Barack Obama Is Smarter Than Us

Barack Obama has run one of the most impressive political campaigns in all of American history. That is saying quite a lot, but I truly feel he has earned that much, no matter what happens tomorrow night. The Obama campaign did not leak, and they did not squabble amongst themselves in public -- right there, two astounding feats that no other candidate in the race could manage. Should Obama be elected, and should he run his White House the way he has run his campaign; then we are about to see some professionalism and basic competence in Washington once again, instead of the pure partisan rancor and dysfunction we've (sadly) become accustomed to.

But it has to be said -- Barack Obama is where he is today because he is smarter than us. Now, by "us" I am not referring to you, dear reader (perish the thought!), but rather the collective "us" out here blogging in the progressive trenches on the left. We (and I certainly include myself in this) have been second-guessing Obama's political tactics and strategy for over a year now. Obama has had us tearing our hair out at times with frustration, and each time he wound up proving us wrong.

For months and months now, we bloggers have been telling Obama what to say and what not to say, what to do and what not to do, where to go and where not to go, and who to pal around with and who to shun. At times, we have gotten the collective vapors over the burning question: "Why isn't Obama campaigning the way I would tell him to campaign?!?" Obama showed us all that hysterics weren't the way to go -- and that the way to win the election was cool, calm, and collected. Which he does admirably well, I have to admit.

First it was Iowa, then the later primaries. Then the Reverend Wright fiasco. Then how Obama should campaign in Texas and Ohio. Then the long, long period of angst before Pennsylvania voted. The end-game with Hillary. The pre-convention jitters ("He's going on VACATION?!? NOW?!? What is he THINKING?!?"). The convention itself -- who speaks, when they speak, what to say.

And the "Party Unity My Ass" crowd (the "PUMAs") deserve a special mention in here as well. They bamboozled the media into covering their story, and then when their uprising didn't happen at the convention, all the media had left was: "What an astounding display of party unity!"

The last few months have been particularly intense -- Paris Hilton, the debates, Bill Ayers, Sarah Palin. Especially Palin. Anyone who thinks I'm exaggerating over saying we got "the vapors" just needs to go back to the week after the Republican convention (and before her ABC and CBS interviews) to see that I am not overstating our hand-wringing.

Even when Obama started his final rise in the polls, after the economic meltdown, we still couldn't entirely make the core fear of losing go away. This led to ever-more heartfelt pleas for Obama to do something differently.

But Barack Obama was smarter than us all. He has shown us how it should be done. His success is due in part to not listening to our hysterics, and doing what he thought he should in order to win.

As an aside, I firmly believe that in his first 100 days in office (should he win tomorrow), President Obama is going to intentionally pick a fight with the hard left. He's going to seriously annoy the progressive blogosphere wing of the party with some action he either takes or doesn't take. This, I should add, is going to annoy me personally... but I bet it will only improve his general approval with America-at-large.

Now, it has to be admitted that the bloggy left is a growing Democratic force, and it fulfills an important function -- to raise issues the mainstream media ignores, to police said mainstream media, and to push our own pet issues to the fore (most especially when Democratic politicians are content to ignore them). Our liberal voice is strong, and growing louder. And we are righteous in our beliefs that we have the answers. We force things to get done, and get done right. There's no denying our growing influence.

But I have to say, once again, that Barack Obama was right not to always listen to me, and others of my ilk. He knew through it all that the perfect is the enemy of the good, and that a purist lefty candidate would not win the White House. So I have to stand up and admit it.

Obama was right. We were wrong. And he has shown he knew what he was doing all along, which makes me even more comfortable casting my vote for him tomorrow.

 

[Program Note: Instead of Wednesday's usual Electoral Math column, I will be posting my picks for the election some time tomorrow afternoon, both on my site and at the Huffington Post, before the polls close.]

 

Chris Weigant blogs at: ChrisWeigant.com

 

Comments

[greencosmopolitan]

i hope tomorrow is a landslide win for obama!

i hope mccain is so embrassed that he disappears for a couple of weeks.

[Dap]

We're having a victory party here in Chicago tomorrow night/ Wpon't you please come to Chicago... We can change the world, rearrange the world. :)So won't you please come to Chicago. Agape.

[Chris Weigant - Huffpost Blogger]

Dap -

Truly, the whole world is watching!

-CW

[LizM]

CW,

If you ask me, you have no business copping a mea culpa - not for any of your blogging which rests in the company of a select few who have reported on the critical issues and difficult challenges of the day with level-headed intelligence and clear-eyed insight, always infused with a reliably phenomenal sense of humour.

The media coverage of this campaign has been a major eye-opener, even for a moderately (bordering on right off the cliff) cynical and self-described media/blogosphere critic like myself. It seems as though I have always known that you can seldom give credence to anything you read or hear in the media/blogosphere but I literally had no idea about just how dangerously incompetent and inept they could be and actually are. And, sadly, I have no hope that this particular situation will change, anytime soon or ever.

And, so...Chris, don"t ever stop doing what you"re doing or even think about apologizing for it because we need you and your reality-based political commentary far too desperately!

[Dap]

Eloquently expressed LizM, that was my first impression when reading the post also. Agape.

[LizM]

Hi Dap! You and I are usually on the same page...or in the same book, at least. Anyway...did you see Obama's speech tonight in Manassas VA? I'll tell you what...I'm fired up and I'm ready to go!!! I sure would love to be at that victory party in Chicago - It'll be one for the history books. Have lots of fun!

[Michale32086]

Obama got to where he is today by one thing and one thing only..

By running as an AMERICAN candidate for President, rather than as a DEMOCRATIC PARTY candidate for President..

It's that simple..

Michale.....

[pattyc1217]

Let's see......a President who is both educated and exceptionally brilliant....who, when discussing complex issues with colleagues and advisors, invites and actively listens to opposing viewpoints....who remains calm and self-possessed in the face of attacks on his honesty, character, and integrity.....who searches for common ground, and identifies areas of mutual agreement....who is inclusive instead of divisive... who isn't condescending or egotistical....who has well-defined proposals to achieve specific, measurable goals.....who projects confidence without arrogance....who is charismatic, approachable, and statesmanlike....

What a concept! Let's give that a try!

[speranza]

I only wish you would be right in what you're saying! tomorrow we will know! We will know if the majority of the American people does stand by their word and actually elect Barack Obama!

Doubts remain until the numbers pour in and prove us otherwise! Doubts remain that the so called Bradley effect is a thing of days long gone by or not. Doubt remains that negative Rovian campaigning is not working anymore and decency and greatness prevails. Doubts remain that the majority of Americans do realize that Obama has the potential to become the American Nelson Mandela and the Nelson Mandela for the world. Doubts remain that Americans are really ready for a great President named Barack Obama!

Please prove us (Europeans and citizens of the world) wrong! Please prove us wrong that you are unable to overcome racial prejudice! Please prove us wrong that humans are not able to learn from history!

[pattyc1217]

Let's see......

......a President who is both educated and exceptionally brilliant....who, when discussing complex issues with colleagues and advisors, invites and actively listens to opposing viewpoints....who remains calm and self-possessed in the face of attacks on his honesty, character, and integrity.....who searches for common ground, and identifies areas of agreement....who is inclusive instead of divisive... who isn't condescending or egotistical....who has well-defined proposals to achieve specific, measurable goals.....who projects confidence without arrogance....who is charismatic, approachable, and statesmanlike....

...what a concept! Let's give that a try!

[jsarets]

I couldn't agree more. For one thing, while the progressive left is generally on target in characterizing the problems with the existing order, it is generally quite wide of the mark in characterizing a new order that, in fixing these problems, doesn't introduce new problems that are potentially far worse.

It's practically impossible for Obama's presidency to go as well as his campaign, but I have much more faith in his ability, like that of his hero Abraham Lincoln, to see the big picture than I have in those who seek to legislate that water flow uphill, as some progressives seem to demand.

I'm not suggesting that progressives are asking too much. I'm suggesting that progressives are asking far too little and that tinkering around the edges of the existing order will only make it worse.

Anybody who believes that a government that operates underneath the monetary authority of a global private financial syndicate can do anything to resolve institutional problems of inequity, exploitation, alienation, and division is kidding themselves.

If we don't have public finance, then it hardly matters if we have public education.

[Takae]

"It's practically impossible for Obama's presidency to go as well as his campaign, but I have much more faith in his ability"

I agree so hard with you on this. It'll take at least two years for the visible effects - of turning his vision into reality - to appear. He'll trip up along the way with a mistake or two, but I think he'll handle each misstep well enough to assure us that he's doing his job. I think what assures me most is he's willing to learn from his mistakes as well as having an ability to listen.

[L0ve PEace]

Chris, I agree with your statement "President Obama is going to intentionally pick a fight with the hard left. He's going to seriously annoy the progressive blogosphere wing of the party with some action he either takes or doesn't take." But, I would like to point out one more way Obama is smarter than us. His speech on the steps of the Illinois State Capital amost two years ago is much the same as his closing speech of the campaign. He has never said anything more that we should all work together for the change we need. That we are all in this together and we need to stop being left or right or etc.
I Agree that he will move more to the center in a leadership roll. That is the way to govern. He will surround himself with those of all points of view and choose the best one for all of us. He is smarter and that is what we need right now. A smart leader that can unify and lead this country. All of US.

[IndyReader]

I had no idea that's what PUMA meant.

[Chris Weigant - Huffpost Blogger]

IndyReader -

They officially changed it a while back to something less offensive (with the same acronym), but it started out as "Party Unity, My Ass!" like twelve seconds after the last primary finished.

Assuming you're a Hoosier, hope you'll be voting tomorrow!

:-)

-CW

[killmenow]

This is a perfect, beautiful piece that expresses exactly what I have been trying to say myself to my friends and to my fellow volunteers in my local Obama campaign.

When callers into radio shows say that they are still undecided, as I heard this morning, this is what they should read.

[petejo]

all this has worked to keep the media honest and give the people an outlet.

[petejo]

obama had alot of help. what else has made the difference this campaign? i submit: air america (to compensate for the rush limbaughs--notably, bill press, tom hartman, rachel maddow and stephanie miller and, especially, al franken, who started it all), the internet (for its fundraising ability, speed at responding to lies, spin, etc), jon steward and steve colbert (for debunking the hypocrisy).