Thoughts On Obama

President Kennedy was assassinated a little over a month after I was born. Crazy times, for sure.

I grew up in a home where a picture of John and his brother Robert, painted in profile, hung in the den throughout the 1960's and 70's. Thirteen Days, detailing the Cuban Missile Crisis, stared at us from a prominent position on a shelf and was one of the first books I ever read. It's still there today.

The Kennedy's were special. They were transcendent. They were ideal.

Most Americans, myself included, still buy into the Kennedy presidency and the idea of Camelot despite the knowledge that there was a large chasm between public perception and reality. I think it's important to believe. As a pessimist, I surprise myself that I look upon them with such optimism. Maybe a non-believer needs to believe in something every now and then.

Today, JFK's daughter Caroline endorsed Barack Obama for president:

"Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.

We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960."

[Read the complete article at The New York Times.]

As I have watched this presidential election, I've been torn. I first became a Barack Obama fan after his inspiring keynote address at the 2004 Democratic convention. He sounded...so...so President Clinton, a portion of whose nomination acceptance speech at the 1992 Democratic convention I transcribed and pasted on my computer at work. I read them often for inspiration.

"Tonight every one of you knows deep in your heart that we are too divided. It is time to heal America.

And so we must say to every American: Look beyond the stereotypes that blind us. We need each other - all of us - we need each other. We don’t have a person to waste, and yet for too long politicians have told the most of us that are doing all right that what’s really wrong with America is the rest of us- them.

Them, the minorities. Them, the liberals. Them, the poor. Them, the homeless. Them, the people with disabilities. Them, the gays.

We’ve gotten to where we’ve nearly them'ed ourselves to death. Them, and them, and them.

But, this is America. There is no them. There is only us.

One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

[Read President Clinton's complete New Covenant speech here.]

After Obama blew the roof off with his speech in 2004, I turned to my partner at the time and told him that Obama was going to be the first black president. But I wasn't sure it was time. I wasn't sure he was seasoned enough.

When Hillary emerged, I decided it was her turn and we'd be back to the 1990's where most things were handled to my liking. Most, I say, not all. See, I think the vaunted "triangulation" is a good thing. It seems a cynical label for the process of listening to all sides and coming up with a strategy to make everyone happy. Why that's a bad thing I'm still not sure.

Now I have a new view of the election. Trust me, I'm not egotistical enough to think that what I say here has any more weight than just another opinion. And you know what they say about opinions, they're just like assholes, everybody has one.

Well this is a blog. My blog. Where I get to say what I think.

I'm thinking that if Hillary is elected, she'd do a bang up job. No doubt she's been there, done that, and would certainly institute policies and attitudes that would be in sync with my own personal thoughts and ideas.

Then I think about eight years of Karl Rove and his politics of division. The country wasn't well served by it. In fact, is there any group that doesn't feel disenfranchised? Even evangelical Christians feel persecuted and they control all three branches of government!

And this divisiveness permeated the Clinton years in the White House. Not necessarily all their doing, but they played a part, even if it was counter punching attacks from the right. I'm not saying it's right, or fair. But that's the way it is. The right hates Bill Clinton — Hillary even more.

I just don't think I, the country, or the world, is up for four or eight more years of constant back biting. I don't think that Hillary will ever be able to overcome this, no matter how smart, how flexible, or how well she triangulates.

Is the answer Obama? I don't know. Maybe the country needs a figure that is long on ideas and speeches despite a deficit in experience.

Can he bridge the divide between Democrats and Republicans? I think he is in a unique position to do so. Not only by his skill and demeanor, but also because to attack him and his positions places the attacker in the vulnerable position of being labeled a racist. Whether the label is accurate or not, it will serve to tone down the rhetoric.

Can he bridge the divide between blacks and whites? I don't know. Is he more likely to move the country to a place where race becomes more of a non-issue? I think so.

I'm leaning towards Obama, and Caroline Kennedy captures much of what I'm feeling. Has she tapped into the American psyche?

Who knows how I'll vote in the general election because I'm not eligible to vote in any primary this year (don't ask). That's how I'm feeling now. Today. Sunday morning January 27th at 11:30. Things could change. Things will change. It's a long way to November.

Dissenting comments welcome as long as they are thoughtful and respectful.