One thing that we know about you, Mr. Barack Obama, as you enter your second phase of seeking the White House: You want to elevate the conversation. But you don't seem to understand that on the surface - the media and some people (let's just say us) just don't want to follow. Having closely observed you for over a year, you have been consistent in your quest for a new kind of politics (you even wrote a book about it) that focuses on the issues that matter to hard working, every-day Americans - let's just say 90% of all Americans (even those of us that may think we are in the 1% of the upper-income spectrum, but really are the other 9% - so that percentage mentioned is conservative). You have a standard and consistent way of answering "hot-button" topics that steer back to the economy, energy, the war, and health care.
Sad to say that the media (and us) want just the opposite. We want to hear about the role of race. The media wants to get insight on the perceived feistiness of Michelle. Newspapers and Internet (right, center, and left) want to know just how the kids are being raised. Cable news is counting the number of white males and females that are sitting behind you at your rallies and town halls. We are all trying to figure out why the good people from PA should be bitter?!
The media doesn't want to talk about the long and short term proposal that you have on energy. We could care less about how your health care plan is structured. The economy?! Please. We have other things that need coverage: Just how will Paris Hilton respond to the McCain ad? Would Paris make a great president? Why do you hold your head high when answering a question? Are you arrogant? No, here is our favorite. Why are you having polling problems in the middle of August?! As if we (the collective we) cannot answer the obvious. Please!
What do you do, Mr. Obama? You answer media questions with integrity saying stuff like this: 'I don't think the back-and-forth between Paris Hilton and John McCain is what the American people are thinking about'- or words to that effect. How dare you try to make us think what's at stake. Can't you see we want it easy and dumb-ed-down-ed to the "sexy" issues that make us forget our problems? You know issues like the price of gas at the pump or the fact that military veterans cannot receive adequate and timely medical treatment?
No - we much rather hear just who cuts your hair and can he cut all types of hair or just African American hair? We would like to see Michelle "bob and weave" her head when she talks despite the fact she doesn't "bob and weave" her head, but rather is an extremely intelligent, poised, and professional lady - and is a great woman in her own right. We don't care about your strategy for having the big oil companies utilize their standard leases before drilling in other areas. We don't care that you plan to pay for the $1,000.00 tax credit for middle class families by rolling back the Bush tax cuts. And we could care less about your plan to tax windfall profits on these same oil companies, so that pays for alternative energy sources, and provides working-middle class families some short term relief through stimulus checks (I believe your coined it as relief).
But wait - you have a plan. You seem to realize that not all strategies will see an immediate impact - even the strategy of having an intelligent political debate - is that what you be guys call a communications strategy? I mean after all, you have been talking about a timetable for Iraq withdrawal for almost two years and even broached this topic in your book (something about having some audacity - but who remembers) - you know the chapter that discussed the world beyond our boarders. We forgot how you influenced decisions and our political debate by our sitting President and your opponent's campaign in just the last eight weeks. Only because we were to busy worrying about what's going on with you and Hillary Clinton. What did you and Bill really talk about on the phone?
It's amazing that you give us the opportunity to discuss real issues without beating us over the head! Why do you take such an approach? Why do you give us the benefit of the doubt knowing we have attention spans of two minutes on a good day?
I figure it's because you know we will pay attention to what matters one day. You know it may not even happen in this election cycle. I think you also expect us to see that there is only such much that you can influence; some of this pain will have to be felt - we can choose the method. I think you are trying to show leadership by example - isn't that what it is called - without stating that you are showing leadership by example.
You are giving us an opportunity to see why you love America so much. You know that we will eventually get it. It's just a matter of when!
Thanks Senator Obama for being the leader that you are. Now what is the name of those two books that lie about you and are bestsellers? We can't wait to read them.
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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