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Conventions Drown Out Reassuring Truth

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

To hear the harshly partisan speeches of the Democratic and Republican national conventions, you'd think the opposing candidate wanted to ruin the country.

The high-strung rhetoric evokes cheers from the party faithful, but drowns out a reassuring truth - one that former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, a Democrat, had the courage to acknowledge during a meeting with Florida delegates last week.

"We frankly have two quality people running for president of the United States," he said.

To be sure, you may find Barack Obama's resume too thin or worry about his enthusiasm for government programs. You may fear John McCain's international activism or have doubts about his economic policies.

But there should be little question that both are men of superior intelligence, ability and judgment, who care deeply about the country. One can strongly oppose the candidate's policies without denigrating his character.

Graham noted as much in saying. "I've known John McCain better than I know Barack Obama because we served together for 18 years. I said a year ago that if I were a Republican I would vote for John McCain, and I would feel comfortable waking up in the morning if he were president."

Graham went on, naturally, to tell the Democratic delegates that Obama was the better candidate.

But during the snide and nasty tumult of the political conventions, it was refreshing to see a politician treat the opposing party's candidate with respect, not as the devil incarnate.

Graham's example would serve us all well in the coming months.

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