To Vilify Obama for his Ability to Inspire is to Ignore the Principal Lesson of the Last Three Decades of American Politics

It's one thing for supporters of Hillary Clinton to make the case that her experience in Washington politics would make her a better president than Barack Obama. But it's quite another to actually vilify Obama's ability to inspire as a "cult of the personality" or "nothing but words."

It is particularly disturbing when serious progressive writers who should know better repeat this attack on Obama's inspirational abilities. It demonstrates a failure to grasp the principal lesson of the last thirty years of American politics.

In fact, it is precisely the absence of inspiration in progressive politics that has kept Progressives on the political defensive for decades.

That's because to inspire people, Progressives have to appeal to something much more important than endless lists of policies and programs. To inspire people, Progressives have to appeal to our values and to our vision for the future.

John Kerry did not lose the presidency because he lacked solid, progressive policies and programs. His campaign rolled out new ten point programs practically every other day. He lost because the Republicans erroneously convinced a significant number of persuadable voters that John Kerry lacked core values -- that he was a flip-flopper.

Right after the last election I struck up a conversation with a New Jersey cab driver. I asked him, "What do you think of Jon Corzine?" "Good guy, tough guy, stands up for what he believes," came the reply. "What do you think of George Bush?" "Good guy, stands up for what he believes," he said. "What do you think of John Kerry?" I asked. "Phoney... a flip-flopper," he responded.

His evaluation of these political leaders had nothing to do with positions or policy papers. The Republicans had convinced him that Kerry didn't have core values.

From 1932 until the mid 1970s -- at least in our domestic politics -- progressive values provided the dominant frame for mainstream political debate. They defined political "common sense." By 1980, the Reagan revolution had changed that -- and rightwing values have framed the American political debate for the thirty years since.

That's largely because Progressives went into a "defensive crouch." Our candidates advocated "Republican-lite" positions. We refused to debate the fundamental differences between the progressive and radical conservative values. Chief among these differences is the central question of whether we're all in this together, or all in this alone.

Often our leaders retreated to the discussion of small, incremental policy initiatives that presumed the right wing's assumptions about the primacy of "private markets" over people, and the innate inferiority of democratically elected governmental institutions compared to corporations that are in fact unaccountable to the public interest.

Beginning in 2005, our successful defense of Social Security, the obvious failure of NeoCon foreign policy, and the spectacle of Katrina -- began to change that. Progressives began to emerge from their defensive crouch and stand up proudly for progressive values once again.

Then came Obama, with his ability to inspire Americans to devote themselves to our values in a way that resonates with average people. His self-confident appeal to hope and possibility -- his "yes we can" -- have captured the imagination of millions of Americans. His ability to inspire has allowed him to simultaneously engage swing "persuadable" voters and the millions of stay-at-home "mobilizable" voters who would support progressive candidates if they could just be motivated to vote.

People want to be inspired. Inspiration is about making people feel empowered to be more than they are. They want to be inspired because they desperately want meaning in their lives. They want to be part of something larger than themselves and they want to feel that they can play a significant part in that larger purpose.

Meaning comes from being devoted to something outside of yourself -- to a cause, to a person, to a religion, to your art.

That's why "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" is so resonant -- so inspirational.

The Right has understood this need for meaning--and has addressed it -- with calls for devotion to the "Conservative Movement," to fundamentalist religion, to xenophobic nationhood.

For three decades, Progressives have often tried to compete by offering the bloodless alternative of a "policy agenda" -- and many times a timid one at that.

For thirty seven years I have devoted much of my professional life to campaigns to implement progressive policy initiatives. So I certainly agree that we need sound, bold policies. Once in office, a new president must in fact deliver on real, concrete policy.

But to change policy in a fundamental way requires more than good programs. It requires a progressive realignment of the American political debate. It requires that we redefine the value frame for American politics. And that requires inspirational leadership that proudly affirms our values.

Just as important, it requires inspirational leadership that can mobilize millions of Americans to demand the enactment of a progressive program once a new president is in place. Frederick Douglass was right. "Power surrenders nothing without a struggle. It never has. It never will." Progressives won't win legislative battles with an insider game.

In 1993 we had a Democratic President and Democratic Congress, but we lost the battle for universal health care. What we needed then, and what we need now, is a massive national mobilization to pass universal health care, change our labor laws, enact campaign finance reform, provide universal access to higher education and preschool, end global warming and change our foreign policy.

Leadership, more than anything else, is about mobilizing people into action. People take action when they feel empowered -- when they are inspired. They will not take action simply because they are "convinced" we are right. They will take action when they are motivated by inspiration to be a part of an historic endeavor.

Inspiring leadership is not just "another quality" that would be "nice" to have in a president. And it is certainly not to be assailed as a "cult of the personality."

America needs inspiring leadership to re-establish the preeminence of progressive values; to define a progressive vision for its future; to mobilize Americans to enact a progressive agenda -- and most importantly -- to convert this historic opportunity into generational progressive political realignment.

No one knows for sure what either a Clinton or an Obama presidency would mean for America. But I believe that Barack Obama presents us with a candidacy more likely to provide the inspirational leadership that we need, than any politician since Robert Kennedy's quest for the White House ended that June night in 1968.

Comments

[obalaji]

Excellent post. I was never that taken with the Clintons, and I suppose now I'm learning why.

[weavermiami]

The Clinton and McCain supporters who are so quick to villify Obama's inspirational message do so simply because they are not inspired in the least by their own candidate. They are voting out of fear; because they believe for one reason or other they have to vote for rather than want to vote for their candidate. They are afraid, closed off, angry and, yes, hopeless. I can't blame them. We have been beaten down by years of abusive politics that have seeped poison into our culture in general. We have become skeptical of optimism and of that new four-letter word, hope. We have lost the ability to trust. We should not be deterred by this negative, no-we-can't thinking. We CAN work together, we CAN unite this country, we CAN solve the problems that face us, we CAN change the way we think and live. It's called hard work, and I for one am ready.

[zozosmom]

Actually I'm very inspired by Hillary. It's Barry who leaves me cold. He reminds me of a carnival soapbox preacher. His line about having an epiphany, seeing the light and voting for him is something out of the worst televangelist hubris. I'm surprised people aren't getting the devil Hillary shocked out of them by an Obama laying on of hands. For many of us, Obama's performance is not inspiration, it's manipulation. It's marketing. It's hysteria. It's dishonesty. It's narcissism. It's snake oil.

[StephenJK]

No critical thinking when it comes to Barack. It's just a big love-in.

[Ono4Hoopono]

Beautifully put, weavermiami. I think you hit the nail on the head. Most of my friends who are Clinton supporters are voting out of fear or prejudice they can barely put their finger on-not necessarily racial, which is the way the Clintons unfortunately have chosen to play it. It is not a coincidence that her supporters are easily manipulated by arguments appealing to fear, prejudice, and our baser instincts; while the Clintons keep hammering on arguments that appeal to fear, prejudice, and our baser instincts.

They are hoping people will set aside their hopes and aspirations and be paralyzed by fear when they get in the voting booth. They have seen it work for Bush, and they apparently thought and still think that is going to work this time. But fewer and fewer people are buying into the fear campaign this time; we've seen where that road leads, and it is frustrating them to no end.

It is sad to watch that the Clintons have wasted their "political capital" on that ugly cynical view of the electorate, but that is the choice they made and this is not a sympathy vote. Obama took the right lessons from the Bush years, the Clintons took the wrong lessons. Another reason he will make the best president, the insight to draw the right conclusions from a set of facts.

[fcrooster]

Talk about the American Dream deferred or perverted!

What's wrong with this picture? I'm driving home and, in front of me, there's a woman on her cell phone in her black Nissan holding up traffic and, on her bumper to the left, is a bumper sticker reading: "Change ourselves, and we change the world!" and, to the right, another bumper sticker reading: "Hillary for President - 2008!"

Long after the light changed, I was polite and didn't honk. She then continued oblivious.

[giantsteps]

"People want to be inspired. Inspiration is about making people feel empowered to be more than they are. They want to be inspired because they desperately want meaning in their lives. They want to be part of something larger than themselves and they want to feel that they can play a significant part in that larger purpose."

Interesting paragraph! What exactly is the larger purpose?

Obama is a wonderful orator and his words do resonate with the people. Yes, Obama is a good choice. But to state that he is being vilified for his inspirational words is a tad harsh since many people who want more substance are not only Clinton or McCain people.
People should never be sheep and follow blindly . People must only follow with knowledge.

Inspirational words and words of how we will make change are great companions.

[nerakami]

I am over the rhetoric and hype, for me this is not an issue about good speeches or inspiration from Obama. What is very clear to me in this moment is that with all Hillary's "experience", she has waged an ill-advised and blundering campaign. This speaks volumes for me regarding her ability to manage successfully. Her poor campaign strategies directly calls into question this "experience" issue she claims. As one columnist puts it;

"If Hillary does ultimately lose the race, it will be for a combination of reasons - not just because she faced the greatest campaigner in a generation, but because she made a series of strategic and tactical blunders along the way."

If this is how she runs her campaign which is a do or die for her reaching the White House, clearly she lacks the necessary management skills and good judgment to run this country. This is straight facts...

[dzoner]

hear ye! hear ye!

that is indeed straight facts. what could be more relevant than a real time hard core test of her leadership qualities, communication and inspirational skills, long term strategic thinking capacity, tactical implementation, judgement, prudence, organizatonal abilities and integrity.

obama has demonstrated a clear and decisive advantage in every one of those catagories.

what's not to like?

[Independent voter]

Robert,

you should realize by now that the clintons will do ANYTHING to win. Villifying your opponent is childs play for these folks. Look at what happened to Foster and Brown.

The clintons will shred the Democratic Party if necessary - anything to get bill back in the white house.

[raker]

What in the world is inspiring about this man -and please don't say it's all on his web site. Bromides and platitudes about change are inspirational? The Obama cult seems to be devolving further, into mass hysteria.

[NotMyPrez]

It's interesting to me to note the haters most likely have not heard this man speak. Sure he's got rhetoric to spare, but the Hillary swiftboaters gloss over hers. If anyone's chock a block full of it, it's Capitol Hillary.

When Obama speaks, he strikes a chord. When Hillary speaks, she's either sharp or flat.

Just remember not to judge a candidate on what they say- it's all wish fulfillment. remember how everyone loved GWB's platitudes as opposed to Kerry's competent, but stiff delivery? GWB's "compassionate consvervative" morphed into a corporatocracy war mongering stuttering stumbling idiot.

As any obstetrician will tell you, it's all in the delivery.

If Hillary decides to fight w/ superdelegates, it just means she wants it more for herself than the country,which is my suspicion all along.

[raker]

It's interesting to me that the skeptics are called haters by the cultists. And with no evidence, the cultists see support for Hillary in a questioning of their messiah. This consuming cult of Obama is as disturbing and disheartening as have been eight years of Bush. There's no reason I'm aware of to hate Obama, just as there's no apparent reason to love him. My contempt is for the lazy sheep who think and feel and do as the MSM instruct them to. They'll even redefine plagiarism to preserve their savior's perfect image.

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

I think hysteria would better describe things at the Clinton campaign this Wednesday morning. I don't think you really dislike bromides and platitudes, you're just bitter the Obama is winning, so maybe the bromides and platitudes work. Look for more of them from Hillary, but I think it's too late. I'm not sure where your disdain for inspiration comes from, but people in a democracy want to and need to be involved, not managed. Your choice of the word "cult" is inflammatory and childish. Cynicism is so four years ago.

[classof77]

You're right--the bromides and platitudes ARE working. That's what's so dismaying. I don't want a president who has been chosen by a bunch of wishful thinkers voting on bromides and platitudes.

Somehow, I don't think that will come to pass, though. After Obama's 10 wins in a row, I've begun to prepare myself mentally for a President John McCain.

[GoLeftGoDeep]

cult? yeah, nice try ... how about belief in someone

typical Clinton/McCain approach ... try to diminish an opponent rather than raise up yourself on the merits

[classof77]

Belief in someone? Belief is a word that belongs in religion, not politics. But perhaps the word "religion" better describes the mass hysteria surrounding Obama. I'm sorry, but the Kool Aid hasn't worked on me.

If more voters based their decisions on policy issues, facts, and actual information rather than empty inspiration, we might end up with a candidate who is ultimately able to win the general election. But that, unfortunately, is no longer a slam dunk for the Dems.

Here's a video (from HuffPo of all places) that summarizes Obama's legislative accomplishments. I doubt if any of his supporters here could do much better!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/19/chris-matthews-humiliates_n_87493.html

[Bocababs]

Charisma baby...it'­s all about the "C" word...Cha­risma. I have been telling this story for two years now...that when our dumb press asks the question..­."Who would you rather have a beer with"....a­nd Bush gets elected TWICE I might add, I think we should begin at least to give credit where credit is due. Win or lose down the road, Obama has ran one of the best campaigns I have seen since Episodes of the "West Wing" and between he and Hillary, I think I would rather have a beer...NO - a glass of Chardonnay with Barack.

[berensma]

Nice!

[Hawise]

While the American electoral process has always driven me to drink, I hadn't realized that it was the most important thing in a candidate. Who is the most likely to drive you to drink? Vote for them.

The Democratic primary race- brought to you by the Vinyards of California.

[mrdontplay]

...inspira­tion is the key.

Hillary needs to leave.

She has left a stain on the political process and embarrassed herself.

Billy clint and stained his reputation with the beloved African Americans.

The country has shifted.

The time has come.

Lets make it happen...

NOW!

[cameltrax]

Absolutely. Not so much a cult of personality, but a gift of grace to be celebrated. Obama's contention for the presidency allows an extension of empowerment, and actual mobility to be reborn in the hearts and minds of his audience. Like him or not, one is struck by the electricity of his presence at those huge rallies. Look at the rates of voter turn out. Is it any wonder there's so much ballyhoo about the emptiness of his rhetoric? But by attacking their enemy's strength, like McCain and Clinton have done, they confess that they lack those qualities, that they have no vision. In spite of their legislative successes, if they want to convince us that they do have what they claim Obama doesn't, all we have to rely on is their words, which are a lot more empty.

[bossjimgettys]

This is certainly one of the best posts I've seen in months. It cuts to the chase: Obama's campaign is all about "We," Hillary's is all about "Me." "I'VE got 35 years of public service," "I'M ready to govern on day one," "I'LL get us universal health care," "I have the better plan..." ad infinitum. It's why she is losing. Her only desire is to "inspire" voters to restore the Clinton dynasty (which set the progressive cause back for nearly two decades, counting both the Bill Clinton administration and the BushCo horror show).

[JUSTME]

Precisely and accurately stated.

[mikebythesun]

Well said, Bob. I especially agree with the part about the first Clinton term lacking that element that would have been essential in uniting the country behind a new vision for America. With the Cold War having just ended, he had an opportunity and he did give it a shot. But even with all of his zeal and gusto, he still heavily relied on specific policy positions to move forward and did not get very far. Obama is the opposite. His advisors (which includes Bob Creamer, by the way) know that and they are right to suggest that Obama should use specific policy positions when needed, but not as a staple part of his stump speeches. America is ready for a new story, not a new chapter, and that is what Clinton's advisors don't understand.

As the race comes to a close with Clinton, he's talking policy more (and he will certainly have to talk about policy decisively in these upcoming debates) but his broad appeal as a visionary is unmatched and his greatest asset, and it is precisely what America needs to get on track for the 21st century.

[Mahavishnu]

RC wrote: "The Republicans had convinced him that Kerry didn't have core values." **********­**********­***** Just as much as the Republicans and the media have convinced the gullible that Hillary Clinton is the she-devil and B.O. is the next great thing. There was an interesting study posted on HuffPo the other day. (This is a rarity.)It showed that if Democrats who have voted thus far were deciding the nominee- HRC would be over 600,000 votes ahead. But they are not. In fact, non- Democrats who are switching over to vote against HRC are actually deciding the nominee of the Democratic party. Yesterday in Wisconsin over 36% of the voters in the Democratic primary were not Democrats! They voted OVERWHELMINGLY for Barack. The Obama supporters think this is a great thing! But it is just the opposite. These are anti Clinton votes coming from the other side- not pro-Obama. There is no way on the face of this earth that those 36% of the voters who crossed-over will vote for B.O. in November. Zero chance. In the next election cycle of 2012- the Democratic party should eliminate the primary crossover vote that they now allow. The Democrats should nominate who they want to nominate for President- and not allow their opponents to decide their competition. It looks like the Repubs are going to get their wish and face Obama in November.I am afraid the Obama fans are going to be in for a rude awakening on election night when they discover to what extent they have been duped.

[MMB]

Interestin­g....this whole nomination process is FUBAR.

[GoCards1978]

I wonder how many of those non-Democrats are former Reagan Democrats. Considering Obama got the majority of the under $50,000 in Wisconsin, it would be interesting to learn that.

[magic2]

I switch party and vote for Obama. My wife and I will vote for him again in November. We will not vote for Hillary for sure.

[Drewkowski]

they would not change the nominating process, becuase it is specifically there to ensure a Kucinich does not win - to water-down the base candidates and make the candidates more "mainstrea­m."

I'm with you - closed primaries all the way!. I just don't think the party is behind it.

[Davidb36]

lol old Mcdonald will look like a cartoon by the time this election. Not only that he has played any cards he had that would have helped him to get anything done if he were elected. repubs voted for Barack because they are just tired. tired of all the fighting and the only way to get it to stop is by taking the path of least resistance. The hard cores will vote mccain but Ill bet that most people are willing to give him a chance and no it is not like Bush part deux Obama has a brain. He has already seen the man behind the curtin. He is not afraid of him. Neither am I anymore.

[Angelic11]

Please expose the national media for their horrendous editing of Michelle Obama’s statement. By deleting the key word “really”; it drastically alters the statement that was made regarding “being proud of her country for the first time in her adult life”! It is all an attempt to discredit the Obama's patriotism—to call into question their loyalty to this country.
[e-mail]

[AWest]

So much of this to love. Obama's the one that's shown the dedication and the ability to work - and to achieve. Whatever Hillary's been doing for these last however many years, it's been about Hillary. The gall of some of these nasty attacks has got to be one of Clinton's most remarkable features..­. and we've had enough of that for the last 15 years.

[ltfcrazy]

You're right, and it's not as if she has nothing to brag about. She's done a lot of good in the world and yet she attacks Obama instead of doing what he's doing....i­nspiring. She could have done that by keeping it civil, but she hired the wrong guy to run her campaign. Obama rocks.

[Bacowall]

Agree 100%. For weeks, I have said she needs to get a better speech writer, given her advisers have allowed to use dry 'sound bites' rather than a combination of messages that inspire.
When most people go the the polls, they go pumped up and inspired to change what they feel is wrong with the political system.
Obama gives them that drive -- we are seeing the results.
There is a place for knowledge and 'experience' but in a very long horserace no one remembers the experience when they are being carried energetically by a momentum that says " I have power to do".
So clearly, experience and the inability to read voters, in these 10 losses is not paying off.
Hillary if she desires to win ....somewh­ere needs to borrow Obama's speech writer. No one will accuse her of "borrowing"--it's time to do what works, appeal to voters,drop the negatives; if not she continues her treck down a dirt road to no where.
http://manchestersquare.blogspot.com