Private life in American Politics

An American president's family life (or atleast a hopeful presiden'ts family life) has to open out for the entire country.Why do spouse and daughters and sisters and brother-in-laws and grandparents and parents become crucial factors in an election? Ironically, that too in a country which talks about individual freedom. That someone's son is in Iraq fighting doesn't make him a more deserving presidential candidate in the same logic that someone was brought up by a single mother. No, those can't be logical reasons of electing someone a president; those are just playing with emotions.

Well, I admire Obama's oratory skills - I respect his ability to motivate and inspire. But I don't like his attacks on John Mc Cain's number of houses. John Mc Cain's wealth, by birth or by life, does not make him a less desirable candidate. Similary, Obama's tryst with adversities does not make him a more deserving presidential candidate. Personally, yes - my heart goes out to Obama for he represents my situation in life. But wealth, or lack of it, doesn't qualify a president. Adversities or abundance is the determining factor itself; the end product is. Did adversity make an Obama out of you or delinquent - that matters. In a similar way - did wealth make a Paris Hilton out of you, or you chose to be Bill Gates, whose donations only make the dream of attending school possible for a few thousand children in India. Personal wealth, or the lack of it can't be political propaganda. I would not expect any mature person to use it.

And secondly, stop using your family. Stop bringing your wives to the convention and using public display of affection to fortify your image as a strong family. You don't have to exhibit that. Michelle's speech the other day was a stroong evidence of the intellectual compatibility shared that you share.( I actually found Senator Hillary Clinton's comments funny - Barack has a potential partner in Michelle to run the country? Now is the Barack the presidential candidate or Michelle? These may be confusing to an India who is new to American politics. But I was secretly thinking our Indian polliticians are not far behind - Laloo handed over reignes to Rabri; clearly Laloo must have been elected because he had an able partner in Rabri!)

And then I feel sorry for the two gilrs - the little one surely was awake past bedtime, and it was evident. Yes, I believe in supporting my family, very strongly, very undonditionally. But what's the point in exhibition? May that's not what it is done in India. Given our history, we often find only one in the family who is all out - rest are shadow.

I don't think so anyone in India elected Manmohan Singh because of his deserving family; but I do know Sigh's daughter has scaled intellectual heights.

In the true spirit of American freedom, Joe Biden'son can become what he wants to and John Mc Cain can live in the most luxurious house, provided they knew to respect their freedom and acepted their responsibilities to the community.