In July 1948, a dispirited Democratic party assembled in Philadelphia to nominate President Harry Truman in what was assumed would be a losing campaign against Republican Thomas Dewey. But Truman was having none of it. On a sweltering night, he rose, looked at his running mate Alben Barkley, and began his speech with “Senator Barkley and I will win this election and make these Republicans like it”. He then demanded the Republican-controlled Congress return from its summer recess and pass all the legislation it was promising to enact once Dewey was president.
It was not merely the start of a remarkable turnaround in Truman’s electoral prospects, but the response to the intensely partisan atmosphere that had developed in Washington after the war.
It’s a different Democratic convention in 2012. The party has benefited from rousing speeches from the first lady and former president Bill Clinton, probably the greatest instinctive politician America has seen since FDR. The contrast with a stolid, painfully homogenous Republican convention that seemed dominated by angry white males has been significant. As Crikey hit deadline Barack Obama, a man of gifted and sometimes inspiring oratory, was delivering another memorable acceptance.
But the malicious air of partisanship is the same — or worse.
For too much of his presidency Obama has failed to heed the lesson of Truman’s: that at some point partisanship becomes so obstructive in the political process that co-operation and appeals to national interest no longer work and confrontation is the only way forward.
Moreover, Obama faces far worse circumstances than Truman. US politics is now riven with a partisan ferocity that has not been seen since the 19th century. As many of its more moderate and traditional leaders attest, a lunatic fringe has overtaken sections of the Republican Party. And they have done so at a deeply worrying time: the US economy is only feebly recovering from the disaster of the financial crisis; its fiscal circumstances are unsustainable; its unemployment rate remains stubbornly high. Worse, corporate interests have a tighter grip than ever on the federal political process.
If re-elected, Obama can’t govern in the same way as he has in his first term. More gridlock, more partisanship, more angry rhetoric will be the result, rather than substantive progress on issues of critical importance to America and the world. Obama must reach beyond the wild enthusiasm of the convention hall and bring American voters with him in a way that will enable him to successfully challenge the strident partisanship and bitterness of his opponents.
I have often thoi\ought that second term president’s are more productive.
They don’t govern with a view to reelection.
Unfortunately Bush v2 proved that they don’y always govern wisely
“painfully homogenous Republican convention”
Is this the same convention that had speeches by African American, Asian and Latino speakers like Condaleeza Rice, Marco Rubio, Mia Love, Nicki Hayley, Susan Martinez, Sher Valenzuela and Ray Fernandez?
Perhaps you were watching Rundle’s version of the convention, rather than the one that actually happened.
Sounds familiar! The American disease has infected the Great Southern
Land, with consequences just as disastrous.
@ MJ – All these people with foreign sounding names may well have
spoken at the Republican convention, but did they actually have
anything useful to say? No – just more partisanship!
I have always been puzzled about those African-American and Latino
people who support the GOP. Given that it is a party (much like our
coalition) run, for and by, corporations, big business and the wealthy,
what benefits are to be gained by the vast majority of these ethnic
groups whose members are largely poor and marginalised?
I mean, tax cuts for the wealthy are going to cure America? Give me
a break!!!
Crikey, there’s no particular reason to write these little intro pieces, particularly if they’re slapped together with no thought or subbing.
“But the malicious air of partisanship is the same [as in 1948] — or worse.”
“US politics is now riven with a partisan ferocity that has not been seen since the 19th century.”
Which one is it?
Michael James: the Republican Convention delegates were homogenous, not the speakers… and Rundle made that clear, so you’re wrong twice.