Aftermath

I've posted so much about the Democratic primary in the past that I'd be remiss not to write something in the aftermath of Barack Obama's official clinching of his party's presidential nomination. It's just that I don't feel like I can add a whole lot to what's already been written in the last few months. And rewritten. And written yet again.

It's worth reading this piece by Slate press critic Jack Shafer, who points out that for all the talk about what Hillary did wrong, Obama did an awful lot right. He managed to defeat, however narrowly, an incredibly popular and politically savvy opponent in one of the most heated nomination contests in history. Shafer puts forth what should be a fairly obvious conclusion to draw - Obama won more than Clinton lost.

The focus on the loser is depressing given that, since the field of Democratic candidates was whittled to two, the party's nominee was guaranteed to be a glass ceiling-breaker based on either gender or race. Regardless of who won, it was supposed to represent progress for people who have been marginalized in the American political system. It's still historic, of course, but it somehow feels a little bit hollow given that so many of the supporters of both candidates hardened into such antagonistic stances. That so many Clinton supporters, in particular, say they're going to skip the election or vote for John McCain - an anti-abortion conservative whose policies are antithetical to feminism - is completely baffling, given the similarities in policies between Clinton and Obama.

There are five months to go until the general election, and Clinton will almost certainly rally her supporters to back Obama. And with more time to shine and a less impressive opponent with whom to share the spotlight, Obama is more than capable of cranking up the wattage and getting people talking about hope and unity again (hopefully with more specifics about how those things are to be achieved). 

Right now, though, there's a numb feeling. That a black (or more accurately, biracial) candidate could win the nomination should be a good omen for women. Likewise, had Clinton won, it should have been a good omen for non-white candidates. But what started as a win-win campaign has ended with an undue focus on the loser, and that, for now, has dampened the celebration.