreed.

How refreshing to have someone admit they made a mistake. Most people learn from their mistakes.

Where does Hillary really stand on the issues? I don't think anyone honestly knows, because the story keeps changing.

Barack, where are those records? Why do you say you support gay rights then allow someone with an anti-gay message an audience?

I want change. Hillary will not bring change. And I don't think Barack will, either. John Edwards will bring change. GO JOHN!

[Bunkie0913]

5. Honest John?

Revelations regarding Edwards' pro-war posture in '04 raise serious credibility questions in this campaign, says Kucinich
Submitted by davidswanson on Wed, 2007-11-21 21:19. Elections
From www.dennis4president.com

MANCHESTER, NH - Revelations in today's New York Times regarding John Edwards' staunch pro-war stance as a Vice Presidential candidate in 2004 "raise serious questions about the credibility of his positions on every issue being debated in this Presidential campaign," Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said today.

"Voters have every right to ask, 'Were you telling the truth then, John, or are you telling the truth now?' And Senator Edwards has a responsibility to answer," Kucinich said.

In a major story today about the relationship between Edwards and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry during the 2004 campaign, the Times reported, "Mr. Kerry had increasing doubts about the war. But Mr. Edwards argued that they should not renounce their votes - they had to show conviction and consistency." Edwards was a co-sponsor of the 2002 war authorization resolution, along with Sen. Joseph Lieberman.

"Mr. Kerry yielded to his running mate," according to the Times story, and told reporters early in the 2004 campaign that he would still have voted for the 2002 war authorization even knowing that Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction. Six weeks later, in a speech at New York University, he reversed himself, over the objections of Edwards, the Times reported.

A year later, in an opinion piece published in The Washington Post, Edwards reversed his own position, a move that some Kerry aides described as "politically expedient" in the planned run-up to the 2008 Presidential campaign.

"John Kerry was hammered by the Republicans and by many in the media for changing his positions on the war and other issues in the 2004 campaign," Kucinich noted. "The fact of the matter is that he wanted to come out against the war in 2004, and John Edwards argued against it."

"Now," Kucinich continued, "we have a candidate who voted for the war and voted to fund the war, but says he's against it. He voted for the Patriot Act, and now he complains about its abuses. He voted for China Trade in 2000 knowing that Americans would be hurt, and now he's decrying the unsafe products pouring into this nation from China. He supported nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain, now he's against it."

"Will the real John Edwards please stand up?" Kucinich said

[AndyA]

7. I never said he was perfect.

He made a mistake and he has admitted it. You can't say that for all the other candidates, although I do realize not everyone voted for the war.

Sometimes a person achieves integrity and humility due to the mistakes they make and learn from.

I still believe Edwards is the only viable Dem candidate to bring about the change this country needs.

[AlertLurker]

8. Awesome: "Will the real John Edwards please stand up?"

I quite honestly cannot see how either Edwards or Clinton manage to stay at the head of the pack. NEITHER of them can actually stand on their records. They both talk a good game, but it is just so much bullshit. If you are a representative of your state in Congress or in the Senate, the only thing that matters, IMHO, is WHAT YOU DO.

Any of the candidates can talk about what they have done and what they will do, but Dennis Kucinich is the only one that can be believed. He's the only one who can back up every position he has taken WITH HIS VOTE.

I had to post this again (sorry - I just agree so strongly with him) - not just regarding Edwards, as the same can be said for ALL THE REST of the candidates that voted for these bills and then later flip-flopped...

"Now," Kucinich continued, "we have a candidate who voted for the war and voted to fund the war, but says he's against it. He voted for the Patriot Act, and now he complains about its abuses. He voted for China Trade in 2000 knowing that Americans would be hurt, and now he's decrying the unsafe products pouring into this nation from China. He supported nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain, now he's against it."

Run, Dennis, RUN!!!

[puebloknot]

9. Yes, Dennis, run. Those short legs that glean you so much criticism...

...can take you to victory. The victory is to the swift (-witted), not necessarily to the long of leg!

[pauldg0]

10. He's a good money manager too!!!!!

John Edwards......you are great!!!

Go Edwards 08