Obama May Be Ready -- But is America Ready?

Tonight you're mine completely

You give your love so sweetly
Tonight the light of love is in your eyes
But will you still love me tomorrow?

- Gerry Goffin & Carole King - 1960

Let us say for the purpose of this discussion that Barack Obama wins the Democratic nomination.

Let us say for the purpose of this discussion that Barack Obama triumphs over:

• the brutally vicious attacks of the Republican smear machine
• their charges of him being a "one-page resume" candidate in a dangerous world
• the fear tactics that will be deployed about having a neophyte in charge during the scary terrorist era
• the vast latent (and blatant) racism in America
• the Terminator-like electoral efforts of the social conservatives who know they are just one GOP presidency away from outlawing abortion...

Let us say for the purpose of this discussion that Barack Obama inspires young voters - and the disenchanted who normally abstain - and gains their votes in November.

Let us say for the purpose of this discussion that Barack Obama wins the presidency.

Would that be the fulfillment of Martin Luther King's dream?

Or could that ultimately be the Democratic Party's worst nightmare?

NOT because of any failing of Barack Obama. Far from it.

But because while Barack Obama may be ready - perhaps AMERICA is not.

And in particular millions of America's "gimme now" citizens who live in a world of instant internet, instant messaging, instant coffee and instant fulfillment.

The issue is about the Audacity Of Hope versus the Reality of World.

Raising hope comes with a hefty price.

In our Instant Gratification society - those whose hopes and expectations have been raised - expect results. And they expect them fast.

We have become an "I want it NOW" society.

And if they don't get those results - EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE PERSON WHO HAS INSPIRED THEM - there is a crash.

It's called reality.

That is NO reason to not hope.

That is NO reason to not raise hopes.

But it IS a reason to think carefully.

Every seasoned politician - and I include Barack Obama in that category - knows that REAL change... DEMONSTRABLE change... LASTING change... takes time. And Herculean efforts over many, many years.

ANY Democratic president elected in November will face MASSIVE opposition to enacting change. From Republicans and the entrenched interests of Big Business.

If Barack Obama is fortunate enough to win the presidency, the changes he wishes to bring will NOT happen instantly.

They will take years and years to effect.

And among those years will be 2010 & 2014 - when the fate of the House and Senate will be determined at mid-term elections.

And 2012 - when his presidency will need to be renewed against what would be a ferocious effort by furious Republicans.

And 2016 - when the Democrats will again need to fight ferociously for the White House (especially if they lose it in 2012).

So the question we MUST ask ourselves NOW - is this:

Will the young voters, and the disenchanted who Obama brings to the party (and the Democratic Party) in November 2008 be there for us in:

• November 2010?
• November 2012?
• November 2014?
• November 2016?

Will the beauty of Obama's inspirational poetry sustain millions of fickle first-time voters through the many, many harsh years that will come with the realities of governing? Especially years when there will be bitter and venal fights for change?

Inspiring the young and disaffected to vote is a noble undertaking.

And Barack Obama deserves our utmost respect and appreciation for what he is achieving.

He (and we) also needs to be sure that he is not inciting expectations that he -- and indeed any president -- is powerless to fulfill among millions of people who (foolishly) expect instant results. And who are known to turn on a dime when they don't get them...

Is this a lasting treasure?

Or just a moment's pleasure?
Can I believe the magic of your sighs?
Will you still love me tomorrow?

- Gerry Goffin & Carole King - 1960

Further Reading

• Revealed At Last! Obama's Secret Weapon Against The Oil, Drug & Insurance Companies...

• Plus Ca Change!

• Obama vs Hillary: Read This And THEN Decide

• Real-Politik: Time For Democratic Primary Voters To Get REAL

Comments

[JMEB]

Excellent points. I truly believe the biggest hurdle will be Democrats, and their unrealistically high expectations BEFORE the election. Remember the outrage at the McClurkin episode? People are expecting absolute perfection from this man. They want him only to pander to THEM and no one else.

I just hope Obama's base of support doesn't give in to such egotism and maintains that high level of support through November. God only knows they caved in and even started agreeing with the GOP's nastiest talking points about Hillary.

[jsarets]

If Obama wins the nomination, he will have several months to control expectations. He'll make it clear that what he aims to do is to change the system so that the system can produce change, and that will take time.

My analogy is the free software (open source) movement. The whole idea was that an open, transparent framework for collaborative development would ultimately lead to better software. It took many years to get to the point where free software is now commonplace in many sectors of the tech industry.

Likewise, Obama's pathway to change is sunshine democracy, finding ways to engage the people directly in the political process and building a new American majority in Congress. If we bring people together, change will happen. It may take years, but by keeping things open, the people will be able to track incremental progress.

Technology, especially web-based solutions, can be deployed to improve the way our government works, both logistically and politically. In this era of 24/7 media, the government has to find a way to constantly engage the people in an ongoing dialog about policy and direction.

A key part of Obama's rhetoric is often overlooked: that the change isn't going to come from him, it's going to come from us. He's going to build a movement, and the movement is going to produce the change. Just like Richard Stallman and Linus Torvalds have done with free software.

[jcorrington]

Good post. I like Obama alot, but I fear the right wing machine will eat him alive.



del 8300
ie 7

[Qbear]

After CHENEY

I could give a rat's a$$ if Obama wants to pimp the White House

[Qbear]

After the 8 years of the Cheney Mightmare, I'd say the bar is set SO LOW for what Americans will tollerte from the executive branch, just not shreading the Constitution, not starting another needless war, not using Latinos, Mulims, and queers as sacpegoats...will seem like f*ckin Camelot. If he can carefully extricate us from Iraq, not leave a city like New Orleans drowning, and encourages Science instead of doing a Passion Play 6 times a year, he can plan on a second term.

[Blazhay]

I believe you have a misunderstanding of what Obama represents. He's never promised utopia. What he's promised is an environment and a political climate to get things done. Remember how Ronald Regan was able to move the country to achieve his right wing agenda? Well, that's exactly what Obama will do except, this time it will be a progressive agenda

=========MARTIN RESPONDS==========

If you are correct - no one would be more thrilled than me. Assuming that you ARE correct - there are just two questions arising:

1) Is that the same understanding that is shared by the millions of new voters who will be required to vote again to maintain that climate in 2010/2012/2014/2016?

2) Is the nation ready, willing and able to embrace a progressive agenda to a similar degree that it followed (or tolerated) a regressive agenda in the 1980s and 2000s?
==============================

[whimsicalpig]

You take a rather cavalier attitude with this nation's future.

there is much about this candidate that people need to know before any permanent decision is made.

I am still furious with the press the way they literally shoved this candidate down our thoats

before all was said and done 2 very able candidates were left out of the remainder of the races because the coverage of a "battle between a black man and a white woman became the virtual focus of every news cast

we were prevented from seeing equal coverage of important ideas (such as a policy about Pakistan) becuase every other word every other picture was of obama.

I sure hope we haven't been sold a pig in a
poke in the unbridled hysteria that was concocted by the media.

[Henry]

What will Obama and a Dem Congress do on the issue of illegals in this country? It is not a problem with a solution. And while Barak will propound the same solution to this problem as Little Geo our resident Republican, when Barak propounds the same in 2009, there will be a Republican outrage the likes of which will paint Barak in swift-boat failure.
It's going to be a tough future for Barak.

[charliemudcat]

You're right. Why try?

Yet another dumb reason not to elect Barack Obama.

=============MARTIN RESPONDS==========
Nothing wrong with trying. But if you aim over-ambitiously high and fail spectacularly - the consequences are far worse than if you aim lower and succeed incrementally. That's the empirical wisdom of the ages...

What is at stake now may be too important to needlessly risk failure.

=================================

[usna73]

Perhaps more appropriate for Obama:

"Good things seem happen to you
When you just happen to run across them in life
If you wait too long you know that
When you turn arround you find you have lost them in life

The sun daylight will shine
But the vision in my eyes look plain and gray
Nice touch of moonlight
You're just what I was looking for today."

Goffin and King - 1961 "You're Just What I Was Looking For Today."

[stammdm]

'The issue is about the Audacity Of Hope versus the Reality of World.'

Mr. Martin Lewis, you have clearly put into words what has been running through my own mind since Obama won in Iowa. No one else has captured these thoughts the way you have. Thank you.

[dissolvethecorporation]

It wasn't time when Jerry Brown asked for sacrifice. Now, there are a lot of us just as pissed off as the most vitriolic of neocons, so the time for Obama is now.

[grendl]

Could it be worse than the last eight years.

I am amongst the world's biggest cynics, and when I hear such phraseology as the "audacity of hope", it sometimes makes me cringe. Not because it isn't a great sentiment, but because I have seen in my lifetime, all too often, the results of such audacity lying bleeding on some city sidewalk, or in the back seat of a convertible in Dallas, Texas.

They've shot the dream down so many times, you worry for someone like Mr. Obama. There are a lot of small, miserable people out there, villainous selfish individuals dependent on keeping the masses impoverished, forever wanting, desperate for the crumbs they throw us, weak and pliable to their every evil whim. Unfortunately one of those people found his way into the White House.

Like Tom Cruise in " Risky Business" says to the scout from the Ivy League school as he's using his parents house as a brothel, sometimes in this life you have to just say
what the fuck. Make your move.

It's a gamble sure, and come election night we may just see that huge map turning red, state after state. And the fact that we overestimated the progressive nature of this country, or college kids proclivity to stop playing their X Box and Sony Playstation games might come to bear, but wouldn't it be worse if we didn't at least try.

Let's run it up the flag pole and try, I say. And for those who keep underscoring the vagaries of Mr. Obama's vision, you prognosticator's of the future, there are no certainties in life. That's why the young support this man, because they are still young enough to want to take chances on a better America. It couldn't be worse than it is right now.