Barack Obama: The Man I Know

In the fall of 2003 Vernon Jordan asked me to stop by a fundraiser at his house in Washington for a friend of his who was seeking the Democratic nomination for the United States senate in Illinois. Vernon said, "Please come by, we need people. You don't have to give any money."

When I arrived only a few people were there and I found myself in a ten minute conversation with a young State Senator from Illinois. I was writing a play about Thurgood Marshall and he seemed a good subject for conversation with a man who excelled at the Harvard Law School and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago. I went home that night and told my wife that I had met an exceptional man. It had something to do with the way he listened, the look in his eyes, the easy smile. He was there to meet people and raise money, but nothing would distract him from whomever he was talking to at a particular moment. Vernon Jordan is nobody's fool -- I left a check for Obama for Senate, as did his other guests.

Since that day in 2003 I have found the qualities that attracted me to Barack Obama magnified. He was, of course, inspiring at the Democratic Convention in Boston. On November 21, 2005, the day that would have been Robert Kennedy's eightieth birthday, he was the speaker at the RFK Human Rights Awards. The ceremony was held in the U.S. Senate Caucus Room, the setting where both John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy announced their candidacies for president. There was a quality in Barack Obama that day, as he spoke about human rights, that evoked the unfulfilled legacy of Robert Kennedy. He inspired a belief that this country's problems could be addressed. A glance at his biography made me realize that in 2008 this youthful looking senator would be three years older than John and Robert were when they ran for president. I wrote him the next day urging him to run in 2008, and I watched him contemplate that possibility during 2006.

He was relaxed and centered as he evaluated his prospects; he sought the advice of people he respected; he assessed the obstacles and the work that would have to be accomplished; and he made his decision. Then he put together a staff and a campaign team, and began to enlist followers, much like the community organizer he once was in Chicago. The new kid on the block raised more money than the incumbent Clinton organization that was able to call on political resources developed over a decade.

At the outset, he described a strategy that has not been altered. He told his supporters that the plan was to make a showing in Iowa and then people around the country would begin to hear his message and move in his direction. I saw him last fall when he remained thirty points behind in the national polls and the press was nearly unanimous in saying that the "rock star," as they had dubbed him, was a flash in the pan. Some of his supporters were discouraged and the pundits were insisting that he must attack Senator Clinton directly. He spoke to his supporters who met in Des Moines on the Columbus Day weekend. He told us that he was confident that he was going to win the nomination and the presidency. He was compelling, self assured and believable. He promised that he would be "making distinctions" between himself and Senator Clinton, but that to attack her personally would undercut the underlying theme of his campaign which was to put the politics of polarization and division behind us.

His supporters were reassured that night. Barack went on to win Iowa and the American public began to take notice.

Over the past four years, I have observed in him a consistency that earns confidence. He is thoughtful, courteous and humorous, yet he leaves no doubt that, while being a good listener, he will shape his own thinking and fight for what he believes in. He makes me believe that we can be the country we want to be, that we can solve the intractable problems that have divided us, that we can enlist the youth of America to help build our future, that we can be respected again in the eyes of the world -- and, yes, that we can have a president who will call us to the high ground, and ask us to ask ourselves, once again, not what our country can do for us but what we can do for our country.

Comments

[Sociallyconscious]

Go, Barack, Go!!!! And please help the mentally ill of our country who are ignored by so many.

[shari1933]

There is one thing that I cannot understand. The press and Baraks backers keep referring to him as an African American. In the bible it states that the child always takes the mothers religion and personna because others know who the mothers are but not the fathers of the children. Should Barak be called a Causacian American and if he is will the African Americans vote for him.
Think about that

[musselmanm]

OK, how many of us know that when Health Benefits are given by an employer, they are paid for by the employee. It is done by taking a portion of the money that would be wages and pay for the benefits.
!Pretty simple, don't you think?

[user168]

"The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution."

"Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death."

"He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty. "

No other candidate has ever delivered a speech with such insightful wisdom, profound justice, and universal truth than the exceptional Senator Obama –

"You have to believe in yourself."
"From caring comes courage."

Here is Senator Obama"s speech delivered on October 26, 2002 opposing the use of force in Iraq –

http://thegooddemocrat.wordpress.com/2007/02/06/barack-obamas-speech-on-iraq-2002/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhpKmQCCwB8

[RJAP]

Mr. Stevens wrote a very thoughtful article about Mr. Obama.
America has a way of falling in love with this NEW BREED of politicians. Remeber Jimmy C.with a cardigan sweater telling us to lower our thermostat, 400+ days with our hostages in Iran?
I'll stick to my man McCain.

[dragon1]

Please America, MAKE the time to view this video, and MAKE the time to vote today. YES You Can!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR7ADjNiseA

[nerakami]

Here is where we America. A moment in time where we can "feel" an authenticity and sense of integrity in this man. He has demonstrated with his judgment against the war in Iraq that he has insight and a keen sense of what is really going on in these countries. Every word he said in his speech has come to light regarding the war. I just had a mental flash of what it must have been like when the Pilgrims boarded those boats to come to America for the first time. I am sure there were those who sensed the excitement of the adventure but whose fear of the unknown prevented them from getting on those boats, but then there were those who were still fearful, but their need to move forward and chart new paths took precedence over their fears. America is facing a similar scenario, yes have fears about Obama but yet we cannot deny the essence of something exciting, something new exuding from him. Like those who boarded the Mayflower that day to embark on a journey that would lay the foundation of this great nation, we must now choose whether to remain paralyzed by our fears or to overcome these fears like those families, and become a part of what may be one of the most defining moments in the history of this country.
This is the moment... the moment if now.

[schoolmaster]

I agree that Obama is a deserving candidate. So is Hillary. Let the people decide whom to choose without being unduly influenced by the endorsements of heavy weights.

[coolkraft]

great article...­many feel the same way and hopefully he can lead us out of the sad state this country is now in.

[hglassberg]

Dear George,

The last paragraph of your piece on Obama left us gasping for air. We can be the country we believe in, excite our best selves, enlist our youth, ask not what our country can do for us... We vainly beat the bushes trying to find something you left out. We found nothing except, perhaps, stir in one lightly beaten egg, add mixture to frying pan, and cook gently under low heat until solid.

The Playdo Institute
Handel Glassberg, President

[rucognizant]

Rose Law Firm represents "Genetically Modified, " Monsanto, & crippled chicken, Tyson foods, as well as Walmart!
Clinton was a partner in that firm!

[HigherPurpose]

To everyone who is still undecided, or those of you who "Like Barack, but support Hillary" - please listen to this argument.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR7ADjNiseA

[RyeCatcher]

Besides the the fact that Obama splatters his rhetoric with "change," I don't see it in his ISSUES. I don't understand where all this crap about him being so inspiring comes from. I cannot possibly support a man who is so brash to talk about bombing Pakistan as its government is in disaster (this was before the Butto assassination). I cannot support a man who supports more nuclear power plants. I cannot support a man who simply votes "present" most of the time in the Senate. I cannot vote for a Democrat who does not support universal healthcare. Finally, I cannot support a man who is so arrogant to believe in his own hype and has been running for president since he began his political career. Rhetoric alone will not make a great president. Action is what matters, and the issues that Obama supports don't equal real action or true change. Don't vote based on fuzzy feelings, vote for the person who is up for the job. Oh, and by the way, the more radical CHANGE on the issues was coming from John Edwards, a man who wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth, unlike some over-hyped presidential candidates we know of. Wish you were still here, John.

[chumleypotts]

At this juncture, it appears Obama will be the candidate. I am enthralled by this. He alone offers meaningful change, a return to freedom denied to us all for so many years, a furtive vision of hope in the world in a society free of the chains, oppressions, and judgements of the past, one in which every citizen, rich or poor, can dare dream of the audacity to aspire to the achievement of the greatness of the human spirit envisioned by our founding fathers at the birth of our great nation over two centuries ago. The only thing left is for him to tell us what all that crap means.

[Daniel8168]

I support Barack Obama because he is a leader. He is asking America to stand up with him - to work with him - to not just vote for change, but to be ongoing catalysts of change.
Barack Obama has the charisma, presence, ability and vision to lead America. By leader, I don't mean simply the person that will steer the ship - I mean the person who will lift Americans out of their apathy - who will inspire us to do volunteer work - who will help us to believe in what is possible and will include us in the revitalization of this nation.
We aren't just voters. We aren't just taxpayers and economic numbers. We are Americans. We are the people that used to care for their own and can again. We are the people of a nation that was once the most respected in the world. We are a part of a dream in progress that started over two and a quarter centuries ago.
America has seen a marked degradation of hope, inspiration and true leadership over the past few decades. Obama gives me hope and inspires me, and when he leads, I will follow not only because of his competence and his ability, but because of hope and inspiration - because I want to be a part of a new American dream - or perhaps an old dream begun anew.
Those who are unwilling to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty for what they believe in should go ahead and vote for someone else. If you want to do nothing more than cast your vote, cross your fingers and wait to see what happens, then vote for someone else.
If instead you want to be active in the reclamation of this nation's principles - if you want to bring about a change in the direction of this nation, the welfare of its citizens and the image of ourselves that we present to the world - if you want a real leader - if you want someone that will include you in the process once the election is over, then vote for Barack Obama.