Was Biden the Right Pick for Obama's VP?

In my post dated August 5, 2008, I noted that both Barack Obama and John McCain were born in the summer time, which is the "south" or emotional time of the year using the Native American Medicine Wheel. Scientific research supports the fact that people born in the summer have stronger, more resiliant nervous systems as compared to those born at other times of the year. Obama, however, rather than starting with home place on the Wheel in the emotional, seems to be using a more North (i.e. winter birth pattern) of being more thinking based. McCain, in contrast, is the "most emotional Senator in the Senate."

Obama's drop in the polls over the last few weeks has been surprising to many. Obama won the primaries by tapping into America's feelings. As I said in the earlier post, Americans have preferred to elect summer born or "emotionally" based Presidents for the last half century. Obama's shift to a more "nuanced" or intellectual approach appears to be costing him at the polls. The good news for the Democratic convention this week will be that it will be highly emotional and can perhaps turn around the current trends.

In terms of the VP spot, Joseph Biden was born in November or the "West" portion of the Native American Medicine Wheel. If Obama gets back on his message of hope and returns to a more emotional and inspiring approach, then Biden provides him with "forward" movement to the physical/knowledge part of the Wheel. Like Hillary Clinton who was also born in the West, Biden is highly experienced, very knowledgeable, and knows how to get things done.

On the other hand, if Obama continues to be based in the thinking or North part of the Wheel, then Biden can draw Obama into the the "think-do" pattern which creates poor results. This is bad enough when we do it in our own lives, but it can have profound ramifications when our country moves to this approach. (BTW, Bush's pattern is to start with the emotional, his home place on the Wheel and back into his beliefs for justification. This is the pattern he used to justify having the U.S. tak action in Iraq).

If Obama shifts back to emotion, then uses Biden's "experience" to formulate a plan, then they're back on track. Nevertheless, what seems to be missing from this equation is how they will tackle the spiritual/belief/community side of this equation. Success comes from using the emotional, physical, mental, and spirtual together. If you leave out any part of the equation, the results can be distrastroug.

Unlike the Clintons who polled constantly to monitor what the country/community was thinking on various issues, it's unclear to what extent Obama is listening to those outside his campaign. If he were listening to what the polling data said, he would have chosen a different "West" person, Hillary Clinton, for the VP spot. Fifty-six percent of the Democrats wanted her on the ticket.

Since the Democrats are having their convention during the "emotional" part of the year, look for this to be an emotionally powerful event. Since emotions are running high, don't be surprised if there are more than a few emotional outbursts. Given that America still seems to be focused on "feeling," this week should deliver plenty for everyone.

Posted by Bernice Ross, author of Going Where: Ancient Wisdom for People Today

Photo by MarcN