It’s not just Obama’s oratory, it’s his auditory!
Very few Americans will dispute that Lincoln was among the greatest of American presidents. Republicans brag that Lincoln was a Republican. Progressives brag that Lincoln was a progressive. A lot of the credit for the historical status of Lincoln is attributed to his oratorical genius. Lincoln is remembered as a wordsmith.Lincoln was not great, though, for his eloquence alone. In fact, some argue that Lincoln was an inferior debater. (Sufjan Stevens sings, “Steven A. Douglas was a great debater, but Abraham Lincoln was the Great Emancipator.”) No, Lincoln was great, in large part, because of his ability to listen. Lincoln raised eyebrows in his day for filling out his presidential cabinet with naysayers and dissenters, people who often disagreed with him and made it known. Because Lincoln always submitted his convictions to rational consideration and was open to persuasion, he was a tremendously successful president. It was this willingness to hear differing opinions—Lincoln’s great faith in vigorous debate—that made him brilliant, gave him the power to pursue progressive policies, and made him respected by even his opponents.In this presidential primary, many Democrats are looking for a candidate who can credibly take up the mantle of President John F. Kennedy, who inspired with his charm, who convinced with his charisma, who succinctly articulated the Democratic philosophy of civic republicanism: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” In a similar way, Republicans are longing for Zombie Ronald Reagan. Republicans still fondly hallucinate that Reagan single-handedly tore down the Berlin Wall and defeated the Evil Empire, and Republicans would have liked nothing more than for Reagan’s corpse to rise from the grave on Easter Sunday 2007 and announce his candidacy for Republican Messiah.Ridicule aside, Democrats can and must learn a lesson from Ronald Reagan. Even the most loyal and partisan of Democrats are waxing nostalgic for Reagan these days. After all, he was a president who could at least pretend to be a good listener. Those who were drinking the Cool-Aide nicknamed Reagan “The Great Communicator.” Lest we forget, a lot of Democrats drank the “Reagan Revolution” Cool-Aide too. Republicans call them Reagan Democrats.The take-home lesson is that a candidate with big ears is more likely to win independent (swing) voters, a candidate with big ears is more likely to enjoy popular support during his or her presidency, a candidate with big ears is more likely to be recalled with affection posthumously, and—most importantly—a candidate with big ears is more likely to make sound, informed, reasoned, respectable, sustainable policy decisions!
“Why Barack Obama Should be the Next President?” His big ears!
Barack Obama has intimated to the press that he is sensitive about the size of his ears, and pundits on the right, like sharks smelling diffuse particles of blood in the water, naturally seize upon his insecurity to ridicule him.I say, allow the crazy conservative talking heads nickname Obama “Barack Hussein Odumbo!” Every single time they do, Obama supporters can and should respond by reminding people: what a good thing it will be to finally have a president with ears—a president who will actually listen! If we do our job effectively, whenever they say “Odumbo,” they will just remind voters that Obama will be “The Great Listener.”Barack Obama has the potential to be a great American president. Imagine President Obama inspiring Americans with hope and optimism, instead of terrorizing the masses with orange alerts. Revolutionary. The audacity of audition!
The next addition: Obamraham Lincoln?
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