According to the Associated Press, President-elect Barack Obama will host three dinners during the week of his inauguration in order to honor "leaders who worked across party lines." On the night before the inauguration ceremony Obama will recognize John McCain, Joe Biden and Colin Powell as individuals who put "their country ahead of their political party."
Cynicism Overload Alert: Isn't this the exact same campaign message upon which McCain ran, but which Democrats and Obama blasted and contested almost to the point of overkill?
Also, aside from saying he believes in affirmative action and endorsing Obama, how has Powell challenged his party? Depending upon your political ideology, you might not even agree that he put country first during these discrete moments of "rebellion." And when has Biden ever contested the Democrats on substantial issues? I do not recall him ever disagreeing with the Democrats in a very public way that mattered. Perhaps a reader could fill in this blank.
This news of the dinners comes directly from the inaugural committee, according to the article. So, it looks official.
I accept the fact that Obama apparently wants to go down in history as the president who loves his election opponents once he can do so safely. But at some point, the reconciliation movement will begin to look too peculiar. The nomination of Hillary Clinton, whom he said lacked judgment, as Secretary of State has already tested the limits of my cynicism. But honoring McCain, whom Obama called erratic and out of touch seems a bit much, especially using the "country first" theme. But perhaps I'm too critical. What do you think?
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