not in the presidency. At least, not in 2009.
I have nowhere near the expertise of exposure and investigation that journalists such as David Sirota have as a researcher into the political philosophy and ability of Sen. Obama. I have only heard him speak once regarding his book, The Audacity of Hope, and my impression is that he is a sincere man, intelligent, educated, and articulate, and who is, like everyone, formed in adulthood by his childhood.
That may be a childhood that he tends to obssess about, and it may be a childhood that excessively informs the political adult at the moment. Tempering in the US Senate will do him no harm.
“Black America” is a concept he rejects, but it is not one that is rejected by a vocal and considerable number of African-Americans who reserve the special definition to apply only to those descended from slaves shipped to this country from (largely) West Africa two and three hundred years ago. By their definition, Obama is certainly African-American, but not Black. How much of a political conundrum that presents to them in qualifying him as a good candidate who understands “their issues” is still unknown.
He is, by inclination or personality, a consensus builder. In my opinion, the country has been misshaped to almost unrecognizable by the current regime, that building a consensus with any of it adherents is not something I’m interested in seeing any future president do. His published foreign policy ideas are fuzzy, and he has no real international policy exposure, much less experience.
This is a problem beyond his own “greenness” since he has few if any experienced advisors in this area that I am aware of. Consequently, if he were elected president, I question his readiness to appoint (or even know) well-qualified cabinet members, such as Sec’y. of State. At this juncture, we most require a president well versed in international diplomacy and well accoutered with expert help.
There is no argument that Sen. Obama is not personable, charismatic, and a superb public speaker, a “common man,” and a rising star in the Democratic Party. But he is no bold challenger to the status quo — yet. And he is still a tyro in the areas where this country needs a pro.
I’m waiting to see if he will morph from acknowledged liberal to true Progressive, if he will become a man of the (Democratic Party) machine, or find definition as a grass/netroots populist. A self-proclaimed anti-Iraq War politician from the beginning, he took down his 2002 antiwar rally speech from his website. The one that earned him the reputation of which he boasts. I detect a mixed signal from someone who is politically unsure of himself. Nor is he leading any anti-war charge in the Senate*[SEE UPDATE BELOW] for all his perceived (by some) anti-war stance.
UPDATE: The Obama/Murphy/Thompson Iraq War De-Escalation Act
The binding legislation ends President Bush’s escalation by capping the number of troops at January 10, 2007 levels, puts forward specific benchmarks for success in Iraq and establishes a timeline to redeploy our troops. Redeployment, according to the bill, would begin no later than May 1, 2007, with the goal of all combat brigades redeployed by March 31, 2008 – a date consistent with the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. Troops would be sent either home to their families in the U.S., to Afghanistan where more troops are needed to fight the war on terror or would remain in the region to train Iraqis, protect against more violence and perform counterterrorist activities. The Iraq War De-Escalation Act will refocus the efforts of American armed forces on Afghanistan and the hunt for Osama bin Laden and urges the president to send, within 60 days, a Special Envoy to Iraq to begin the important work of diplomacy with key nations in the region. Obama Offers Plan to Stop Escalation of Iraq War, Begin Phased Redeployment of Troops
So, I reject the position of those who would characterize him as the “anti-war candidate” when compared to Hillary Clinton.
Obviously, I wish him to remain a US Senator where his outstanding oratorical skills are best showcased for the time being, accrue experience, and develop his domestic and foreign policy credentials for a few years. And show some leadership in that office before expecting me to trust his ability to lead as president.
