The Democratic Presumptive Nominee, Barack Obama, has without a doubt (and despite your political affiliation) accomplished much during his campaign for President of the United States. There are the obvious impressive accomplishments that include being the first African American nominee of a major political party and his historic fund-raising prowess through individual donations absent of lobbyist or PACs.
And, there are those often overlooked (read non-sexy) accomplishments that are truly noteworthy that include organizing a Fellows program (yes, the boss receives the credit during his watch), leveraging IT (and not just social networking sites - but IT in its holistic sense), and organizing a true 50-state campaign strategy.
Yet Barack's most impressive feat is going unnoticed. He is the first President we had by proxy. Win or lose, Barack Obama has influenced politics like no candidate perhaps in history - and in any case, for generations. He has influenced the nation's debate on foreign policy, alternative energy, education reform, and the housing crises. He is President of the United States by Proxy and is yielding influence not just with the current administration - even George H. W. Bush gives him some credit and provides some generational advice - but also in the demeanor of politics.
Republicans implement his talking points on their remaining stronghold (national security); Democrats are less conferential despite being attacked. Politicians are getting serious again about the business of being a public servant, and the political business model now practices Barack's model of grass-net root involvement. When thinking about the impact Barack has had on our politics, one thinks of the corporate American intern or invaluable assistant hidden away from view - he may not be President, but he runs the place. He may not receive the credit, but we all know who structured the deal and made it happen. That is what Barack - being young, new, a minority, and a freshman Senator - is facing. He is facing what many confront when they are the "first" or the "rarity" of an organization; an inclination (no unpublished right), by the brass to take credit for the superstar. That is what is historic about this campaign - and no one dares acknowledge it.
That is why Barack will never be able to completely reside in obscurity; he was our interim President (de facto - "go-to-guy"). But American has a choice this election - they can sit back and hope that Barack shows up to the stakeholder meeting that matters, or they can do their part in electing Barack to be the actual President of the United States. To quote another poplar political figure, Bill Clinton, "It's all on you."
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