Super Tuesday Showcases America, Solves Nothing

Twenty-four states participated. Hollywood cast ballots. Madison Avenue deliberated. Centennial Olympic Park examined exits. Mount Rushmore studied their successors. America’s democracy was stunning. Unfortunately, regions, states, and territories were not decisive.

On Super Tuesday, Senator Barack Obama won Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, and Utah. Senator Hillary Clinton won American Samoa, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee. New Mexico remains undecided.

For the Republicans, Senator John McCain won Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, and Oklahoma. Governor Mitt Romney won Alaska, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Utah. Governor Mike Huckabee won Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Amidst his victories, Obama was reflective. “Only a few hundred miles from here, almost one year ago to the day, we stood on the steps of the old state capitol to reaffirm a truth that was spoken there so many generations ago, that a house divided cannot stand, that we are more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and always will be the United States of America,” Obama said. “What began as a whisper in Springfield soon carried across the cornfields of Iowa, where farmers and factory workers, students and seniors stood up in numbers we have never seen before. They stood up to say that maybe this year we don't have to settle for politics where scoring points is more important than solving problems. Maybe this year we can finally start doing something about health care we can't afford. Maybe this year we can start doing something about mortgages we can't pay. Maybe this year, this time can be different.”

Meanwhile, Clinton was focused. “Together, we're going to take back America, because I see an America where our economy works for everyone, not just those at the top, where prosperity is shared and we create good jobs that stay right here in America,” she said. “I see an America where we stand up to the oil companies and the oil-producing countries, where we launch a clean energy revolution and finally confront the climate crisis. I see an America where we don't just provide health care for some people or most people, but for every single man, woman and child, that no one is left out. I see an America where, when a young man or a woman signs up to serve our country, we sign up to serve them, too. An America with a 21st century GI Bill of Rights to help veterans go to college, buy a home or start their own businesses. I see an America respected around the world again that reaches out to our allies and confronts our shared challenges from global terrorism to global warming to global epidemic. That's the America I see and that's the America we will build together.”

During his remarks, McCain was philosophical. “It's wonderful to be home tonight among so many of our friends to celebrate this night,” he said. “You know, I was over 40 years old before I could claim a hometown, and I can't express how fortunate I feel to have found a home in this beautiful state that has come to mean so much to me. You know, I am, as is often reported, a little superstitious. So I don't want to make any exaggerated predictions and there's still a long road ahead. However, I think it's fair to say that we might have come a little bit closer to today to the day when mothers in Arizona might be able to tell their children that someday they could grow up to be president of the United States.”

Romney was visionary. “You see, those that brought this to us paid a very heavy price to buy our peace,” he said. “They built a strong military who was, without question, the most capable in the world. They built a strong economy that surpassed anybody's in the world. And they also gave to us values that are enduring, like believing in hard work and education, and willing to sacrifice for the future, and love our families, and love of our faith, and love of our country. And because of these great values and this great economy and our great military, we've emerged as the greatest nation on Earth. And now it's our turn to decide what we're going to give to our kids and to their kids.”

Huckabee was ecstatic. “Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight I believe that one of the things you're saying across the nation is that people are saying the conservatives do have a choice because the conservatives have a voice,” he said. “And tonight, they're getting a chance to express that. And from here, they'll get to continue expressing that choice and that voice.”

Concerning Scattered Tuesday, Linkin Park’s words are appropriate. The shadow of the day, will embrace the world in gray…And the sun will set for you...