The Best Candidate for the US Presidency - Essay Example

of the of the of the The Best Candi for the US Presidency The best candi for the US presidency is none other than Barack Obama. Some of the reasons for this contention are that he is non – controversial, has liberal views regarding social issues, has balanced and well thought out views in respect of foreign policy, national security, education and the control of crime. In the context of taxation and health care, Obama’s policies will benefit the common man in the US. He has depicted great concern for human rights and the maintenance of friendly relations with the rest of the world. Therefore, he is the best person to occupy the Oval Office. The US presidential elections have called upon the people to elect a futurist and visionary leader. These elections are very important for the people of the United States as well as the rest of the world. This is due to the fact that people are living amidst great danger and challenges, which have proved to be of greater complexity than the problems of the past. At present, there are weapons of mass destruction, which can eradicate a nation’s people in one go. Terrorism has become globalized, and is increasing tremendously, due to the sophistication of communications and weapons. Democracy has been degraded, across the world, by some rogue nations, which also sponsor terrorism. A number of new health hazards are anticipated, as a result of the increase in global warming, which could lead to the outbreak of new diseases (Council on Foreign Affairs). These threats and risks cannot be addressed by the present leadership. What is required is a totally new vision, in respect of leadership, which is beyond Bush and his cronies at the White House. The need of the hour is visionary leadership that is based on the past experiences. It should not be bound by outdated and obsolete thinking. This was evident in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the US. The Bush administration responded by adopting traditional thinking. This thinking was confined to the conventional thinking of the past; and this inept government viewed terrorism as a state – oriented problem rather than a problem with international ramifications. Consequently, the Bush administration adopted military solutions rather than initiating international action. This conventional thinking led the US to wage a war against Iraq, which resulted in international opprobrium and hostility toward the US. The new visionary leadership has to perforce end this ethically unjustified war and thereby pacify the comity of nations. The war in Iraq has to be ended in a responsible manner, and what the US requires is appropriate leadership. This is indispensable to face the new challenges and risks of the twenty –first century. The new leadership should aim to capitalize on new opportunities. Furthermore, it has to be clearly realized that the US cannot confront these new risks and threats by itself. Moreover, the world cannot take on these problems, without the involvement of the US (Council on Foreign Affairs). Barak Obama, the presidential candidate, has more liberal views on several social issues. The National Abortion Rights Action League has been consistently praising his views on abortion. Moreover, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which deals with issues pertaining to the African Americans, is also supporting his candidacy. According to the National Journal, in the three primary categories of economic, social and foreign affairs, only nine senators were identified as being more liberal than Obama. He presented himself as an opponent of war; and condemned the US sponsored vendetta against the erstwhile ally of the US, Afghanistan. Obama suggested that these efforts were nothing more than the dropping of bombs on Afghanistan and killing the civilians. In the area of foreign policy, he recommended that the US should immediately recall all its troops from Iraq; and send troops from Saudi Arabia and China to maintain law and order in that place (Levant). Israel, Palestine, Arab nations and the rest of the nations have depended on the US and sought its leadership to restore and maintain peace and order. That was the situation in the past, and at present these countries look for American intervention, but their hopes have been belied. The US provided security to Israel because it was its strongest ally in the Middle East. That commitment is slowly evaporating as other nations in the region pose threats to that commitment. The potential risk in that region could stem from Iran, which has been appreciably strengthened, due to Iraq being in a chaotic state. The conflicting countries should be isolated, and to achieve this, the personal commitment of the president of the US is required. Barak Obama has promised to make that commitment and to ensure peace and security in the region (Council on Foreign Affairs). The recent TV and radio coverage of Barak Obama makes it clear that he is committed to the importance of economic fairness. His remarks establish the importance that he attaches to this issue. In the advertising campaigns that were carried out in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, before the primaries; Obama expressed his commitment to providing more jobs to the unemployed. These advertisements were also concerned with healthcare and the economy. Barak Obama ran his radio advertisements that were focused on his biography, before the South Carolina primary. These advertisements claimed the historic nature of his candidacy; and the radio stations in Washington DC, praised his plan to provide tax concessions to the middle – class people. They widely described one of his promises, wherein he had agreed to reduce healthcare costs by $2,500 per year, for middle class families. Furthermore, his policies regarding college education was widely acclaimed. These advertisements were presented with the slogan Barak Obama understands the strains we’re facing (Helman). Obama promised to reduce income taxes by $1,000 for working class families. This would enable them to balance the payroll tax; and it would restore fairness to the tax code. This reduction in income tax will provide considerable relief to nearly one hundred and fifty million workers. Obama says that he will create a new Making Work Pay tax credit. Under this new program, a tax credit of up to $500 per person or $1,000 per working family will be provided. Furthermore, this new tax credit will eliminate the income tax burden of nearly ten million Americans. Filing of Tax returns will be greatly simplified, and this would enable millions of Americans to complete the completion of a tax return, in less than five minutes (Barack Obamas Plan). Medical costs in the United States are ever increasing, which makes it very difficult for people in the US, to afford healthcare insurance. At present there are millions of Americans who are not insured and several others who are underinsured. Nearly forty – seven million Americans, including nine million children, do not have insurance coverage. Moreover, these costs are increasing without bound. They are reaching an all time high and the health insurance companies have increased the premium for insurance policies. During the past six years the increase in these premiums was four times the increase in wages. The Bush government reduced the allocation of funds for the prevention of epidemics and the improvement of public health, and obesity has become a national calamity (Plan for a Healthy America). Barak Obama has promised to establish a new national health plan for all citizens. This plan will also be applicable to the self – employed and those in small business. This plan enables comprehensive health coverage at an affordable cost. With this people will have health coverage that is similar to the health coverage plan available to the members of Congress. This new national plan to be implemented by Obama will provide guaranteed eligibility. Under this guaranteed eligibility, no insurance plan can turn down an individual’s policy for the reason that there is prior illness or that there are adverse health conditions. The Obama scheme provides comprehensive benefits to every US citizen. This package of benefits will cover all the aspects of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which the Bush government makes available to only members of Congress. The Obama plan will cover essential medical services such as preventive healthcare facility, maternity benefits and mental healthcare benefits (Plan for a Healthy America). Barak Obama is a staunch opponent of crime and criminal activities. He said that he will institute tougher measure to address crime in a more stringent manner. He also made it clear that there is a need to provide the law enforcement authorities with sufficient funding and other resources. Senator Obama had cosponsored the Combat Meth Act. This Act provides ample funds to the law enforcing authorities to fight against the abuse of the drug methamphetamine or meth. This Act contains stricter controls on the sale of meth products and substances. It also provides de – addiction facilities to children and youth. Obama wanted to reestablish the Community Oriented Policing Services or COPS program. This program provided adequate funding to the local bodies to hire and train law enforcement authorities; procure equipment and other supporting systems; carry out intelligence duties, antiterrorism measures and homeland security tasks; and obtain sophisticated technologies such as communication networks, and develop forensic technologies (Crime). Barak Obama had worked hard to ease the debt burden on students while he was serving on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He stated that in this globalized world information becomes the principal player, and that excellence requires high levels of skill and knowledge. He also stated that students should develop the ability to apply their knowledge and skills to new and complex situations. According to Obama, the education system in the US has to be reformed and made accessible to the Americans. In his opinion, higher education provided the long term solution to eradicate income disparities in American society, and that it would improve the economic conditions of the middle class. Therefore, access to higher education should be made available to every American student, and that this could be achieved through increasing grant aid. However, the student loan system had to be completely overhauled, and the college tuition costs had to be reduced drastically. Students must be taught the skills needed to succeed, which are provided by the K – 12 education systems. The growing trade demands compel several workers to lose their jobs for want of sufficient skill. The education system thus plays a critical role in ensuring the acquisition of the necessary skills. Obama believes that the community colleges would impart Trade Adjustment Assistance job training in a more relevant manner (Hebel). Barak Obama as president of the US would ensure the proper implementation and protection of human rights both at the domestic as well as the international levels. He will also work to reduce poverty around the world. Unlike Bush and his hawks, he aims to gain the cooperation of the other nations, instead of confronting or threatening them with the use of force. Obama forged ahead to introduce a bill that condemned the Zimbabwean inflicted violence. He also attempted to mobilize political awareness with regard to the Darfur conflict. He urged the Bush administration to undertake greater measures to curb global poverty. Barak Obama visited the Russian nuclear sites along with his Senator Richard Lugar in the year 2005. In 2006, he visited the Middle East and African nations. In Kenya, he and his wife publicly underwent a HIV diagnosis in a camp, in order to motivate people there and to encourage them to undergo such testing (AP: Obama Will Expand Human Rights By Coddling With Dictators ). On being questioned about the measures that he would take in respect of Jewish Americans; Obama reiterated that he considered the security of Israel to be sacrosanct. He expressed his opposition to anti – Semitism and stated that he would make all possible efforts to reestablish the relationship between Jews and African Americans. This objective served to earn him the support of the Jewish community. Obama spent some time during his campaign in Cleveland with the leaders of Jewish community, which was attended by nearly one hundred Jews. He assured them that he would provide maximum security to Israel and further promote the friendly relations between the US and Israel. The editor of Jewish magazine Tikkun, Rabbi Michael Lerner, had stated that Barak Obama had shown proper respect for the sentiments harbored by American Jews (Weisman). Barak Obama accomplished his political ascension without attracting any controversies and without using violence. This is a significant aspect of his rapid rise in politics. He has proved to be above reproach in every issue. Obama obtained a majority, even in Chicago which is considered as – the political city of the US. He was raised independent of the Democratic paths and he overcame Democratic bosses, during the complex and intricate steps of succession in the Democratic Party. He had defeated his rivals through his campaigns, and Bill Daley a former member of Bill Clinton’s cabinet had become Obama’s close advisor. He believes that Obama will be the ultimate proponent of change. Obama had raised $15 million through his rhetoric and influential speech to the Democratic National Convention; and he had ignored the provocative arguments and ranting of Keyes. In November, 2007, Obama won seventy percent of the votes and thereby defeated Keyes in Illinois (Slevin). Barak Obama, in a manner that is reminiscent of John Kennedy, encourages American people towards citizenship and patriotism. It is usual for him to state, Biographies Plus News We are the change that we seek and we are the ones weve been waiting for. By means of his rhetorical skills and oratory Obama gained collective support for the candidacy of the president. This proves his democratic courtesy, and without doubt, Obama is the chosen one that the Americans have long been waiting for. Obama is a talented politician, and with his success it will be proved beyond doubt that the American people really want a change from the politics of half truths and outright lies, which emanate from the immoral and unethical Bush administration (KRISTOL). From the foregoing it can be concluded that Barack Obama has all the required qualities to be an ideal president of the US. He will certainly succeed in reversing the harm caused to human rights and the US economy; moreover, his policies will benefit not only the ordinary citizen, but also the nation at large. Works Cited AP: Obama Will Expand Human Rights By Coddling With Dictators . 26 February 2008. 18 May 2008 . Barack Obamas Plan. 17 May 2008 . Council on Foreign Affairs. Renewing American Leadership. July/August 2007. 17 May 2008 . Crime. 18 May 2008 . Hebel, Sara. "An Interview with Barack Obama: "The Most Important Skill Is Knowledge"." Chronicle of Higher Education (n.d.): 20071116, Vol. 54, Issue 12ov. Helman, Scott. " Gaining speed, Obama shifts gears His speeches and ads become more focused on economy, policies." The Boston Globe (February 14, 2008 ): Pg. A1. KRISTOL, WILLIAM. "Its All About Him." The New York Times (February 25, 2008, Section A; Column 0; Pg. 17). Levant, Ezra. "What if Obama were white?; For liberal, white Baby Boom reporters, Obamamania is a way to expiate their own prejudices." National Post (Canada) (January 9, 2008): Pg. A14. Plan for a Healthy America. 18 May 2008 . Slevin, Peter. "For Obama, a Handsome Payoff in Political Gambles; Presidential Hopeful Has Friends, Successes and Precious Few Battle Scars." The Washington Post (November 13, 2007 Pg. A03). Weisman, Jonathan. "Obama Rebuffs Challenges on His Israel Stance." The Washington Post (28 February, 2008. Pg. A08). Read More