October 23, 2008
NJ Jewish News is asking Jewish community leaders what issues they would like to hear the candidates address and what questions they want to have answered in a presidential debate. For previous installments in the “What’s at Stake” series, see www.njjewishnews.com/whatsatstake.
“What’s at Stake” will be a regular feature between now and Election Day.
Max Kleinman, executive vice president of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest New Jersey:
This election is historic in that we will witness the election of either an African-American president or a female vice president.
But our newly elected political leaders will face the most daunting challenges our country has faced since Harry Truman learned of FDR’s demise.
Stabilizing our declining economy while confronting perplexing geopolitical challenges will take leadership and an ability to rally the American people.
The question that I would ask of each of the candidates is: If elected, how would you galvanize the American people to be united in purpose to not only confront but help resolve the challenges facing our nation?
Cheryl Halpern, Republican activist, Livingston resident, and former chair of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting:
A presidential election, though often hard-fought and divisive, is a chance for the entire nation to pay attention to a common set of challenges and to hear many ideas to solve the same problems. In the current election, we have already heard much from the candidates on the critical issues of national security, America’s role in the world, the economy, health care, and other important issues.
That said, I would like the candidates to address a broader and, in many ways, more meaningful issue: What is the common story and mission of this nation? The United States has faced many challenges over its 225-plus years. We have seen that even in the space of a few months, issues that once seemed paramount (our efforts to stabilize Iraq) seem far less pressing compared to fresher challenges (the sell-off on Wall Street).
Surely what the candidates need to make clear is not just how they would deal with one specific crisis or another, but how they view America’s purpose, its character, and its mission in history. After all, if the candidates have a clear sense of America’s purpose and historical mission, they would reveal a broader philosophy about how they would choose to lead this nation, no matter the events of the day.
I suspect that a debate between the two candidates over America’s underlying character — its purpose in the world and mission in history — would be far more revealing than any argument over a specific set of policies. To be sure, candidates might initially focus on broad themes to which most Americans agree. But then, I suspect, they would inevitably have to shift to points of distinction.
For example, is America’s primary concern in foreign affairs the interests of America’s citizens or the rights and freedoms enjoyed by all humanity? Should America’s position in the global economy be one focused on promoting prosperity across borders, or on the welfare of only those living within our own? What are the rights and responsibilities of Americans, including recent immigrants? What does “economic fairness” mean and should it come at the expense of individual freedom?
Certainly such a debate would be clarifying. It would also be educational. Citizens of the United States should have a chance to vote not only for a candidate with a specific biography and set of policies. They should be able to vote for a single vision of what it means to be an American and what are America’s responsibilities in the world.
For the many Americans of widely diverse backgrounds and nationalities, such a debate would help them understand the sometimes contrasting ideals held by all Americans; they might even come to appreciate the beauty of those contrasts.
Ultimately, both candidates must not only define that mission in their own words but also explain how they would best convey that mission. How should we involve Americans more deeply in this important project? And importantly, if all Americans — regardless of their place of birth, station in life, age, faith, or ethnicity — hold a claim to that heritage, what do all Americans owe this nation in return?
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