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The Executive vs. The Visionary

Democratic race offers a competing views of the presidency

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 24, 2008 11:29 AM CST
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(Newser) – The choice between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama boils down to two fundamentally different views of the presidency, writes the New Yorker's George Packer—the political pragmatism of Clinton or the inspiration of Obama. Clinton embraces nuts-and-bolts governance and scoffs at political naivety. Obama has a far more visionary view, and Packer finds that even some longtime Clinton backers can't resist.

More than one draws a comparison to Robert Kennedy. "You realized that his magic lay in his effect on others rather than in any specific policies," said Robert Reich. Obama achieves the same, "almost effortlessly.” The White House needs more than a technocrat, Packer finds—and Clinton may have to "transcend her own history" if she hopes to return.

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., addresses the current economic news and attacks Sen. Hillary Clinton's economic positions during a speech on the campus of Furman University in Greenville, S.C., Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., addresses the current economic news and attacks Sen. Hillary Clinton's economic positions during a speech on the campus of Furman University...   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference in Washington Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference in Washington Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks at a town hall meeting at Skydiver's Hangar and Lounge at the Winterset Municipal Airport in Winterset, Iowa, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevin Sanders)
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks at a town hall meeting at Skydiver's Hangar and Lounge at the Winterset Municipal Airport in Winterset, Iowa, Saturday, Dec....   (Associated Press)
Some feel that at the root of the Clinton-Obama conflict is a fundamental disagreement about what it means to be president of the United States.
Some feel that at the root of the Clinton-Obama conflict is a fundamental disagreement about what it means to be president of the United States.   (Associated Press; Composite)
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'Clintons are playing a dangerous game'
Los Angeles Times

'I want to know more about Obama. And I want to know it now.'
Boston Globe

 
Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • White House • Bill Clinton • pragmatism • Democratic nomination • visionary • Election 2008 • Robert F. Kennedy

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