Change is the word at the moment

Every where I read on the Internet or in the newspapers, I keep reading how Obama is going to change the political landscape, bringing with him a renewed sense of hope for the future that Hillary is unable to generate. But I have been wondering if we are dealing with strictly with a wave of emotions or a genuine overwhelming desire for change?

It will be interesting if the Obama people will still stand up for change and the party if Hillary were to win the nomination. Is it just the politically correct thing to say that you are for Obama and change? Or will everyone work for change regardless of who the candidate is?

Pundits have tried to make Hillary the old guard. How can the first woman candidate running for President be old guard? Does it mean she is old guard and defender of the status quo because of her extentsive experience, both in the United States Senate, as well as from the ringside seat of history in the White House?

We hear how Obama is an historical figure running for Presidient, but let's not forget a great woman is also running for President. Gender and race, both are factors in this election. I think the Democratic party can be proud that the standard bearers are diverse and both regardless of their gender or race, are committed to change.

The neoconservative pundits are trying to make race and gender dirty words. "Oh, we shouldn't bring those issues up." "Oh, we shouldn't fall in the trap and start talking about race or gender." "The candidates are just kicking up the dust (or hell) if we talk about race or gender."

Folks, I hate to be the one to tell you, but race and gender are who we are. We should not allow others to demean who we are. We shouldn't be ashamed of who we are and not be angry when someone may accuse us of being negative if we discuss gender or race. We do not have to be apologetic about who we are, or what our leaders represent. Gender and race are positives in the Democratic party as far as I am concerned.

The news media wants to label who we are. They want to set the agenda for this election. While they can claim that talking about race and gender are evil, we know better. We have been talking race and gender all of our lives. It is not new. It is not divisive if we understand the value of diversity.

We should be proud a Black man is actually running for President and has a chance to win. We should be equally proud a woman is running for President and actually has a chance to win as well.

To the supporters of Obama, I encourage you to work hard for his election, but remember there are a lot of people out here who support Hillary, and are working just as hard for Hillary's election.

The true legacy of JFK is not Camelot, but a history far worse than any other president caught sneaking around the back rooms at the White House.

Let's not confuse history with the emotional need to rewrite history. Just because some people may need a quick fix for change does not give them license to rewrite histroy to their liking.

If more people knew the history of the Kennedy legacy, in particular the old patriarch of greed and corruption, it would cause many to pause over the Kennedy legacy. I wouldn't want to associate Obama with that kind of history. If we truly want change....let's not reminisce about a time in history when the mob was literally running around the White House.

Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Obama was meant to be a big plus, but those of us old enough know old Ted has a lot baggage, and it has nothing to do with change.

What I don't understand is how some pundits think that Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Obama has some mystical power on the Latino community. Let's not forget that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is endorsing Hillary Clinton. How can we forget that the United Farm Workers have endorsed Hillary? That endorsement carries far more weight than old Ted's attempt to be relevant.

Let us seek change on the attributes and goodness of Hillary and Obama. Not on some mythical need to return to Camelot. I can support who ever wins the nomination...but the way some of the Obama people gossip about Hillary and talk about their undying support for Obama, I wonder if they can support Hillary if she is standard bearer?

Don't demean Hillary to the point that you lose objectivity and hope for the future. The point about all of us wanting change is to get away from the corruption and stench of the Bush years.

We want to get back to the days when we can restore democracy in America. We want our Constitution followed and honored. We want the crooks thrown out of office and held accountable for their crimes. We want habeas corpus restored. We want Democrats in the House and Senate to vote like Democrats not clones of the Grand Old Party.

We want Democrats in Congress to return our liberties, not just promises to do so like they did during the mid-term elections. You know you can't always blame Bush for all of the problems in our county when half of the Democrats are supporting Bush or his policies.

Look at the votes of our Democratic Representatives and Senators and yes, sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between Republicans and Democrats.

We want a leader who will challenge, encourage, or push Democrats if necessary to work for change. Is Obama the best person as President to do that? Or can Hillary do a better job because of her broad experience in government?

Democrats promised us they would end the war, instead they voted to continue to support Bush and his war policies.

We had a chance to push hard for immigration reform, except someone forgot to tell the Democrats they are not supposed to vote like Republicans.

Many of us support some kind of economic stimulus to kick start our economy and clearly we don't need a bunch of Democrats delaying the stimulus package in the Senate because they cannot agree amongst themselves what is the best policy.

The leader we want as President has to believe in change. But we also need a leader who can shake up the old guard Democrats in the Congress and if they refuse to budge, let them know that all hell will break out, and that our President will not put up with whiney Democrats. I suppose we can throw them out as well if we are as serious as we say about wanting change.

Progressive change is what we are working for. It is what we want to accomplish in the next election. Those old Democrats who are just stradling the fence on issues important to our communities better get ready to rock and roll, or maybe better said, lock and load.

Whoever gets elected president must be responsible to appoint a cabinet that reflects the true diversity of America. The cabinet must be "nicer" to immigrants and join the President to fight for comprehensive immigration reform. The cabinet must work along with the President to change our image around the world. The cabinet needs to help our nation continue to be a leader in the world. We are tired of being treated like second class citizens and fearful of the Department of Homeland Security which abuses our laws and citizens.

If you can't support Hillary if Obama were to lose the nomination, the question that remains to be answered is will you run away and sulk because your candidate didn't win? If we can't unite together, then I believe we are not sincere in our efforts to fight for change. Is your desire for change just centered around Obama, or something worth fighting for regardless of what Democratic candidate is nominated?

We have the greatest opportunity to elect a Democratic President if we work together regardless of who the candidate is from our Party. If we don't work togethr and unite around our candidate, then don't complain when the next Republican President is sworn in.