promise me
by Truman Washington
Published: April 8, 2008
A presidential candidate always makes a lot of promises. It’s important to understand that some of these promises are incredibly dishonest. Why? Because they are unattainable. As responsible, enfranchised citizens we must try and understand which of these promises are possible and which are not. Once we’ve discovered which promises are achievable, we need to examine the effects they will have on the country.
I think we all remember George HW Bush’s infamous “read my lips” promise. This statement lit a fire propelling him to the White House. The fire went out when Bush allowed a tax raise in 1990. Some have argued Bush didn’t actually create any new taxes, he just allowed current taxes to be raised, but I think most people think that’s just semantics. Furthermore, to his credit, Bush consistently resisted the Democratic majorities’ attempts to raise taxes; but in the end President Bush made a promise he couldn’t keep, possibly costing himself the election in 1992.
It should be noted this is nothing new. President GHW Bush wasn’t the first politician to make a promise he couldn’t or wouldn’t keep, and he won’t be the last. Many promises are being made now that probably have no chance of fulfillment. Clinton, Obama and McCain will all make promises they can’t keep. And, honestly, I don’t have a big problem with that. I can figure things out. My problem is with the countless Americans who will not or cannot approach these candidates with skepticism and objectivity.
Currently Obama is promising, and even delivering, hope. But when has the act of hoping brought about better policies? Unfortunately for him, the expectations he has created can never be fulfilled because they are not tied to a specific plan of action. Or can someone tell me one concrete thing he is going to do to make things better? Obama only presents policy when he is absolutely forced to. You see, his is the most offensive of promises - nothing. But the nothing he is promising is wrapped in a Grammy-Award-winning box. The problem is people are buying the box but not opening it. Forget the audacity of hope. Promise me something real. Show me what the audacity of an efficient government looks like. Put the audacity of a plan to balance the budget to music. Bring me the audacity of a politician who listens to America, can prove in minute detail that he/she is a responsible steward of the people’s money - and I’ll vote for them.
Clinton is almost as bad. Her’s is a promise of action. She can step in and get things done on day one, but again - what things? Now, I know Hillary has experience in the White House, but she doesn’t have any in the Oval office and she obviously didn’t learn from the current Democratic majorities in congress. By successfully presenting a platform of action and of cleaning up government, the Democrats regained control of Congress. And when they wake up from their nap we can ask them how that’s going. The promise of action is dangerous because our system of checks and balances really requires the branches of government to work together. It makes it really hard to get a lot done, quickly; the fact that you happen to be married to Bill Clinton won’t change that.
McCain’s biggest lie is that he won’t die while he is in office. I was on his website the other day and a picture of a young McCain in uniform was being displayed. Most people think it’s an attempt to remind us of his great service to the country. I see it for what it is, a subliminal message saying, “Hey, this guy used to be a strapping young lad.” All I can say is never has the selection of a vice president been more vital.
Now there is a huge difference between what a candidate wants to do (the platform) and what they say they will do (a promise). I understand that. Not everything on a candidate’s website is a promise. For the most part they are things the candidate will work toward. But as responsible citizens we should know what these candidates are proposing and we need to know, not whether we like their proposals, but whether there is any substance to them. Don’t be ignorant. Don’t let the pretty words distract you. Think things through and you’ll make a much better decision. I promise you.
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