American Politics: 2008 Presidential Candidates
With the distaste for US President Bush on the rise in the States and around the globe, the country and the world now look to the next American president for a hope for change. Two candidates in particular have captured the interest of the public. The first, Hillary Clinton, is a Senator for the state of New York made famous by her marriage to the very popular former US president, Bill Clinton. The second, Barack Obama, is a comparatively young African-American Senator for Illinois. Both candidates are Democrats and, if elected, would either be the first female president or the first African-American president in US history.
Recent polls show that among American democratic voters, Clinton is the most popular candidate for the next election, followed second by Obama. Both could very likely be the next leader of the United States, but are they what the American people and the world are hoping for? Let’s take a closer look at their political track records and their plans for the future.
Hillary Clinton’s political career began long before her role as First Lady of the United States, although this is the role for which she is most known. Clinton was active in politics throughout her studies that included serving as President of College Republicans at Wellesley College, serving on the Board of Editors of the Yale Review of Law and Social Action, and campaigning for Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern in 1972 before graduating with a Juris Doctor degree from Yale in 1973. During her husband’s presidency she became the most empowered US First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt. Over those eight years, Hillary Clinton initiated a handful of family-based programs including the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Adoption and Safe Families Act, the latter of which she considered her greatest accomplishment as First Lady. She has served as US Senator for New York since January 3, 2001.
Barack Obama received a B.A. degree from Colombia University in 1983. He went on to lead a non-profit project designed to organize job-training programs in the poor neighborhoods of Chicago. In 1988 he entered Harvard Law School where he became the first black president in the 104-year history of the Harvard Law Review. After working for a civil rights law firm and teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996. He received national attention and celebrity status for writing and delivering the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. Obama has served as US Senator for the state of Illinois since winning the 2004 election and swearing in on January 4, 2005.
Often the qualities of these candidates are seen as both strengths and weaknesses simultaneously. Some argue that Hillary Clinton is too cold and rigid while others say she is simply acting professionally as a leader should. Following 9-11, she voted in favor of the Iraq Resolution that gave President Bush authorization to use military force against Iraq. Many criticize her for this decision, claiming she now tries to pin the failure of the war solely on Bush, others feel it shows she’s willing to act bipartisan. Obama’s criticisms stem mainly from what some call a lack of experience. However, his short political career also means that he’s not carrying any political baggage. Many of his supporters claim that little value should be placed on experience, pointing to some of the most “experienced” politicians in Washington like Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, who both have managed to lose the respect of US citizens and their fellow politicians. They argue that Obama would offer a new beginning for the White House with no strings attached.
Assuming that one of these two candidates is elected in the Democratic Primary, the 2008 presidential election has the potential to be the first of its kind in American history. No matter who wins, it will certainly be interesting to watch as the American people choose their 44th President.
English |
German |
distaste (for) |
Widerwille (gegen) |
to be on the rise |
im Aufstieg begriffen sein |
capture interest |
die Beachtung finden |
| former | ehemalig |
| comparatively | vergleichsweise |
| polls | Wahlen |
| track record | Erfolgsgeschichte |
| throughout | im Verlaufe - durchweg |
| studies | Studium |
| campaigning | kandidieren |
| empowered | ermächtigt |
| initiate | einführen |
| family-based | Auf Interessen der Familie basiert |
| latter | Letzter(e) |
| accomplishment | Leistung - Errungenschaft |
| non-profit | gemeinnützig |
| designed | konstruiert |
| civil rights | Bürgerrechte |
| keynote address | Grundsatzrede |
| qualities | Eigenschaften |
| simultaneously | geichzeitig |
| authorization | Autorisation |
| criticize | kritisieren |
| claim | behaupten |
| failure | Misserfolg |
| willing | bereit sein - willig |
| bipartisan | von beiden Parteien getragen |
| stem from | abstammen von |
| lack | Mangel |
| carrying baggage | Verantwortung mit sich bringen |
| supporters | Anhängerschaft |
| no strings attached | nicht an Bedingungen gekoppelt sein |
| potential | Potenzial |
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