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Seriously, we can’t wait until Obama’s inauguration speech, when our new President finally beams a ray of pure love from his heart, Care Bear-style, and everybody’s guns and knives turn into periwinkles and marshmallows.
- Sean O'Neal, The AV Club
My first thought upon reading the above quote (once I was done laughing) was that it was about time someone poked fun at the feel-good cloud that seems to surround everything Obama-related. When I first heard that some people cried tears of joy when he won the election, I rolled my eyes. But after giving it some thought, I've decided that the emotional reaction probably had less to do with Barack Obama's arrival than it had to do with George W. Bush's long-awaited exit. It must've felt like the end of an eight-year prison sentence.
But if the reason for some of those tears was indeed Mr. Obama's presumed awesomeness, I have this to say: elections have to do with merit about as much as the Academy Awards do - that is, only partially. We don't know what kind of president Obama will be aside from what he's promised. That's all we know of any politician when they run for office. And we all know that politicians' promises are all about getting elected, and often not about what actually gets done. And getting elected is all about image and emotions. I think there was a lot more to Barack Obama's victory beyond his amazingness. The following played a major part:
1) George Bush Jr. His approval ratings dropped pretty steadily from 2004 to 2008, and by then, the US basically wanted the opposite of him, not someone who looks like a Bush rerun. Not only is Obama in the opposing party, but he's also young and black. And he owes Bush a nice Thank You card.
2) He is very good at packaging himself. Senator McCain didn't have any buzzwords. Obama sold the public the idea that his name was synonymous with the words "change" and "hope", probably the two things the American public was most thirsty for, and he kind of turned himself into a star in the process. He also has a massive web presence. He even has a logo! But saying that Obama made expert use of classic political tricks in order to get elected isn't a slight against the man. You can’t win the game unless you play it. And if he does a good job as president, the end will have justified the means.
3) Sarah Palin. McCain's biggest mistake was hooking up with this dim bulb.
4) The Blacks. Historically they’ve been treated as second-class citizens, so you can’t blame them for voting for one of their own to lead the country.
5) Youthfulness. At 47, Obama is the fifth-youngest person to ever get elected US president, and he looks even younger than he is. Younger folk who don't usually vote probably felt this was finally a candidate they could relate to.
During the elections, I felt a little disconcerted at the way some Obama supporters seemed to perceive him as the second coming of Christ. Some Democrats seemed to view everything he did as good, and everything about McCain as bad – a ridiculously reductive position.
I would've voted for Obama if I was a US citizen (I don’t quite respect people who vote Republican). But don't forget that the man is just a politician working in an ancient, rigid system, and up against incredible odds. He has a HUGE mess to clean up. So get ready to be disappointed; the guy can’t perform the miracles some people seem to expect of him. I can't say I feel any optimism at this point. But – whether it be of the audacious type or not – I do have some hope.
- Sean O'Neal, The AV Club
My first thought upon reading the above quote (once I was done laughing) was that it was about time someone poked fun at the feel-good cloud that seems to surround everything Obama-related. When I first heard that some people cried tears of joy when he won the election, I rolled my eyes. But after giving it some thought, I've decided that the emotional reaction probably had less to do with Barack Obama's arrival than it had to do with George W. Bush's long-awaited exit. It must've felt like the end of an eight-year prison sentence.
But if the reason for some of those tears was indeed Mr. Obama's presumed awesomeness, I have this to say: elections have to do with merit about as much as the Academy Awards do - that is, only partially. We don't know what kind of president Obama will be aside from what he's promised. That's all we know of any politician when they run for office. And we all know that politicians' promises are all about getting elected, and often not about what actually gets done. And getting elected is all about image and emotions. I think there was a lot more to Barack Obama's victory beyond his amazingness. The following played a major part:
1) George Bush Jr. His approval ratings dropped pretty steadily from 2004 to 2008, and by then, the US basically wanted the opposite of him, not someone who looks like a Bush rerun. Not only is Obama in the opposing party, but he's also young and black. And he owes Bush a nice Thank You card.
2) He is very good at packaging himself. Senator McCain didn't have any buzzwords. Obama sold the public the idea that his name was synonymous with the words "change" and "hope", probably the two things the American public was most thirsty for, and he kind of turned himself into a star in the process. He also has a massive web presence. He even has a logo! But saying that Obama made expert use of classic political tricks in order to get elected isn't a slight against the man. You can’t win the game unless you play it. And if he does a good job as president, the end will have justified the means.
3) Sarah Palin. McCain's biggest mistake was hooking up with this dim bulb.
4) The Blacks. Historically they’ve been treated as second-class citizens, so you can’t blame them for voting for one of their own to lead the country.
5) Youthfulness. At 47, Obama is the fifth-youngest person to ever get elected US president, and he looks even younger than he is. Younger folk who don't usually vote probably felt this was finally a candidate they could relate to.
During the elections, I felt a little disconcerted at the way some Obama supporters seemed to perceive him as the second coming of Christ. Some Democrats seemed to view everything he did as good, and everything about McCain as bad – a ridiculously reductive position.
I would've voted for Obama if I was a US citizen (I don’t quite respect people who vote Republican). But don't forget that the man is just a politician working in an ancient, rigid system, and up against incredible odds. He has a HUGE mess to clean up. So get ready to be disappointed; the guy can’t perform the miracles some people seem to expect of him. I can't say I feel any optimism at this point. But – whether it be of the audacious type or not – I do have some hope.
