Steve Brauntuch: A leadership gap that leaves the Democrats defenseless

Back in high school, when we filled out college applications, we were always told to highlight our leadership experience. Leadership, it seemed, was a crucial factor for admissions officers in selecting their incoming classes. That's why many of us ran for class office and took active roles in clubs that we didn't even care about.

In every high school class, though, there were a handful of students who sought out extra responsibility without the nudging of a parent or guidance counselor. For these few students, it went beyond the glory and the transcript -- they had the inclination from within to step up and take charge. It helped them get into schools like Penn, and it will undoubtedly continue to carry them throughout their lives.

I bring this up because earlier this week, we saw two examples of groups operating without true leaders. One failed, and the other is almost certain to fail later this year. And while there are few similarities between the two situations, it seems that in both cases, the presence of natural born leaders could have changed the outcome.

During the second quarter of Sunday's NFC Championship game, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was hit late and from behind by Carolina Panthers linebacker Greg Favors on a broken play. McNabb immediately began clutching his stomach, but after spending a few seconds on the ground, he got up and walked off to the sidelines. It was unclear how serious McNabb's injury was at the time, but he came right back in and later began the second half on the field as well.

Apparently, though, the separated cartilage in his ribcage became worse as the game progressed, and McNabb came out of the game for good in the fourth quarter with his team trailing 14-3. From the sidelines, he watched his backup, Koy Detmer, cost his team a chance to get back in the game by throwing an interception on the Panthers' five-yard line. This could have been a career-defining game for Donovan McNabb. Instead, the Eagles are NFC bridesmaids for the third straight year.

Now, I have never separated cartilage in my ribcage, though I imagine it is a painful injury. And the injury clearly did affect McNabb's throwing ability, as he threw three interceptions and completed only 10 of 22 passes.

But in a sport where playing through injury is a sign of character and greatness, McNabb's absence on Sunday has to make you question his leadership ability. Last week, playing with a torn calf muscle and 25 other injuries, Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair limped all the way down the field and brought his team back to within one dropped pass of overtime in frigid New England. The Titans lost, but McNair proved that he is a natural leader. No matter what his condition, the Eagles needed Donovan McNabb on the field on Sunday night. He didn't answer the call. He might not have brought them back to win the game, but a real leader would at least have tried.

While the Eagles suffered from the absence of their leader, halfway across the country, the Democratic Party was struggling to find someone -- anyone -- who even resembled a presidential figure. Going into Monday's caucus in Iowa, a handful of no-name candidates were fighting each other for the right to blindly march into the blowout that will undoubtedly be the 2004 presidential election. Despite John Kerry's victory, there are still four or five indistinguishable politicians vying for the party's nomination, and there remains no clear favorite.

Democratic voters are desperately looking for a true leader, someone to become the face of the party and instill confidence in its members. But they can't seem to find one. None of the candidates look or sound like viable presidential nominees. The person who is polling with the highest numbers -- Hillary Clinton -- isn't even running. In the absence of leadership, the Democratic Party has become a national joke.

Democrats want a candidate with charisma, someone who can inspire the masses and rally the troops. They want a Roosevelt, a Kennedy or even a Clinton. Instead, they are forced to choose from a grab bag of politicians who can't even appear charismatic when they go on The Tonight Show. It makes you wonder whether these candidates are in the race because they have an innate desire to be there or because their guidance counselors told them it would be a good idea.

In times of crisis or conflict, people always look for one voice to lead the way. Donovan McNabb normally provides that voice for the Eagles, but on Sunday, he didn't want the job. And judging from the lackluster Iowa caucus on Monday, the Democratic Party can't find anyone with a voice loud enough to draw a crowd. I'm beginning to understand why colleges put such a high premium on leadership skills in selecting their incoming classes. I bet Eagles fans and Democrats are starting to understand, too.

Steve Brauntuch is a senior communications major from Tenafly, N.J., and former editorial page editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian. Statler and Waldorf appears on Wednesdays..

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.