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

Comments

[fisharefreinds]

When JFK came before America in 1960, we were in prosperous times, even with Southeast Asia unfolding. People counted on their jobs, their livelihood, they could count on public education to meet the needs of their children and prepare them for tomorrow. We were going to the moon. We were idealistic and hopeful, a ready youth to hold in hand and say "what can you do for your country?" We are not their now and this message is somewhat macbre becuase we want so much not to see where we are. We are at War, public education is going down the drains, people cannot count on their jobs being there tomorrow or that their children will have their opportunites. Yes, we must be the heroes we've been waiting for, but that will not translate well for the Corporate Media, the Corporate strangle hold on our political process, Freidmanites, our the status quo. I vote for Maria Shriver

[NJYankee]

Great post Arianna. Four years ago during the Democratic convention where Obama had the opportunity to speak I told my son at the time, watch carefully that you are in the presence of the first African American president. He has the leadership quality that you have discussed, he inspires you to be a better yourself, hence a better American. This country needs urgently someone who inspires us to do more, better. We as a nation need to come together and lead other nations. This path must lead us away from fear of terrorism, although conscientious of it, and down the road of a better tomorrow for all. This was the the USA prior to Nixon, Reagan and W. If its Hillary's turn, so be it, however we can't count Obama out yet!

[green12]

Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful commentary. Leadership qualities include being able to bring together people and then bring out the best in them. One has aggressive, divisive follwers, the other thinking and inclusive followers. One draws negitive comment from both those opposed and those who support. The other draws positive from supporters and grumbeling/threats from those opposed. Being a good leader is also knowing that opposition will be violently rendered, but being able to stand for and with all until the majority understands and those who still oppose will always be there. May the "good" leader win and the political, selfcentered leader find piece in another place.

[EdwardUlyssesCate]

Don't you think, just once, we could have people in high office that do not lie to, steal from, nor murder in the name of the public who put them there? Perhaps these people in high office are simply a reflection of the morals of the majority of the public. Sad state of affairs, indeed, no matter what your political viewpoints.

[WestofLosAngeles]

What I find most disturbing this political season is how the media elites that serve as moderators for these hokey Republican and Democratic "debates" ask assinine "he-said he-said" or "she-said he-said" softball questions designed to elicit applause from the flacks in attendance.

The same goes for the phoney "town hall" meetings stuffed with loyalists and even more flacks and party goons. The politicians get a free pass to blather on and on while this country lurches deeper into debt while this horrible war slogs on.

Where is the free and independent press to ask the hard, hard questions on our behalf. The press is so scared of riling up a future president that they act more likes advocates than the people's representatives. The American voter deserves more than this hand-holding and message shaping.

Oh well, perhaps the press will wake up and ask the tough questions after all...boxe­rs or briefs...o­r panties or a thong? The beat goes on.

[DrMikeC]

If you'll forgive me, what you need is a President who will give leadership. A person who will show you why you should not be cynical by sweeping aside all that has made thinking people cynical. Power rests with the President and s/he must be the engine for change. If they don't seize this chance to get the American public back on board, then things will only get worse: it's a global problem. Government must remember who it is supposed to be representing. We need to remind them whilst we have their (limited) attention!

[GnitenGoodLk]

The National Mall, our historic gathering place for millions of Americans who otherwise would remain unseen by the world and by Washington, is "on the table for redevelopment" Simply put, they want it gone & redone so gathering there will result in obstruction & dispersement. Interesting timing on that one because candidates have dodged a crucial question, "will there be a draft?"

As stretched as our military is and Bush's recent cutting of funds for programs for our vulnerable population yet boosting the war-chest, all signs point to draft folks. That would surely awaken many to protest, but alas, by then the Mall will not be available.

You can read about it here:

http://www.cindyforcongress.org/article.php?list=type&type=14

You can protect our right to assemble at the National Mall here:
http://www.justiceonline.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5273&JServSessionIdr004=qc8724i8s8.app1b

This isn't Vietnam, this is worse.

Already we are seeing soldiers redeployed to Iraq fleeing, and fighting deportation back to the US from Canada:

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/01/25/6611/

This is what Bushwhacked said in 2004:
"I want every American to understand that, as long as I am President, there will be no draft."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/10/20041005-6.html

This is where our Admin as at right now;

Rangel tried passing the draft in 2003, 2005, 2006 & 2007.

..but look here: 12/11/07 H.R. 4108
"To amend section 3328 of title 5, United States Code, relating to Selective Service registration"

Followed by:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.R._5122_(2006)
The amendment?
"deliberate failure to register with the selective service to provide exceptions for: (1) the appointment of an individual who was discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions; and (2) the appointment or continued employment of an individual who has reached 31 years of age."
[Last Updated: Jan 27, 2008]

And finally, Let's revisit the Warner Act:

http://www.sott.net/signs/editorials/signs20061027_BushMovesTowardMartialLaw.php

It's "on the table".

[Ono4Hoopono]

A great post, Arianna. Thanks for pulling all that wonderful material from inspiring leaders together to put this historic opportunity into perspective.

[AjazHaque]

Obama v Clinton
This is a crucial day for the Democrats. Either Obama or Clinton could establish a narrow lead in the number of delegates thus establishing a slight advantage in the remaining states.



Obama has really caught up since the South Carolina primary. No doubt endorsements from Ted Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy and Maria Shriver have helped tremendously. If Obama could have pulled off endorsements from Al Gore and John Edwards this week that would have been a tremendous advantage. John Edwards, no doubt has an important role to play in a Democratic Administration and so have many other Democrats. For instance Joe Biden will make an excellent Secretary of State, Bill Richardson Secretary of Energy and so on.



Obama has energized the voters like no one ever before, a 20 point Clinton lead in California has been turned to zero. I wish he had paid more attention to New York. It is also nice to see that Bill Clinton is making nice again, being nasty does not suit him at all. If Obama wins nomination and Presidency, wouldn't it be monumental if on Day One, he appoints Bill Clinton as the Middle East peace envoy to settle Palestinian/Israeli dispute once and for all. Every other President has left this to their last year in office. Achieving Middle East peace during first year in office will give Obama tremendous credibility as a world leader.



The Democrats must keep the momentum going in order to ensure success in November. These are exciting times.

[GeorgeKaplan]

Since YOU asked the question I will answer it, darling - that would be HILLARY CLINTON.

"Which presidential candidate can lead us to do more good than we think we're capable of?"

[Rog49Thomas]

A very interesting (but perhaps unintended) insight by Sister Arianna into the fundamental hollowness at the core of our democracy.

Simply put we lack self confidence and maturity.

We do not find greatness in ourselves but look for it in this or that imagined great leader.

Instead of being citizens in the full sense of that word, we are little children longing for the reassuring hand of our daddy. Or, perhaps, mommy if you're supporting the other Democratic candidate.

How profoundly sad.

[TruthSpeaker]

My father spent his career training people how to communicate, build, function in and lead teams. Having taken his amazing courses three times, and watched in amazement as he completely changed people's careers for the better, I can tell you this about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton:

Barack is a true team builder and leader, his language is the language of inclusion: "We", "Us", "together", "you and I". He is well known as someone who listens carefully to what the person speaking to him has to say and mirrors back his understanding, to be sure that he understands the point of view or problem from the other person’s perspective. By doing this he earns the trust of the other person and they in turn are compelled to listen to his point of view and understand where he is coming from. These are the communication skills of a master team builder and leader. Someone who can build consensus, and who may not pursue the exact plan you had in mind, but you will support him, because you know you were heard and considered. You know what the trade-offs and considerations were in the ultimate decision and that you played a part in it. This is the language of a mature, experienced team builder and leader.

Hillary’s language is that of an autocrat – she has all the answers, or thinks she does. Just get out of the way and let her solve all the problems the way she sees fit to solve them. “I have a plan”, “My plan”, “I will, I will, I will”, “My, my, my”, “Me, me, me”. This is the language of an insecure, immature, ego driven control freak. Her language isn’t about inclusion, it’s about control and forcing her vision upon us.

Hillary never admits mistakes - take her vote on the Iraq war resolution. Real leaders admit thier mistakes and move on.

Scoring their leadership report cards: Barack Obama gets an A+ - he's the real deal - Hillary gets a C, which is still better than GWB's F.

[getrealalready]

Isn't it odd that some people can only endorse candidates who've "been there/done that" before they trust Obama, a candidate so intellectually, politically, and philosophically poised with honest intention to heal America before it's actually too late to regain global respect?

[clarkbp]

Great article. Barack Obama has done what no other candidate has been able to capitalize on - he speaks to our desire to be better. Even the Christian vote wants that - and now they have a choice. It is amazing how the message of Obama silences the message of Huckabee and Romney for the mainstream Christian voter. It is why McCain is so strong in the GOP - the evangelical votes are only a portion of the voters who make decisions based on their faith systems and moral code.

This revolution is as much about the Spiritual awakening in our country as it is about Right or Left wing politics.

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/02/05/obama-the-left-and-recovering-jesus/

[smartorange]

It’s the Carter administration all over again. Why do you want a JFK president now, because of his excellent judgment on Vietnam or the Cuba Crisis? You know it was Nixon that ended Vietnam and he was a lousy president. This idea that is takes a great character to lead is false. Carter was intelligent and fought for peace and look at what a crap job he did in the White House. This time it’s the Neo-Progs and not the Neo-Cons that are rewriting history.