The following article relates to the US presidential campaigns. In light of the forthcoming elections in Zambia, this could serve as a cautionary note to Zambians who will be voting on September 20, 2011.
The dirty secret of presidential campaigns is that those crafting the candidate’s public pledges are usually not those who will be in charge of policy if victorious. As a consequence, voters who take to heart promises made between now and November 6, 2012, are likely to be disappointed – even (or rather: especially) if their candidate wins.Just ask those who voted for President Obama. As a candidate, Senator Barack Obama repeatedly told Democratic primary voters that if elected he’d close the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The base is still open today.
His predecessor, George W. Bush, was no different. In 2000, as a candidate, Governor Bush repeatedly promised Jewish and evangelical audiences that: “As soon as I take office I will begin the process of moving the U.S. ambassador to the city Israel has chosen as its capital,” – Jerusalem. He didn’t do that. Instead, every six months of his eight years in the White House, he utilized a waiver allowing him to postpone the Congressionally-mandated move. The U.S. embassy is today still in Tel Aviv.
Our two most recent presidents are no different from their predecessors. Indeed a close look shows a litany of broken campaign promises stretching throughout U.S. history.
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