The strange dichotomy in the American perspective regarding the personality of Barack Obama is a mystery itself. Consider the white American voter who not only financially supported the Obama Campaign for President, but worked tirelessly carrying the message from door to door of “Change We Can Believe in”. These people stayed the course for the long drawn out primary and through the final general election. Faith does not adequately describe the dedication shown by the Obama campaign workers. So eight months later where are the dedicated members of Obama’s army? I haven’t noticed a mass exodus of millions of people from the shores of America to other lands, so they still must be here, but quietly here never-the-less. More on the Obama Army below the fold.
Let me clarify this political dichotomy for you. Obama’s attractiveness on the campaign trail was not just his speeches; it was his coolness, his unflappable professorial demeanor. He was the essence of calm assuredness that everything will be alright. This made people feel good just to be in his presence. In this relationship, these folks did not see race, they saw the wholesome interaction between people of like minded spirit, and thereby felt somehow fulfilled in this bold new mission of “change for the country”. The main campaign issues at the time were “the War in Iraq”, and “eliminating the power of lobbyists” over the government in Washington. The Third issue, health care reform was more of a personal issue for Obama than it was for those younger workers walking the campaign trail in his interest, but they used it in their talking points. Many of those in Obama’s Army had very strong emotions and expectations concerning the urgent need to prosecute and punish those involved in the “crimes of the Bush administration”.
Full achievement of the expectations desired by members of the Obama Army would require whipping Congress around to do one’s will. This would be a task that could only be done by a virtual demon-like creature literally barking and belching the hellfire of smoke and brimstone such that the mere thought of it would bring fear and trembling to each and every member of Congress. Maybe a little too much hyperbole but you get the idea. However, Barack Obama’s personality is light years away from initiating such aggression. It’s not that Barack is stuck in “cool”, that is who he is! So where are we now? Well Iraq has turned into Afghanistan, Barack is negotiating with the lobbyists over health care reform, and Barack is reluctant to “look back” at the Bush administration’s crimes. The “change we” can believe in” appears to have evaporated into the steamy vapors of August, and with it the drumbeat of Obama’s Army.
In fairness to a remarkable man, Barack Obama, I understand that he will never be the roaring politician that so many of his disappointed supporters yearn for. In order for him to meet such requirements he would definitely have to be schizophrenic, thereby confirming all the lies and crazy stuff that the wing nuts have been screaming about him.
However, from a pure political point of view, common sense tells any astute politician that you must TAKE CARE OF YOUR BASE. Political disaster waits for any President who becomes DIVIDED FROM HIS BASE. Likewise history reveals that all successful military commanders/generals maintained close relationships with their troops. Remember an army of one has never won any major battle. During the campaign those people who knew Barack have stated that he is a fast learner. Well, after eight months in office let’s hope that Barack will learn the wisdom in protecting his base before it is too late.
