March 7, 2008.
Dear Mr. Obama:
As you near the end of the primary season, it would do you well to rethink whether you really want to be President. The price, for either success or failure, is enormous.
Just consider what a toll that it took not only from the losers, but also from the winners. The losers (not in any special order) include: Dukakis, Gore; Perot; Nader; Kerry and going back further, Gary Hart.
When it comes to reputation, look at Nixon, Johnson, Carter and Bill. Not one, based on his Presidency, has much left. Consider as well, the children. Amy Carter, Chelsea Clinton and what they have had to put up with.
When you started your journey, you seemed like a pretty nice forty six year old man. As the campaign continued you have changed along with the theme of your campaign. I know what a grueling challenge a campaign can be and no one ends the same idealistic person who threw his hat into the ring.
Assume that you win. The split in the electorate will still be 50-50. Heaven only knows what the makeup of the Congress will be. The hurts and the scars of the campaign will not quickly disappear. And you will commit yourself and your family to the exposure to the security risks that go with the Office. Also take a look at what eight years did to W.
If you lose. You will probably continue to chase the job and waste four or eight more years doing it or even become the new Harold Stassen.
Now I ask Why?
I have been around too long to accept the mouthed niceties of you and your opponents about vision and saving the country. This is verbiage for the campaign trail which is common to all candidates.
So I end this imaginary letter by suggesting that you might want to go into a dark room and have a long conversation with yourself. Every young person should feel that the Office is attainable, but like everything else in life there is a price tag attached. You may very well decide that no price is too high. I only hope that that is your judgment in twenty years.