I am not a politician and have no interest in becoming a political analyst. In regards to leadership and strategy, though, I’m in.
There are some major distinctions in the selection of vice-presidents during this election. Senator Barack Obama chose well-respected Joe Biden, McCain-like in regards to his experience, seniority, long track record, and credibility. He chose Biden because he brought in his extensive experience in foreign affairs, in the military, and decades of commitment and work of service. His choice was of someone who had extensively more experience than he has. Obama’s forte includes his charm, rhetoric, and motivational persona, his perceived weaknesses being lack of experience and lack of focused planning.
Instead, McCain clearly sought for someone whom few, if any, would have expected. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is an unlikely candidate who does not shadow McCain with any of her accomplishments but who brings a fresh, complementary, yet strong perspective – and, did you notice, she is a woman? She stands by her values and honors the integrity of them: she’s pro-life, a value she abides by. No matter which side of the debate you are on concerning Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, you must admire someone who sticks by her values and lives by them, even when they can be unpopular. Instead of picking the status quo, McCain surprised us all. It is very clear who is in charge – McCain – but it is also clear what kind of an advisor he wants working with him, someone who shares his same values.
When Obama chooses Biden, he is choosing someone with the experience people question of him, giving more conservative Democrats the opportunity to relax and trust. While selecting a strong right hand is important, the challenge of being overshadowed is a risk. While it is clear McCain is the boss, Obama’s choice makes Biden much stronger and appealing whereas Palin’s choice is complementary to McCain.
The main argument against McCain’s pick for VP is that she has zero experience – something the Obama camp has been defending for Obama for months now. Obama also has minimal experience, and he has no experience as chief executive. Palin has single-handedly worked on difficult cases within her own government, bringing people together across party lines and with a no-nonsense approach. She has kept herself out of “Washington Politics,” another slogan of Obama’s. You can tell she does not have the rehearsed and polished talk of the senators, and yet, she seems to have the articulate, open, and direct style of someone who is in the trenches and gets the work done. Although Obama claims to be an agent of change, he chose conservative in his choice of Biden. Instead, McCain chose change by choosing Palin, who has already created great change in her own state – something no one can refute when looking at the facts.
McCain’s choice shocked many people, including some conservatives who were already uncomfortable with McCain as a candidate. At the same time, he has stayed true to his values, selecting someone who complements his ideals and behaves in such a way that reflects her honesty and desire to work hard for the better good. No matter who you vote for, this campaign has gotten a whole lot more interesting.
