Barack Obama's Potential: Will He Be Great, or Greatly Disappoint?

Every now and then I can't help but go out of my way to pass by the monumental Charles Bridge here in Prague, in the Czech Republic. Amongst some foreigners who have lived in this treasure city for more than a few months, this great symbol and work of architecture becomes associated with an overcrowded tourist haven. As I have agreed with this from time to time, I still enjoy a walk along it whenever I am in its vicinity.

I like to imagine a detailed movie-like chronology of the region's history. I think back to its earliest settlements along the wide Vltava River and ponder the intensity of its trading even before the Czech Kingdom existed. Then I look to Prague Castle, just a short hike from the bridge, and it becomes clear why the castle was constructed exactly where it was. The rolling hills close to the river bank gave the old, fortified, town-sized castle protection of its power from bandits and invaders.

And I see how the bridge connects the two equally important halves of the city, the western half with the castle and the eastern half with the Jewish Quarter and Old town square-where merchants from all over Europe traded since the High Middle ages.

But even greater, the bridge is a microcosmic symbol of the city of Prague itself. Prague is Europe's bridge between the West and the East. Throughout history it attracted various scholars of the Renaissance, Enlightenment, Scientific Revolution, and the merchants from all over the continent. It survived various foreign occupations, and with the bad came the good - the city maintained its identity, authenticity, and enhanced its overall character. Prague today is an international city, with every major style of Western architecture dating back 1,000 years. This is why many from all over the world come to experience it, whether by living here (like myself) or briefly visiting.

And then I look across the Atlantic and I see a powerful experience happening -- the American election. On a side note, it is interesting to hear varying opinions in the C.R. I have met both fans of John McCain and Barack Obama. But those who are interested in Obama think it will be good for the U.S. to elect its first non-white president.

And now I am starting to read about a new set of race questions and whether Obama should be considered black, or racially mixed. It even went so far that CBS's 60 Minutes personally asked him about the issue.

I can't help but think that many are missing the point. It is not the worry for the appropriate racial label that should be the focus of people's minds, but rather that Obama has the potential to be the 21st century's first Great Communicator. Not only could he be the one who can help us make greatly needed leaps over our racial and political divides, but also our isolation in the world.

Like many, I too have my criticisms of Senator Obama. And although I think he is quite intelligent, sometimes I am not impressed. However, it should not be overlooked that as a result of his eclectic life experiences and upbringing, it is part of his nature to not only understand different people, but to make compromises to find solutions for the most complex issues. Although this has not always been done in the purest of ways, he has no doubt acted in the way we expect from good and smart politicians (as best seen in the early days of 'pragmatic politics' in Chicago).

For mainly this reason, Senator Obama has a potential for greatness like the city in which I currently live. Because his life has been one that is multidimensional and thus rich in experience, and though he never served in the military, we can agree that this is a powerful example of character.

With all of this going for him, Obama has great potential to help the United States make several leaps forward as we face crucial issues from within and abroad. Two simple questions remain: is this what the American people want, and, if he is elected, will he let us down?

Jeremy Zogby is the son of prominent pollster John Zogby and Kathleen Zogby. He lives and teaches history and English language in Prague CR. He holds degrees in history and is a close observer of political and cultural, social trends in the CR.

Comments

[jsarets]

There's no question that the bar has been set quite for Obama, and the magnitude of the challenges he will face is unprecedented. Impossible even.

All we seem to expect from Bush is that the United States of America still exists at the end of his term, and it's more of a nail-biter than anyone would have expected.

But if not Obama, then whom? Who would be more capable of bridging divides, dousing anti-Americanism, and guiding the global economy toward a post-petroleum future?

Not McCain. Not Barr, Nader, McKinney, or whoever else may be on the ballot in November. Possibly Obama. Just possibly, but he's our only conceivable hope, and that possibility is better than nothing.

[milo9]

Although I intend to keep criticizing his Constitutional shortfalls, I agree totally with your last paragraph. At this point in history, he's our only conceivable hope. But that being said, he has three years to stop the slide or he'll be a one term president. What else can we do?

[AnotherTry]

I also lived in Prague, during the Kerry-Bush race. If it weren't for the beauty of that wonderful city, I would have gone insane watching Kerry tack right pandering to the wrong side.

Now I live in Hamburg, Germany. It's no Prague and watching Obama tack right from here is unbearable. Thank goodness Amsterdam is a short train ride away. wink.

Dobry Vecher.

[ProudLiberalDan]

Are you kidding? I'm already disappointed. I don't have to wait for the inauguration.

[tbone99]

Obama the compromist -

Iraq war only 50 years instead of 100

Prisons abroad for terrorists , just not " secret ones"

FISA ok , but your phone bill is cheaper

Money for church based charities paid for by secularists.

Nafta , not amplified,

Waterboarding out ,waterdrop torture In

Bomb Iran , with regular bombs, not nuclear.

Bilions to Isreal with no conditions on a settlement toward peace , instead of TENS of billions.

Impeachment off the table for war crimes, instead no dessert .

[serena1313]

We won't know until he is in office. From "The Boston Globe":

"The challenge facing Obama is clear: he must go beyond merely pointing out the folly of the Iraq war; he must demonstrate that Iraq represents the truest manifestation of an approach to national security that is fundamentally flawed, thereby helping Americans discern the correct lessons of that misbegotten conflict.

"By showing that Bush has put the country on a path pointing to permanent war, ever increasing debt and dependency, and further abuses of executive authority, Obama can transform the election into a referendum on the current administration's entire national security legacy. By articulating a set of principles that will safeguard the country's vital interests, both today and in the long run, at a price we can afford while preserving rather than distorting the Constitution, Obama can persuade Americans to repudiate the Bush legacy and to choose another course.....

If Obama wedre to do that, I believe, it would truly transform our nation.

[fredamae]

these are questions that should have been posted by you folks 6 months ago.....i would suggest its a bit late now.......­..........

[milo9]

Even though he's a corporate dem, he's still the best of the lot.

[Jazzcomedian]

We can ask that question of every presidential candidate, however we never know till they take office.

[Gma11]

Oh, I LOVE Prague. I could imagine the scene you were describing.

I do think Obama has the capacity for greatness. But, if elected, he will also be facing such monumental problems. My hope is that he can engage we the people and together we can begin to emerge from our present dark administration.

[hopeless277]

Since Hillary dropped out he has disappointed GREATLY. I predict a GWB third term from the Illinois twerp. By November, he'll be torturing prisoners himself.

[closetodemfection]

Hillary kept him in line. She took the hits while O made speeches and inspired people. No one cared about policy in the primaries.

Now in the general when he is forced to take positions, he is at sea. His decisions since she left the race have been downright bizarre.

[thehardertheycome]

I think you know that this is not true. His stand on the issues have not changed. He has advocated from the beginning that not every issue is cut and dry down the middle against or for. He has consistently stated his desire to reach across the party lines when making decisions. He has kept his cadence all through the campaign. The only way you can disagree with this is if you are a purest.

During the campaign Obama reached out to Democrats. During the General Obama is reaching out to all voters regardless of party affiliations. he is saying to Democrats that at core, their concerns are his concerns. He says to to Republicans that their concerns are heard as well. To Independants he says that they must decide like he which side of the issues they will come down on. He strives to a the president of the people.

This is an election and his is running to win. Changes can not be made standing outside the Whitehouse. He must first become president.

[SpoxLogic]

Er...that's like having a sports phenom and comparing him to all the past greats before he/she even played one game as a professional. In the end, how great a player he/she became was a result of many factors. Look at Ken Griffey - just how much greater would he ahve been had he not have all those injuries. Then there are those who never lived up to their "potential".

I've been a witness to several Pres. elections, and I've never seen so much excpected from any candidate in my life. I think it bears witness to the saying taht a Black person ahs to work twice as hard and be twice as smart to get the same acknowledgement as a white person.

So will he be a great President. Who the hell knows. Only time will tell, won't it?

[Fabienne]

I wonder if all these Obama detractors who claim to be Democrats wholeheartedly supported Kerry and Edwards in the last election, who, throughout the primary season continued to support the war in Iraq. Furthermore, Kerry asked John McCain to be his running mate. I presume the critics of Obama's moving to the center certainly did NOT support the Kerry/Edwards ticket last time around, as supporting a pre-emptive war and asking a Republican to be on your ticket certainly seems farther right than anything Obama has done.

[shep1900]

.....I've never seen so much excpected from any candidate in my life......

He raised the expectations himself. You can't go marching around for months talking about hope and change and transformation, and encouraging people to treat you like the Second Coming--without people (unfortunately, because they've been hoodwinked) buying into it.

The election should have been about policy, but, as usual, it's been about personality. When it comes to policy, I'm not sure Senator Obama gets a passing grade.