Organizing for America | Dr. Bob's Blog

Community Blogs

Dr. Bob's Blog

View Full Profile »

About The Author...

Dr. Bob (Denver, CO)

« Hide Full Profile

User Profile

User:

Name:

Dr. Bob is a Psychologist with unique perspectives on what makes today's politics tick.

Dr. Bob's Health Care Reform Check-up 2009

By Dr. Bob - Dec 23rd, 2009 at 10:41 pm EST

Also listed in: 5 groups

President Obama supports the current health insurance reforms in process in Congress, wholeheartedly, yet as unfinished works in progress. These bills emerged clearly as a reflection of his unending hard work, his impetus, and his inspiration, which stimulated this sea change toward a critical social justice that he and many of us have worked for much of our lives -- health care as a right, not a privilege. Everyone knows this crucial beginning is just and only that, our lifetimes may not see its end result.
Yet at the same time is seems that so many demand that President Obama hang a "Mission Accomplished" sign on this. Didn't we learn from that? Sure, we all could have demanded a single payer or robust public option right n ow for health care, just the way we like it. That would have been great, but impossible by any reasonable political standard in the Senate or House, like it or not. But on the other hand, whatever happened to the perspective that, "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Did we not show extreme patience when we were all on that "marathon road to victory" to the White House starting in the early primaries? Well, health care reform is another journey, another marathon, that we are all on with Barack Obama. A longer and more strenuous one, certainly, than the campaign, not to mention a one that past generations have died lining up just trying to begin. We, ourselves, might just be lucky enough to actually get the journey started and even to get in a few good miles along the road.
And in this health care reform battle, when it comes to the man we all worked so diligently to help elect, let's not lose perspective. Barack Obama is to be admired for the many significant and historical steps he has taken in his very young and burdened presidency. The uphill path of compromise, with its jeering detractors and demanding constituents takes a man of true mettle. Those who have accused him of taking the easy route have it backwards. It's the timid and unsure who quickly find only the applause lines to appease the cheering crowds of fans on the sidelines, and ignore the realities when they must be addressed. No one rallies to the cry of "compromise ahead!" Barack Obama warned us early on that to get to the real change that we really want we just might have to take the hard road. Well here it is, compromise and all. And it's not all lined with cheering crowds.
President Obama has the bravery to take this hard road to reach health care reform when it is now the only road we have beneath us, because the time is now to begin, and we may not get another time reasonably soon. Let's have the courage, maturity, and patience to walk this hard road with him.
YES WE CAN!

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

An Endorsement: Jared Polis For Congress

By Dr. Bob - Aug 1st, 2008 at 6:18 pm EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

An Endorsement from Dr. Bob Vitaletti
I first became familiar with Jared Polis when I marched beside the group he sponsored at the AIDS Walk Colorado in September 2007. I was with less than a handful of Obama supporters and the Obama banner that we held high and silently, as we walked the long march to honor those who had passed, and to hope for those who still struggle with HIV. And of course to donate our funds along with our time. I stood back and watched and wondered as I discovered that this youthful community leader, Jared Polis, whom I had heard of from others for a few years now, was running for congress.
Much time and many events passed and one day in April 2008 I received a request on a MyBO group I administer, Obama Precinct Captains Colorado, for a new member, it was Jared. Soon afterwards another request, to be my "friend" on my MyBO web page along with an unambiguous, (and at that time for a candidate in a primary contest, a somewhat courageous), endorsement of Barack Obama for President of the United States, from Jared. I accepted his request, corresponded a bit, and since then we have shared only a few emails, hello's and fleeting conversations at various Obama events.
These things not only impressed me in a way that brought me to respect and remember Jared, but also were an excellent example of Jared's courage to take the lead early on difficult issues. These simple actions also displayed his fortitude which any representative in congress needs not just to support safe or popular political positions, but to advocate for real people. They stand as examples of something I have heard a great deal about him since, which is his generosity in helping others, quietly, meant only to bring benefit to those who need the help and not to just bring publicity to himself. This reflects compassion as an individual, and genuineness as a new type of leader, and certainly, not as a typical politician. His refusal to take PAC money, and his often behind the scenes assistance to many non-profit organizations, such as the well respected Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, speaks to his sincerity of motives in serving the community in which he lives.
Politically, Jared has maintained a very positive approach as is reflected on his website, http://www.polisforcongress.com/ which I suggest that you review closely, and even compare to that of his major opponent. It can be seen clearly here that Jared Polis has resisted the negative campaign style of old-time politicians, and refused to engage in the ugly, yet all too familiar, politics of personal destruction. I have learned that Jared Polis is a man and candidate of great integrity.
Finally, (and certainly not least), in being an openly gay man, as I am, I know that Jared understands the struggle of equality under the law from the inside out, and often on the outside, in his public positions, he has had to have the guts to back it up. His depth of understanding of the need for equal rights and fair treatment in our society for all goes to the bone.
Given all of this, along with his resume of impressive public experience and insightful perspectives on issues vital to the residents of Colorado, from real family values for good education to his long-standing commitment to protect our environment, and a quick end to the war in Iraq, I, unsolicited and without permission, offer my rock solid and wholehearted endorsement to Jared Polis for United States Congress. Thank you. Dr. Bob Vitaletti
This endorsement is solely my own as an individual and does not imply an endorsement by any MyBO group or group members, or the Barack Obama Campaign.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Veritas

By Dr. Bob - Aug 6th, 2007 at 11:41 am EDT

Also listed in: Coloradans for Obama | GLBT Colorado for Obama | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Voters for Barack Obama

"Veritas" Another Latin word. It means truth. And this time the intellectual writers, joined by quite a few arrogant politicians trying to sound smart, essentially say that Barack Obama has too much of this one. Go figure.

If there is any one quality which stands out as unique in Obama it is his ability to hone in on and commmunicate to any subgroup of people the truths they need to hear as opposed to the platitudes they want to hear. There have been countless examples of this on many levels seen in his campaign statements thus far. He has exhorted dads to be real fathers, mothers and fathers to be real parents, rap singers to be real, period. The guy tells it like it is, as it should be heard, the truth.

Recently the most powerful and critical examples of Barack's knack at this veritas thing have emerged. His cloud-busting, myth-shattering, guess what-there's-a man-behind-the curtain statements on matters of American foreign policy. Specifically, his statements on Peace, Security and Strength, areas in which he has extensive knowledge and proven vision, given his statements and predictions about the Iraq war before it was authorized, as we all know. Now he has offered to meet with our adversaries to get at the truth, pursue our sworn enemies once we know the truth, and when discussing the world's most lethal weapons, just tell the truth.

The reaction: What? How could He? Doesn't he know the rules? Sure it's true, the politicians moan, but you just don't say it. Huh? Well this guy does. As ears are covered, mouths blocked and eyes hidden, cries of "irresponsible," "confused" even "embryonic" emerge from muffled shouts trying to drown out this veritas. His opponents suggest he has "poor judgement" implying a deficit of IQ, then throw in "naive" as if he were not an extremely well-informed man, but instead, merely a boy. If he knew better, he wouldn't dare say such things, this lower IQ boy. Unfortunately prejudice does not have to be conscious to be real.

Despite all of this, Barack Obama, the new brown-faced kid on the block, continues to speak up and with a whole lot of veritas lately, despite the not so pure or subtle patronizing suggestions from entrenched power brokers to hush up, remember his place, and get back to it right away. And unlike the good little wide-eyed and wide-smiled Washington neophyte, the simply TV cute boy they want him to be, he is not about to be just seen and just heard when and where he's put. Barack Obama does know his place, and someone else is standing in it, she had better get out of the way.

Barack Obama has made it clear that there are too many problems to be solved in too little time, with too few opportunities and resources to squander by simply sticking to the same old club house rules out of fear of change. People know this is true in their heads, hearts, and guts, and will rally around the changes when they hear them, which is why his opponents so desperately seek to distort the message and disparage the messenger. The traditional methods of Washington DC insiders and lobbyists, operating by obscuring the truth to gain the upper hand as if playing some low-bet high-machismo poker game, have made quite a mess of things. Besides, Barack Obama simply does not operate that way. "Veritas" is the motto of Harvard University, his alma mater. Truth has set him free, and I think he knows it's the only way to liberate us too.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Gravitas

By Dr. Bob - Mar 2nd, 2007 at 2:08 am EST

"Gravitas" it's a Latin word. A lot of intellectual writers tryng to sound smart like to use it. Recently a few have used it to say that Barack doesn't have it. On the surface that's probably a good thing because it sounds like something that might make a person itch. Below the surface however it's really a nasty thing to say that someone doesn't have it, especially someone running for President. Essentially it means "weight" as in gravity, authority, seriousness, importance, something that has an impact, substantial, heavy. As we used to say in the 70's about things that really impressed us, "That's heavy man." So, in so many words, the opinion among many of the all-knowing political pundits out there is that Barack is a light-weight who could never get elected. They wish. What so many who have read and written too much, and who have read too much of what they themselves have written don't get, is the EMOTIONAL impact, weight, heaviness, that Obama carries. It's this kind of weight that gives a person the authority to be a leader. What gives a leader more imact? Is it that he has been in 10 prior elections, survived scandalous attacks, given speaches during a terrorist attack, or, let's forbid wounded in war? Or is it the ability to convey in clear language that he understands the effects of all the old politics on peoples' everday lives and wants to change that? Or the ability to bring people together speaking to their commonality, not their differences. I for one don't think a leader needs to have scars to have the wisdom lead. In fact I would be relieved to know that my president would not have the trauma that inevitably comes along with such battle marks. So this "gravitas", does Barack have it or not? Well next time I hear him speak I'll check the size of the goose bumps on my arms and let you know.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (1) | Report Objectionable Content

Posts

Content on blogs in My.BarackObama represents the opinions of community members and in no way should be interpreted as endorsed or approved by the campaign.