do the right thing
by Sandra Kinne
Published: June 13, 2008
With the ballot all but decided, and the parties’ presumptive nominees chosen, the focus of this year’s presidential race shifts to the general election.
Both John McCain and Barack Obama are working hard to win the White House. They are raising funds like Jimmy Baker trying to open a religious-themed water park (only ethically), touring the countryside like rockers on the festival circuit, and vetting VP picks like seniors shopping for prom dresses. But that’s just it: they’re traveling the countryside, fund-raising and vetting on their quests for the White House. They’re not doing their current job, serving as U.S. senators. As their parties’ chosen presidential candidates, it is time they both resign their Senate seats.
I can understand not resigning before the nominations were decided and the primaries complete. With the initial large pool of candidates on both sides, and some of them dropping like flies (Biden, Gravel, Kucinich), others inexplicably sticking around (Thompson, Richardson, Giuliani), and others clinging for dear life (Billary), it was understood why Obama and McCain kept their day jobs while campaigning for POTUS. They may have been involuntarily returned to them.
Now, though, with their focus on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, it is time for McCain and Obama to step aside and allow their parties to find someone else who can focus on their states’ needs, not their own personal pursuits – however noble and exciting they are.
This is not to say McCain and Obama have been bad senators. They haven’t, but that’s not the issue. They’ve served their constituents well, and they are certainly bringing more attention to Illinois and Arizona as presidential candidates. But, given their campaign schedules (Obama’s in North Carolina and the South for the next two weeks, McCain is… who knows what he’s doing? Does he remember he’s running? Maybe he’s taking a nap?), they’re now serving their own needs, not their constituents’ or states’ needs.
Sure, one of them won’t win and will want a job to go to on November 5th. But McCain has his wife’s family’s money and beer distribution business to fall back on, not to mention the “half-century” of service to the country of which to be proud. He won’t need to return to the Senate after two failed presidential wins, and at the age of 72, it’ll be time for him to take a break.
Obama’s going to win, so he really doesn’t need to worry about his post-election paycheck. With talk this week of Rahm Emmanuel running for Illinois Senate post-November’s outcome, it seems the Democrats are already looking ahead at Obama’s replacement. Why not just start that process early?
To play devil’s advocate, let’s say he does lose. Obama’s return to the Senate could be a major let-down after a race like this year’s, and he might be better off taking the Al Gore route and leaving the public sector and becoming an issue-focused leader (race relations, anyone?). Even with a hypothetical loss, as the first black man on a major party ticket, he stands to make a ton of money through speeches, books and private consulting. He’ll have the cache of Gore, the allure of Bill Clinton and the public speaking style of John F. Kennedy. Though, a return to the Senate for someone his age would allow him to have a career like Ted Kennedy’s. Obama could easily lick his wounds and become the new liberal lion, especially given Kennedy’s impending departure from the Senate. (God bless the Kennedy family.)
A loss would mean Obama wouldn’t likely run again for POTUS; his wife seems firm on that, and there seems to be a current moment in history working in Obama’s favor. It’d likely be another 40 years before this happens again, and by then, it’ll be someone else’s turn to carry the torch.
It’s not likely either McCain or Obama will resign their Senate seat for their presidential ambitions. I can’t recall the last time a major-ticket presidential did quit his elected position to run for president. But, in an already historic contest, another monumental change may be possible. It would certainly be the right thing.
—
(email this article or post to social network)
—
June 13th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Reminds me of, I believe it was Shane who wrote it, the article about McCain never voting on anything and therefore being able to act like a conservative when he’s really full of horse crap.
I support them resigning! Let someone else attend to the matters that you aren’t thinking twice about.
June 14th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
It’s ludicrous to think that the candidates can’t run a presidential campaign and their senate seats.
Sincerely,
Steven Covey
June 16th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Hey Mr. Covey,
I read 3/4 of your 7 habits book. It took me that long to realize that no sane human being is ever going to be able to pull your plan off. So despite your cool theories, Ms. Kinne is right, the Senators need to bow out of the Senate and let someone else get their work done.
June 24th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Yeah, because attacking Mr. Covey’s efforts to help people better their lives (which has actually worked for many people) really has a lot to do with the issue at hand, Robert.
June 24th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Wins,
I’d like to see a count of how many people actually successfully implement all 7 habits into their lives. Show me the numbers and maybe I’ll allow senators to run for president and maintain their seats.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Haha! :) I must admit I can only work on a few of those ideas at a time.
I dunno….I mean, I suppose you could do your Senator job if you really tried, but let’s face it….what’s more time-consuming (and everything else-consuming) than running a presidential campaign? At the same time, I don’t feel I can really expect them to give up their seats when they know there’s as good a chance of them becoming president as there is of them losing it. I mean, can we expect them to want to give up “Plan B.”
Hopefully they have enough friends to cover for them while this madness lasts.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Don’tcha think we should expect a Senator, running for president or not, to show up to vote at least once every two to three months? Maybe make at least 50% of the votes?
I think we’re on McCain Watch: Day 78 or so for a vote on the Senate floor. Pretty rough.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Yeah, I think a 50% vote percentage would be nice. :)