One will hear all kinds of reasons as to why Barack Obama achieved a seemingly impossible American dream: the first African American in place for the White House. There will be many people with numerous bits of 'evidence' as to why he is now the nominee over Hillary Clinton, who was the heir apparent up until October last year. There will also be countless words, specially from people who were against him but who will lay claim to have seen this victory all along, spewing all over the Internet and print media in tributes or blame. Get ready for the onslaught as the analysis begins.
However, I am not an American, which is perhaps why I do not view life in an American perspective. It means I am not befuddled by the usual fears and anxieties that might beset the average American voter. I am far enough away from the action, well across the Pond, to see what others who are closer often miss, and not affected by the negativity or euphoria that might have surrounded Obama. In such a position, one might miss some details, but one is then privy to an extraordinary panoramic view that one is often denied when one is too close to events.
I have been mesmerised by Barack Obama since I heard him speak for the first time at a convention, but my four reasons have very little to do with what you might hear from everyone else, especially those who are supposed to be the 'experts' on such matters. I am speaking from the ordinary voters' perspective, one who has watched a powerful force worm his way into our consciousness, and four things stood out about him from the time he began his campaign:
1. His leadership skills. Barack Obama ran a very tight ship in every way: financially, professionally and politically. It is fine to aspire to the greatest office in the land, and to say how you are the best candidate for the job, how you would be ready 'from Day One', but it is not words that demonstrate one's readiness. It is deeds, starting from the smallest acorn which turns into big oak trees. Barack managed his little acorn in a magnificent way which gives a powerful pointer to how he would manage the bigger oak tree. He did not wait to get into the White House to prove himself. As all good leaders do, they prove themselves in everything they do, no matter how small and insignificant, especially in the way they treat every person, whether high or low, and in the way they conduct their own affairs. That is what projected Obama head and shoulders above Clinton: the way he managed himself before he dared to try to manage his country or the world.
2. His brilliant team. David Axelrod needs a medal. What a team he ran for Barack and what a guy he is. By remaining firmly in the background, yet being the obvious powerhouse along the way, he reminds me of the quintessential Englishman, with stiff upper-lip and discrete presence. His new title should really be: David Axelrod, Kingmaker. He can write his own money now, thanks to the majestic way he turned Barack Obama, from a Senator with great potential to a president in waiting. The transformation is so subtle as to be taken for granted. But what a manager to have on your side. No histrionics, no drama, no upstaging. Just plain old loyalty, sincerity and fervent belief in his candidate. His team worked their guts out to keep him there, especially with crises. They say you can really tell a person's character by the way they cope with a crisis and Barack's team knows how to handle crises, how to get their man back on form and with minimum fuss and bother. With such a team in attendance in the White House, one feels a little bit more secure, because it will be in great hands.
3. His unwavering faith. 'Yes, we can' tells far more about Barack Obama and his nomination victory than everything else about him. It is indicative of his belief in himself, his team and his voters. As a newcomer, to be able to galvanise the youth of America, the disaffected older voters, and even women voters to turn out to vote is a feat that can be easily underestimated, but it is an incredible achievement. To inspire in such a way that others begin to believe you too, to be motivated enough to spread the word and play the pied piper to millions more is awesome. It also shows the power of the man himself to inspire, to lead and to give life to the most impossible of dreams: getting to the White House.
4. Finally, his determination and courage. There were times when Barack Obama must have felt at rock bottom, especially with the Jeremiah Wright debacle, but he never flinched from taking action; never shirked what he had to do and never let it overwhelm him. No matter what they threw at him, he parried it with gentlemanly, professional aplomb and statesmanship. He never sunk to the levels of his opponents and kept his head well above the fray. Most important, he never lost sight of his goal: to win the nomination, and he kept that determination in place even when he had not a hope in hell of winning certain States.
Barack Obama, by his amazing historical nomination would have inspired and uplifted an awful lot of people across America today. As one woman puts it: People forget that 50 years ago Black people could not even vote. Now we have one in line for president. That is some achievement which can be easily overlooked by those who have not been involved in the struggle for parity. Obama is a true inspirational leader who deserves that chance to show what he can do. I pray, along with many other Americans yearning for change, that he will be given the opportunity to demonstrate it.
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