A Choice Between Idealism and Pragmatism

Gary Hart has an interesting article published in The Huffington Post yesterday in which he suggests that the dichotomy between Liberal and Conservative is not as important and significant in Democratic politics as is the inclination of serious voters to favor '"...either idealism or pragmatism. Overly simplified, the pragmatist says 'tell me how the system works and I'll do my best within it,' and the idealist says, 'Let's change the system.'"

Senator Hart states that Democrats often have a choice presented to them. There is the more pragmatic candidate, seasoned and experienced in national politics, and the, typically younger, idealistic less experienced candidate, willing and anxious to break with tradition and "conventional wisdom" and try new ideas and concepts.

This year, the choices are confusing and have overtones of racial and sexual prejudices. Hillary Clinton, campaigning on her experience, success in the United States Senate and patent toughness, is nonetheless burdened by the idea that many voters simply will not, in the privacy of the voting booth, choose a woman. Barack Obama has, what some consider, an unrealistic view of the world, pursuing themes of new ideas, new viewpoints and a break with a past political tradition and wisdom that was often corrupt.

Senator Obama is also burdened by bias and prejudice. It has been commented many times that the election in the primary show a substantial difference between the exit polls and the actual votes. When speaking to pollsters upon leaving the voting site, a number of people state they voted from Senator Obama but, again in the privacy of the voting booth, they chose not to vote for a Black person.

It is a commonplace to state that most people start out as young idealists. As we grow older, many people become more pragmatic, in their private lives, their workplaces and in their politics. Pragmatism has its allure. It appears to be more sophisticated and "grown-up"; one who is used to work within a structure, a system, find it easier to manipulate than to change.