The Importance of Obama's Presidential Bid
I've just read an article in this week's Newsweek magazine (Jan 14, 2008) entitled "Inside Obama's Dream Machine". I have done a little research about Obama and I've been both surprised and encouraged with what I have found. The Newsweek article, by Richard Wolffe was a well written, well constructed Obama primer. The most emphasized Obama trait that Wolffe shares with the reader is the fact...the absolute fact... that Obama is an honorable person. We know that he has vowed to run a clean campaign, free of the mud slinging and name calling that has become the standard in American politics. We've heard that promise before. All candidates begin their campaigns with the "I'll run a clean race" promise...they never do. By the time a candidate wins an election today, they are so dirty they fucking stink. They begin their campaign with a lie and the lies keep coming and the lies continue while the candidate is in office. Obama's staff, at least most of them, have prodded Obama to get dirty. "It's your only hope," they say. Of course these staff members are basing this assumption of the fact that ALL elections are won by mud slingers because ALL candidates have been mud slingers. This is faulty logic.
Nice guy status and running a clean campaign don't necessarily add up to be the person we want as president, but in this case, Obama offers us a young, dynamic leader, with hope and a chance at real change. Maybe his best credentials are the skeletons he doesn't have in his closet...the favors he doesn't owe and the pacts he hasn't made. Maybe his lack of Washington experience is his strong point.
He is a very skilled designer or planner. He is a hard worker and he gets things done. One can't help but compare Obama to Jimmy Carter. Carter had character and personal integrity, but he couldn't seem to get stuff done...not on a national level...not with his dealings with Congress. He was only given one term. Can Obama get stuff done? I think he can.
But here is the win, win situation for our country...race. Regardless of how Obama finishes, he has shown that America is more interested in the man than his race. He won the Iowa caucus in which most of the folks that voted for him were conservative whites. Even the Democrats in Iowa are mostly conservative. Obama even pulled 44% of the votes from Republicans who voted Democrat. This is huge. Some of Obama's friends and advisers told him that the country wasn't ready for a black candidate much less a black president. They were wrong. The country is ready for change..big change and if Obama can offer that change, and if he can deliver that change...we may just have ourselves a black president...and that will be fine with me.
a c slim
4 Comments
Reader Comments (4)
Well explained, Slim. Barack Obama is probably our last best hope to lead us out of the hole that Bush and Cheney have dug.
Our emergence (if it ever happens) will take some time and, unfortunately, there will be a necessity to deliver to our country assorted 'bad news.' I would argue that this will be when Barack’s prodigious skills as a communicator will serve us well. Communication skills amount to much more than oratorical excellence. The total package, Barack has composure and a near-mystical ability to ‘connect.’ In part, this is why he’s risen above the racial issue.
In the nick of time, here we have the arrival of a great black man on a white horse. America had best realize it as soon as possible. I say, BARACK TO THE FUTURE!
Barack is the antichrist. When something is to good to be true it probably isn't.
Rub, sir >
I appreciate your opinion, always have. But I think your description of Obama as the ‘antichrist’ may be a bit off the mark.
History records that the earliest use of the term was to describe the despotic Roman emperor Nero, who used to take particular delight in persecuting early Christians. Peter and Paul are said to have been martyred under his hand.
Obama is a public Christian and has been for many years. He’s many things but he’s not an antichrist.
I, for one, wish he were.
Dear Birdman,
I apologize as I made my statement about Obama in jest. And it was my fault, I didn't make myself clearer. But as I have know Slim for many seasons I was quite sure he would get my attempt at humor. I agree with both you gentlemen, Obama would be the best choice of the lot and unless he grows fangs and a tail, I will probably pull his lever come November.