It doesn't have to be that way

by Don Wheeler

I suspect I'm not alone in my growing dismay that the presumptive nominee is becoming more and more timid in the face of conditions that require more and more courage. He has a fiercely loyal following, but many, many more folks are in the early stages of sizing the guy up.

Many people have worries about his lack of experience. The campaign has countered that he is a visionary - and point to his opposition of the Iraq war while a State Senator. That strikes some as quite thin evidence.

The best way to counter the experience complaint is to exhibit strong leadership. But Mr. Obama has instead reversed positions several times during the campaign. This tends to make some wonder about a person's core convictions and tenacity. It raises the suspicion that political calculation is driving things - despite the campaign's assurance that their candidate never considers such things.

If one takes even a passing look at Mr. Obama's Illinois history, it seems clear he was a pretty typical politician. That's nothing to apologize for, but denying it is likely to lead to trouble.

John Edwards admonished his party at the 2007 Winter meeting - explaining what the times called for.

...we are Democrats, the party of action – not reaction. We are Democrats, the party of principle – not appeasement.

The time for half-measures, empty promises, and sweet rhetoric is gone. Now is the time for courage, decisiveness and moral leadership.

and

They (the Republicans) don’t think we have it in us. They’re counting on their opponents to be weak, and political, and careful.

This is not the time for political calculation. This is the time for political courage.

Stand up.

and

We know one thing for sure: it is time to be patriotic about something other than war. It is time to do what you know is right and to speak out against what you know is wrong.

Not tomorrow. Now. Speak out now, take action now.

Tomorrow begins today.

Spending a bunch of money on campaign ads in Indiana, before even formally being the nominee, seems arrogant and implies a certainty that the campaign money will never end.

Some have suggested that it's a ploy to trick John McCain into spending resources here - depleting his campaign funds. But McCain's general election money clock doesn't start ticking until after his convention - so it's hard to see how that works.

And I'll make a bold prediction. Barack Obama will not win Indiana. And it will not be close.

What Mr Obama needs to do to demonstrate that he is a different kind of leader is to actually be a different kind of leader. The fact that the race looks like a dead heat (at this point) should be of great concern to the campaign. His opponent is pretty weak, and his opponent's campaign is borderline dysfunctional.

Money won't do it by itself - and the money could slow.

A change in direction is clearly indicated.

Edwards' remarks as prepared