I haven’t donated a dime or lent my voice to advocate for any of the present democratic presidential candidates. I thought I would have a better idea after the first debate among the twenty candidates on stage over two nights. But I’m only a little bit closer to deciding. I have ruled out a couple of people, though.
The first to cross off my list is Marianne Williamson, the spiritual guru who decided to run for president. Although I like her message of love, it can’t be the only message in this complicated society that needs true solutions to big problems and policies that make sense. Her answers were a little too out there for a pragmatist like me. She seems to be more suited for a pulpit than the Oval Office.
Another was Andrew Yang. Not enough there for me to advocate for. He’s an accomplished businessman and philanthropist who has ideas about universal income and human centered capitalism. I’d like his voice and ideas to be widely heard and he is accomplishing this by running for president. His ideas are novel, but not a winning platform at this point in time.
And then there is Bernie. I’m not supporting Bernie Sanders this time. He seemed more radical to me than before. I’m for universal health care but I don’t really want to outlaw private insurance. He presented his ideas in such an inflexible way that I was put off.
The other thing that became apparent to me was that some of the candidates might be better suited for the vice-presidency. Given our current political climate and where we are in minority relations, I think we’re going to need a straight white guy out front to beat Trump. I hate saying it, but I think that’s where the swing states are. If they would go for a woman, then I think Amy Klobuchar, Kristin Gillibrand, and Elizabeth Warren have a chance, but I think the vice-presidency is more likely for any of them. Some of my other favorites for the vice-president position are Kamala Harris, Cori Booker, and Pete Buttigieg.
Before the debates, I was thinking that a Biden – Harris ticket looked great. But I liked what I heard from a few of the other white males who might not have all the baggage of Biden. I want to hear more before I pick an actual candidate to back. For certain, I want a candidate who can beat Trump and who can deliver for the nation while also restoring a level of trust, integrity, and dignity to the office of the President.
One thing was evident to me from the debate: any one of the twenty candidates on stage could restore dignity to the office of the President and for that I am encouraged.