POTUS No. 2
"There's A Storm Coming"
For the past six weeks or so, I've noticed a strange tonality in the voices of the political pundits, elected Democrats and talk show hosts regarding the Democratic National Convention and whether or not Hillary Clinton can still receive her party's nomination for the Presidential General Election. It's a cautious, disbelieving tone they all speak with, but one genuine enough to be taken seriously. The inquiries come in various forms, but ultimately, they all ask the same fundamental question - If Barack Obama gets to the convention with more wins, more delegates, more states and a greater percentage of the general population, can Hillary still walk away from Denver as the Democratic nominee for President? Incredibly, the answer I continue to hear, is Yes.
Forget what you know of race relations in our country. Forget everything you've heard from Reverend Jeremiah Wright over the past month. Forget about everything you know of Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. If Barack Obama goes to the Democratic National Convention in Denver with more wins, more delegates, more states and a greater percentage of vote from the general population, and doesn't get his parties nomination, it's gonna make the OJ Simpson trial and the Rodney King riots look like a tea party.
From the beginning of his ascent into National politics, everyone has wanted to make Barack Obama's race a big deal. Everyone it seems, except him. He genuinely says he wants to unite our country. Not divide it. He wants hope for all people. Not just those with the same skin color or background that he has. And while I do think being black, or even half black, helps give him his identity, helps frame him dreams and vision for this country, helps him connect with a part of the electorate that may have felt forgotten or left out, I do not believe in his eyes, it is what defines him. Even though, should he win in November, the headlines will read "America elects first Black President."
I am not a supporter of Barack Obama. I think at heart he's a very good man, an incredible speaker and has navigated the trevails that come with 24/7 press coverage pretty well. Ultimately, we have very different ideas about what's most important for America and how those ideas should be paid for. In the end, I don't think he has the experience we need to best deal with the issues staring us down right now, but that has everything to do with ideology and not one iota to do with pigmentation. Unfortunately for Barack, that's not the case even within his own camp.
This past week, Obama distanced himself from his pastor of 20 years because of the offensive remarks Reverend Wright made regarding America and its goverment. It's one thing to say the American government created AIDS to wipe out minority communities when you're talking to a congregation of 42. It's quite another to spout that kind of incendiary rhetoric when your pulpit is CNN.
Sadly, it shouldn't come as any shock that Jeremiah Wright would say these types of things, or torpedo Obama's campaign whether intentionally or not. For men like Jeremiah Wright, there is no glory in reconciliation. There is no redemption in equality. No money in the cure. As long as racism exists, he has a voice, even if it's his voice that's propogating it. Even Michelle Obama has an anger and grudge to her voice that can't be ignored.
Barack Obama, while acknowledging the past transgressions of slavery, racial inequality and civil violation, has stood up with a resounding voice, an articulate voice, a reasonable, righteous, hopeful voice that just happens to be coming from an African-American face, and has said let's move past the actions of the 1860s. Let's navigate our way beyond the segregation of the 1960s and together, let's find a better way. Not just for blacks. Or Mexicans. Or Asians. Or whoever. Let's find a better way for all people. For all Americans. It's a compelling ideal. One that very well may take him all the way to the White House.
As I said, while I have the utmost respect for Senator Obama, he's not my guy. Ultimately, I think he would give John McCain a much tougher race in November than would Hillary Clinton. That remains to be seen. My only hope for Mr. Obama, and frankly for our country, is that when all votes have been cast and all the voices have been heard, the Democratic party affords him the chance to represent his party and put the vote to the people.
He's earned it.
"There's A Storm Coming"
For the past six weeks or so, I've noticed a strange tonality in the voices of the political pundits, elected Democrats and talk show hosts regarding the Democratic National Convention and whether or not Hillary Clinton can still receive her party's nomination for the Presidential General Election. It's a cautious, disbelieving tone they all speak with, but one genuine enough to be taken seriously. The inquiries come in various forms, but ultimately, they all ask the same fundamental question - If Barack Obama gets to the convention with more wins, more delegates, more states and a greater percentage of the general population, can Hillary still walk away from Denver as the Democratic nominee for President? Incredibly, the answer I continue to hear, is Yes.
Forget what you know of race relations in our country. Forget everything you've heard from Reverend Jeremiah Wright over the past month. Forget about everything you know of Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. If Barack Obama goes to the Democratic National Convention in Denver with more wins, more delegates, more states and a greater percentage of vote from the general population, and doesn't get his parties nomination, it's gonna make the OJ Simpson trial and the Rodney King riots look like a tea party.
From the beginning of his ascent into National politics, everyone has wanted to make Barack Obama's race a big deal. Everyone it seems, except him. He genuinely says he wants to unite our country. Not divide it. He wants hope for all people. Not just those with the same skin color or background that he has. And while I do think being black, or even half black, helps give him his identity, helps frame him dreams and vision for this country, helps him connect with a part of the electorate that may have felt forgotten or left out, I do not believe in his eyes, it is what defines him. Even though, should he win in November, the headlines will read "America elects first Black President."
I am not a supporter of Barack Obama. I think at heart he's a very good man, an incredible speaker and has navigated the trevails that come with 24/7 press coverage pretty well. Ultimately, we have very different ideas about what's most important for America and how those ideas should be paid for. In the end, I don't think he has the experience we need to best deal with the issues staring us down right now, but that has everything to do with ideology and not one iota to do with pigmentation. Unfortunately for Barack, that's not the case even within his own camp.
This past week, Obama distanced himself from his pastor of 20 years because of the offensive remarks Reverend Wright made regarding America and its goverment. It's one thing to say the American government created AIDS to wipe out minority communities when you're talking to a congregation of 42. It's quite another to spout that kind of incendiary rhetoric when your pulpit is CNN.
Sadly, it shouldn't come as any shock that Jeremiah Wright would say these types of things, or torpedo Obama's campaign whether intentionally or not. For men like Jeremiah Wright, there is no glory in reconciliation. There is no redemption in equality. No money in the cure. As long as racism exists, he has a voice, even if it's his voice that's propogating it. Even Michelle Obama has an anger and grudge to her voice that can't be ignored.
Barack Obama, while acknowledging the past transgressions of slavery, racial inequality and civil violation, has stood up with a resounding voice, an articulate voice, a reasonable, righteous, hopeful voice that just happens to be coming from an African-American face, and has said let's move past the actions of the 1860s. Let's navigate our way beyond the segregation of the 1960s and together, let's find a better way. Not just for blacks. Or Mexicans. Or Asians. Or whoever. Let's find a better way for all people. For all Americans. It's a compelling ideal. One that very well may take him all the way to the White House.
As I said, while I have the utmost respect for Senator Obama, he's not my guy. Ultimately, I think he would give John McCain a much tougher race in November than would Hillary Clinton. That remains to be seen. My only hope for Mr. Obama, and frankly for our country, is that when all votes have been cast and all the voices have been heard, the Democratic party affords him the chance to represent his party and put the vote to the people.
He's earned it.
posted by Michael Tuggle at 8:35 PM
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