The 2008 Race for President and the Search for Our Better Selves
Watching yesterday's Obama rally in Los Angeles featuring Oprah, Caroline Kennedy, Maria Shriver, and Michelle Obama, I was struck by a point that both Michelle Obama and Maria Shriver made but that is rarely discussed during a presidential campaign: the importance of having someone in the Oval Office who can inspire us to tap into the better angels of our nature -- who can stir people to expect more of themselves than they otherwise would.
"The thing I like the best" about Obama, said Shriver, is that "he's not about himself. He's about us... He's about the power of what we can do if we come together." And she quoted from a Hopi Indian prayer: "We are the ones we have been waiting for."
Michelle Obama made a similar point, adding that this "it's about us" dynamic would require all of us to up our game. "[Barack] is ready," she said. "The question is, what are we ready for?... Barack Obama will require that you work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism; that you put down your division; that you come out of your isolation; that you move out of your comfort zones; that you push yourself to be better; and that you engage."
This call echoed something that historian and presidential biographer David McCullough had once said about JFK. "The great thing about Kennedy," he told me, "is that he didn't say I'm going to make it easier for you. He said it's going to be harder. And he wasn't pandering to the less noble side of human nature. He was calling on us to give our best."
I'd interviewed McCullough back in 1999, along with a variety of other political observers, for a column I was doing on the 2000 race and what Americans were looking for in a president.
The consensus opinion, one that crossed party and ideological lines, was that while specific policy proposals and nuts-and-bolts plans are an important part of what a candidate brings to the table, more than anything, people are looking for a leader who can inspire and mobilize them, who can tap into America's latent reserve of idealism.
"A great president," the late Paul Wellstone told me, "is one who successfully calls on all Americans to be their own best selves."
"Every presidential election is a renewal," said McCullough. "Like spring, it brings up all the juices. The people are so tired of contrivance and fabrication and hokum. They really want to be stirred in their spirit. That's when we are at our best. The great presidents are people who caused those who follow them to do more than they thought they were capable of."
"The American people," said Cornel West, "want a statesman who will tell the truth about our collective life together, good and bad, up and down, vices and virtues. That is the ultimate act of respect for the American people."
"What a successful president does," William F. Buckley Jr. told me, "is transcend the usual marketplace collisions. FDR accomplished that, and so did Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. A successful president isn't necessarily one who takes us in a direction I applaud. But he is somebody who does get the country excited about a political purpose."
Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin agreed: "We need to get away from a political system that is so filled with minute public opinion polls and focus groups and the ability to know what the electorate is thinking at every moment that the leader loses his instincts for boldness. The job is not simply to reflect current opinion but to challenge it, move it forward and shape it. The ability to just take a stand and know that you can move the country to that stand is a lost art we need to recapture."
Back in '99, I also spoke to Sen. John McCain, who hadn't yet begun his 2000 bid for president. He too focused on "the ability to inspire Americans," and reached back to a defining moment in our history -- JFK's speech proposing the Peace Corps: "Young people were willing to live in a village hut in Africa for years and dig irrigation ditches," said McCain. "Why were they willing to do that? Why were they in fact eager to do that? It's because he inspired them to do it." Almost a decade later, McCain is still talking about sacrifice -- but these days he's thinking less of time spent digging ditches in Africa, and more of blood spilled on the streets of Iraq. Alas.
After the dark, uninspiring -- indeed deeply alienating -- years of the Bush presidency, the feeling that I took away from these conversations resonates even more profoundly today: that it is time we recognize that our search for a great president is also a search for our better selves. Finally, a political litmus test that matters: Which presidential candidate can lead us to do more good than we think we're capable of?
Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
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THE 2008 RACE FOR PRESIDENT. "Consumer Power" is you and if we should be so motivated as to "come together" and be "our better self", we would reward ourselves with the promises of the past. The thing that I cannot get a grip on is why the people (consumers) accept such poor representation from our governing officials. Meaning the President all the way down to your local authorities. Most politicians preach with words of deception to capture your vote. But the truth seems to be to enrich themselves, enjoy a career of excess and retire quite comfortably ON YOUR taxes. I really believe in so many of the words said by Michelle Obama and Maria Shriver. The power of coming together..
Good job by Arianna stringing together all those thought provoking quotes.
I think it is obvious that the only person who fits the job description at this time is Obama.
Whether or not Obama can deliver is another question. Only history knows the answer. People keep wanting Obama to "prove" that he can succeed as if the other candidates had somehow proved they are worthy. I'd say the opposite. The other candidates have proved their un-worthiness while Obama has at least proved he has the dignity, brains, vision and charisma that the job demands. Hilary has dignity and brains but her vision is retrograde and she understand the meaning of the word charisma as evidenced by her constant personality changes: tough, nice, teary - what will it be next? The Clintons seem to think they are on American Idol and in need of this weeks act to get them through one more week.
The AOL home page headline news item today is "Hilary lists her 10 worst outfits". I suppose today is media seduction day in the Clinton campaign. It is all just filler for a lack of "xarisma", a childish effort to be the popular girl which is backfiring.
The New Republic has the most important article of the day:
http://www
Why did Obama gave the Gang of 14 the finger when they asked him to join them being about change? That was a bipartisan group therapy session...
In our age where we read everything on the run, and superficially, it bears repeating truths that are so universal, that they could change the world. Such as:
"What a successful president does," William F. Buckley Jr. told me, "is transcend the usual marketplace collisions. FDR accomplished that, and so did Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. A successful president isn't necessarily one who takes us in a direction I applaud. But he is somebody who does get the country excited about a political purpose."
Barack Obama is the one.
"The consensus opinion, one that crossed party and ideological lines, was that while specific policy proposals and nuts-and-bolts plans are an important part of what a candidate brings to the table, more than anything, people are looking for a leader who can inspire and mobilize them, who can tap into America's latent reserve of idealism."
Barack Obama fists the bill.
"Barack Obama will require that you work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism; that you put down your division; that you come out of your isolation; that you move out of your comfort zones; that you push yourself to be better; and that you engage."
Look no farther: Barack Obama.
So there you have it. Barack Obama seems to fulfill, what is needed for greatness in a president. And "seems" is not the word, he does.
If you look at the primaries as a winnowing process, and proving ground, Barack Obama has come through with flying colors, and banners, bells and whistles.
The phony candidates, and the candidates,
who thought they may be qualified, but had no empathy to reach out and touch people, are no longer running, and had to drop out.
If Barack, should he get elected, runs the country, the way he has run his campaign, we are saved! God Bless, America.
Si, se puede! Yes We Can!
Enough said.
The problem here is that being inspirational is not enough, one needs to offer both inspiration and, as mundane as it seems, skills and wisdom to get things done. Not saying Obama doesn't, but the focus on the former to the detriment of the latter is more appropriate to the race for Student Council president.
Dear Obama supporters: What exactly do you mean by "he is The One"?
"One" what? The "chosen" one? The "anointed" one?
Chosen/anointed by whom?
What's next guys? Nice little compound in Guyana?
I deeply remember the day my beloved President Kennedy died and his presidency extremely well. There is no possible comparison of Kennedy to these modern day charlatans with whom Adrianna seems so enamored.
While President Kennedy asked us to do more for our country, these people merely want to buy votes by making government the Great Santa Claus in the sky; capitalizing upon the weakness people feel after being non-educated (in the public schools) by Hill/Obama supporters.
As a Ca. public school teacher, I once believed the stories that energize many commentors herein, only slowlyrousing myself from my p.c. sleep, watching our schools self-destruct under my college comrades.
I've witnessed our students becoming dumber under tutledge of Hillary-thought stylings. I see kids doing "high" math, yet unable to do simple arithmetic; playing chic 'educational games' w/ their teachers, yet still unable to work.
Greater numbers of Americans may soon feel the need for a Massive Big Brother/Big Nanny State to tell them when to take their soma pills and give various permission, as we become chid-like. This is the impulse emanating from Hill/Obama; something very parental disguised as "exciting and new". "Time Machine" anyone?.
America could become something much more weak, callous, soft and spiritually vacant, instead of the Brave America that brought the hopes/dreams of freedom to untellable numbers of the world's 'other people'; saving the earth from the domination of the National Socialists
This gift of American blood, sweat and tears; has been given by no other nation on earth for our fellow human beings.
Hill/Obama, connect themselves to Marxist Theology, not wanting Iraq's to be free, content to let those 'other people' die in misery under Saddam's Socialist Party's gunmen. They seem to prefer trading in the Iraqi People's freedom for their own politically expedient gain.
This is Very NOT like our President Kennedy!
Barack Obama inspires people and is smart enough to lead this country. I mean we let our present president with his "highly experienced" team of advisors to manipulate us for 8 years! What does it say about our choices? But let us be real. The appearance of the candinate and the potential future first lady is as important to most people as the experience everyone keeps talking about. And what most people think? " If only Barack Obama were white, had an American sounding name and had ears that would be just slightly visible...
There's no doubt that JFK was a great orator and inspired some young people to join the peace corp, but that did not make him anywhere near a great president. His first act as president was the Bay if Pigs invasion,which caused 1500 men to be killed or captured on the beaches of Cuba, and was also a direct cause of the Cuban missle crises, which almost led to nuclear war. He also appointed his young inexperienced, and unqualified brother as the Attorney General. He was a terrible AG. Don't get me wrong, in 1968 I I was definetely going to vote for Bobby Kennedy, but things had changed by then. JFK was inept in getting civil rights legislation passed. He didn.t take advantage of the legislative skills of his VP, because he and his brother personally disliked LBJ. JFK was also a womanizer. One of his mistresses was the girlfriend of Sam Giancona, who happened to be the boss of the Chicago mafia. Arianna knows all these things, but she never mentions it.
While I don't feel I've ever lost "my better self," I do think that our country's soul has been beaten down fairly consistently since the 2000 election. Along with a feeling that we "don't deserve anything better" (than Bush beatings), our nation is tired and cynical. Barack Obama is changing that. Just tonight, in my little Valley, the Idaho side of the Snake River signed in about 498 Democrats for its caucus. Unreal! For one thing, its a conservative Republican town, which logged in only about one-fourth as many participants four years ago. On Saturday, we'll hold the caucus for Asotin County - the poorest county in the state of Washington. I'm looking forward - and that, too, is key in this Presidential election. Barack Obama says he's about looking to the future, not the past. I believe we can again have a future that is hopeful, positive and progressive. I hope we can restore our good reputation in the world and once again lead our world in peace and prosperity.
We can be the change we want to see in the world. Let's give it a chance.
If Hillary said these things she would be accused of pandering. No matter what the Obama camp says it is good. No matter what Hillary says it is underhand ,pandering, self serving, devious and"political".
It amazes me that Ted Kennedy and John Kerry,and a black governor could not turn their own state against her,if she is so evil.
Obama remains a dangerous choice for America. Many young voters will put their dreams in his hands before they realize he is all smoke and mirrors. Then a new generation of Americans will become political cynics and drop out of the process. We can't afford to nominate someone with great speech making abilities and disregard the fact that Hillary comes ready to put universal health care into action, as well as foreign policy, as well as having the experience of a successful President, Bill Clinton, to rely on. Please...
The President has more important things to do than inspire us. That's the TV evangelists' realm.
Be cautious about inspiring political speech.
Read Republican Frank Luntz' book, "Words That Work"...'I
Roger Ailes, now head of Fox News, helped "sell" Nixon in 1968 by producing his TV commercials. Ailes is still selling on his "un-fair and un-balanced" "un-news." Joe McGinniss book "The Selling of the President 1968" describes how Ailes and others "sold" Nixon.
Running against Nixon, Hubert Humphrey said, "I'm fighting packaged politics. It's an abomination for a man to place himself completely in the hands of the technicians, the ghost writers, the experts, the pollsters and come out only as an attractie package."
We need a President who will UPHOLD the Constitution and will start paying down our $9.2 Trillion debt before the Country goes bankrupt. President Clinton, the most fiscally conservative President in 50 years, started paying it down. George W. Bush has borrowed over $3.8 Trillion.
You and every other American would have to send a $30,300 check to the U.S. Treasury to pay off the National Debt.
Roger Suskind's book, "The Price of Loyalty" is a candid assessment of Bush's former Treasury Secretary, Paul O'Neil. Starting at the first Cabinet Meeting, 10 days after inauguration, "we were building the case against Hussein and looking at how we could take him out and change iraq into a new country. It was all about finding a way to do it."
Bush is 100% to blame for the Iraq War. Hillary didn't have ANYTHING to do with it.
Obama is not ready for Prime Time. It's Hillary's Time. Obama Supporters
8.
As a politician, Obama cannot please all of the people all of the time; but I truly believe, in defiance to the pessimism rampant on this and other forums, which amounts to "cut down Hillary" or "cut down Obama" or "cut down the poster above" - that none of this infighting will help the United States gain a Democratic Executive Branch next year as well as, hopefully, a majority in both the House and Senate.
But if we DO get that, THEN we will see the real Hillary, or the real Obama; or maybe the real McCain.
Until then they all have to (unfortunately) play a lot of angles and hide or minimize some of their real agendas- Barack, if he wants to win, must also court the voters who are so fearful about terrorism, so must not be as vehement s Kucinich was, if he wants to win the election and have a CHANCE to end the war. Give him that chance. Or give Hillary that chance. Or name a better choice that is realistic.
I hope the nominee brings in Edwards, definitely; but no use moaning over him now; we must find Democratic Unity, because no other pary has the numbers.
My original choice would have been Kucinich, followed by Edwards or even Ron Paul; but they are out of the race. So let's mourn, and then quickly move on, and deal with what we DO have.
God bless America,although maybe America doesn't deserve it these days; and may this country find peace again, by unifying behind a new, Democratic, President.
Consider the alternative, and quit the bickering, for Heaven's sake. Please.
-letter from Hyrule Castle
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