Mr. Obama Goes to Washington

Certainly Spring has been unkind to the Obama campaign and his supporters can't just blame Hillary's bottom-feeding anymore. The only bright side to Jeremiah Wright's twisted, egomaniacal schadenfreude is that the media so overplayed it that I can't believe that it will still be news in the fall (even though Wright's book is slated to come out in October!).

And although polls had shown a dead heat in Indiana and a tie would be as good as a knockout for Hillary, the most recent polling shows her pulling ahead there. The bright side here for Obama if he loses is that because of the Wright stink expectations for him have been lowered.

However if you're an Obama supporter there is this from New York Times polling to be extremely worried about:

"Only 29 percent of registered voters said they considered him "very patriotic," compared with 40 percent who described Mrs. Clinton that way. Mr. McCain, a former prisoner of war, was considered "very patriotic" by 70 percent of the registered voters."

Yikes. Obama needs to take the opportunity of Tuesday night, win or lose, to deliver a major, soaring, apple-pie and Chevy speech on how passionately he loves this country. He's been doing it to small crowds throughout the state of late, playing up his Kansan grandparents and his grandpa's service in WWII. On Tuesday night, regardless of the outcome, he will have the nation's gaze and in an upbeat, energetic and hopeful way he will have to remind us all that this is a land of opportunity; that the folks who've been in Washington too long have lost their way but that we the people are rising up to remind them that we are the good guys, as corny as that sounds, the defenders of liberty, the protectors of the little guy, citizens of the most fertile land on the planet for human potential.

Yet he will have to do more in this speech than just that. As was apparent in his tired Pennsylvania concession speech, he can no longer just talk talk about change and partisan bickering. He also needs to talk about his hunger to fight the good fight. People are scared. He needs to start using the word, "fight" as often as Hillary does. I know it's tricky as a black man, especially after Jeremiah Wright's '60s-era nationalism, but he needs to own the word on his own terms. He needs to tell farmers and bus drivers and school teachers, police officers, auto workers and construction workers, that he will not rest until Washington starts working for them too.

Of course if he wins Indiana then the speech will be easier to give and there will be less riding on it. However if he loses, as is likelier now, he will have to, in the words of Jesse Jackson, "Keep hope alive." Just as he did in his brilliant, "Yes, We Can" speech after his upset loss in New Hampshire he needs to shake off the loss and demonstrate the giddy optimism that he showed in the beginning of this endless campaign.

If Hillary wins she'll act as if she's won the nomination already. Obama will have to smile even bigger, tip his hat to her for the battle for Indiana well run, and then turn to the cameras and tell us how rosy will be our collective future once he's President of the United States.

Optimism is the quintessential American value and more patriotic than any flag pin.

Trey Ellis the author of "Bedtime Stories: Adventures in the Land of Single-Fatherhood."

Comments

[vugo]

I hope the Obama people read your columns, Trey ; you seem right on the money the whole time.

[going2ireland]

Wow, I come here to read comments and find nothing but vile remarks from the Clinton side. And you are the same ones who go to another HuffPo piece where the Obama side pretty much makes up the majority of commenters and accuse them of doing the very thing you are doing here.

Hypocrites!!!

[Marsangusidaho]

I'm a Clinton supporter, and I like this piece. Insightful.

[Breni]

Three strikes and you're out. If a presidential candidate has to have continuous 'press conferences' or speeches to prove he's patriotic, after sitting in a church for over 20 years listening to 'hate America' speech, then something is wrong.

How many chances does Obama get??? If it were McCain or Hillary, they would only be allowed ONE chance to defend themselves and if it didn't go over well, then that would be the end of them. Obama is given more chances because of his race. Americans don't want to be perceived as being 'racist' so without seeming prejudice, Obama is given more and more and more chances to 'change his tune' with each speech. Given enough chances, he'll eventually get the 'right tune'.

Pathetic!

[ghop]

Blah blah blah TWENTY YEARS blah blah blah RACIST blah blah blah KOOL-AID blah blah blah AYERS blah blah blah HATE AMERICA blah blah blah FLAG PINS blah blah blah DID I MENTION TWENTY YEARS? blah blah blah.....

[lizzytysh]

After listening to "Dreams From My Father," I have, for the first time, just heard and listened carefully to Barack Obama's speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention.

He speaks of how we all worship an AWESOME God... and how only in this country could he ever have dreamed of being where he was at [THEN! ~ must less NOW!]. He is a man of steady conviction, consistency, and continuity! He speaks of and wanted the same things then that he wants now. Why? Because they were needed then, every bit as much as they're needed now! His message doesn't waver according to the political winds. He knows what he's about and knows what he wants for our country. There are portions of that speech that could be resurrected for Tuesday night's speech... where he draws in the crowd, toward a common goal, as well as all I've already referenced.

When I listened to this, I felt even MORE [is that possible?] toward him because he is a man who knows how important it is to be true to oneself in speaking his message. He's not out there there rearranging every thing with each new poll or miniscule perception of what the people might want to hear!

[MPeter]

But first, he just did GUAM! A win is a win, is a win:


Obama Wins Guam Caucuses
With more than 4,500 votes cast in tight race, counting the ballots by hand took overnight.

Associated Press | 7:29 p.m. ET

[justShareandbeNice]

How many delegates were in play?

[tgood]

I would love to see Clinton and Obama stand before a group in Michigan and other states who have seen massive job losses and discuss their plans for an immediate amnesty--laughingly called comprehensive immigration reform as one of their first acts of office. Sorry, but if they can't put the needs of America first and stablilize this economy, they are nothing more but the same old politicans who got this country in the mess it's in . Throwing in a new face with the very same goals as the establishment in Washington is only a change in the name plates on the desk. It seems that Americans will be bashed at every turn while legislation is cranked out to destroy the will of the American people.

[Breni]

What are you talking about? Obama wants to GIVE ILLEGAL ALIENS DRIVERS LICENSES before he legalizes them. Obama is the worst one on illegal aliens!

Once illegals get licenses, the competition for drivers of UPS, FED-EX, commercial delivery truck drivers (bread, soft drinks, beer, furniture, etc.) will soar! The illegal aliens - of course - will take much, much lower wages, and presto! American drivers/workers will be out of work. The illegals lie/cheat/steal social security numbers and other documents, thus allowing them to fraudulently apply (and receive) these jobs. Look around you - see how many delivery trucks are on the road - then imagine EVERY ONE of the drivers being Hispanic/Latino/Indian illegals!
WAKE UP PEOPLE! How in the world can this economy 'get better' if the president allows illegal aliens drivers licenses and legalization. That will just be that many more who will LEGALLY be taking from our welfare services. Since, they all take less wages, they pay less in taxes (unless they're paid under the table and pay NO taxes) but they will be the ones DRAWING from welfare (our taxes) to feed and support their 5-8 children PER family! They multiply like crazy! If Obama is president, our country and our way of living will fall faster than we ever imagined. For you blacks, I hope you're not voting for Obama just because he's black - think about YOUR individual future and YOUR kids/family - Do YOU want YOUR kids to compete with illegals?

[Marsangusidaho]

Exactly what is an American? Does just having "citizenship" suddenly make you more entitled to the good life? Does being born here make you more entitled to make a living and support your family? Or is it really just about being white and Protestant?
Just wondering...

[FullMedia]

I live in Southern California ... enough said. I also am troubled by the thought of giving driver's licenses to those who have crossed into this country illegally ... BUT ...
wouldn't it be an excellent way to induce many who are hiding in the shadows to come forward, be photographed and fingerprinted? Can you see what the advantage to that would be? Additionally with the license (in the state of California) comes the obligation to maintain automobile insurance.

And if you are from Southern California you probably have at least one anecdotal story of someone you know being hit by an unisured motorist who unfortunately is an undocumented, unlicensed driver. So while I am not comfortable with handing out driver's licenses to the undocumented, there is a logical upside to the process.

Sometimes we have to evolve to a point where we see the value in things we don't viscerally respond positively to.

[superlive]

Dr. Wright exposed Obama for the quite literally two-faced weasel he is. He talks 100% Black if before a predominantly Afro-American crowd, but 50% WHITE in front of a predominantly Euro-American crowd. This is anathemic to what Dr. Wright had been preaching to Obama for the last 20 years and the good Rev finally had enough with this sellout hypocrite.

The entire foundation of cultural diversity rests on the premise that you don't actually have equality if the Minority must abandon their cultural uniqueness and assimilate into the culture of the Majority as a requirement for social equalization. Dr. Wright champions the notion that the Majority must accept the social equality of the Minority unconditionally on the basis of common humanity. The Obama Campaign has stood for the exact opposite and instead pursues two separate tracks:

01) Obama is a Model Minority
02) Obama is really only 50% Minority , anyway

Playing down what should have been his "Unashamed Blackness" to grovel for White votes is not in keeping with the teachings of the Trinity United Church of Christ. Dr. Wright's brief media tour served as an indirect notice of excommunication to Barack Obama.

One should commend Dr. Wright for being the exact same Angry Black Preacher-man in front of the lily-white NPC that he was when he sermonized before the NAACP. He was indirectly challenging Barack Obama to be consistent and not try to have it both ways.

[Breni]

Wow! You sound 'highly educated' and you're not supporting Obama? LOL! Good, accurate post. It's amazing that a lot of people don't 'get it' or see through Obama's transparency.

[ghop]

Hi Breni,
Here is a quote from a previous post of yours:

The more we know about ALL the candidates the better. To be indoctrinated and/or brainwashed for over 20 years by an America hating, white hating, Jew hating pastor isn't just 'drivel'.

So you really agree with superlive that

"Dr. Wright champions the notion that the Majority must accept the social equality of the Minority unconditionally on the basis of common humanity. " ?

Nice to play the black folks against each other, isn't it?

[ghop]

Oh, I forgot that there was a litmus test for being black enough. But then, Obama was already down on that score for being mixed-race, right? Trust me, dividing black folks into oreos and true brothers doesn't stop racists from seeing just n*ggers.

[ghop]

Okay, I regret posting the above comment. I've heard this kind of stuff my whole life and it hit a nerve, and I responded rashly. I think Wright has been getting clobbered precisely for his unashamed blackness, as superlive noted. However, I view the relationship between Obama and Wright as complicated (not to mention none of our business). I think there has been too much scapegoating and too much division, and frankly I feel like this division is the kind of thing that the powers that be like to capitalize on. Watching Obama denounce Wright made me sick to my stomach. You could see the pain in his face and it is supremely unfair that he and Wright were put in that position.

I'm sure there are people using the model minority/he's mixed argument to get around their racism so they can vote for Obama. But I'm also sure there are people who truly feel he is a great candidate.

[eurydice]

I think this is close to the Speech you were talking about.

Please watch Barack Obama speak at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Raleigh, North Carolina, last night, 5/2/'08.

Here a link to the speech in it's entirety.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/video/2829554/

This is what makes America great.
Please, just click and listen, and decide for yourselves.

[fiftyseven]

What Mr. Obama needs to do is find a way to take a few days off, lock himself in a hotel room without advisers, and do whatever he needs to do to remind himself why he stepped forward in the first place. The relentlessness of his schedule has left him running on fumes. Had I endured the same past 15 or so months he has I would be doing well to speak intelligibly, much less intelligently, and I certainly would not want to be held accountable for anything I might say in the throes of such chaos. The two of them remind me of those WWII dance contests, where the winning couple was literally the last one standing; only these two, while locked in this weird embrace, occasionally slap at each other, adding to the torment. It's getting hard to watch.

[LeonBNJ]

Sen. Obama should always make sure in public and a suit on he wears an American made flag pin. That would at least kill off a target of the right.
He should do a speech that points out that his running for President is because he loves his country - that he believes deeply in an America, note the phony patriotism of the Republicans that has sent jobs to China, put us in obscene debt, got us in a war we can't win in Iraq, and is wrecking the poor and middle classes with terrible economic policies that only help the top 1%. He also must acknowlege that others have radical views like Rev. Wright, but that they have the right to expresses them - but we all also have the right to reply to and reject such views.

[Kally]

Well heck yes...but keep his wife and the good reverend miles away...after all he showed how much he loved American sitting thru 20 years of speeches damning America and hating whites. Gee whiz look what his wife said.....she did find anything to love about America till her husband ran for the nom...so what does that say about the TWO OPPORTUNIST...THE obama.s

[nomobull]

i sure hope you judge everyone you think you know by their church,friends and associates. and don't mind if the same is done to you.

[poeticjustice4all]

B-Rock doesn't want to fight because he's afraid of looking like a loser. Of course he should come out swinging with a big defiant speech of hope and change. That's what was working for him early on. But the last time he tried that, his triumphant hope stuff was exposed as a copy cat, canned regurgitation of another Black politician's rhetoric -- and reporters started pressing him for the specifics in his vision of change.

He quickly backed away from that fight.

Far too cerebral to soil his ego in a boxing match, B-Rock is antiwar, not out of fear of his opponents but out of fear of his own self. Remembering that his "White grandmother" was made nervous by Black men, Obama would rather be beaten to a pulp than ever be the loud, threatening stereo-type that made his White relatives cringe.

It doesn't take a political genius to know a candidate needs to fight if he wants to win. But B-Rock has said plainly and repeatedly in so many different ways that he'd rather lose than be seen to fight -- and that if he can't win this campaign without fighting, he's declared he will not run again.

[FullMedia]

After 8 years of an idiot in the White House, and seeing what that has done to the country, are you actually saying you have a problem with the concept of an intelligent President?! That speaks volumes about the American psyche.

To be decent, civil and honest is not weakness, it actually requires a great deal more strength then lying, pandering and saying anything to win. When did decency become something to be ashamed of?

If in the beginning of this nation, the so-called founding fathers had been intellectually lazy or deficient, how far along do you think this nation would have come? Think about how complex a task the founding of this nation was ...

It took men of reason and wisdom to build this nation and as the past 8 years have proven it can be destroyed by idiots ... but then I wonder if you agree...

[superlive]

BULLSHIT!

It took bomb-throwing, Redcoat-shooting, Indian-scalping, Negro-abducting thugs to build this great and mighty nation and you should be ashamed of yourself for discounting the success of their labors.

[Stevelagain]

Hey, wouldn't it be great if Obama came out and declared that it's time to let the voters of Florida and Michigan speak (have their vote)?

LAUGH. OF course, he wont do that because he's scared to death that they would vote massively for Hillary and that would be the end of him.

[Snazzy54]

Stevelagain, the deadline for there being a re-vote has passed in both states, it can't happen no matter how much you want it. You should direct your ire currently aimed at Obama towards the Democratic party officials in those states that brought forward their primaries, knowing full well that it was illegal.

Also it's pretty lazy to copy and paste the exact same post from one comment thread to another.

Obama is currently being scrutinized much more intently than Clinton or McCain, and has been smeared via guilt by association with Wright and Ayers all over the cable news channels for over a week - yet is still picking up superdelegates at a greater rate than Clinton. You may need to get used to the idea that the only way for him to lose the nomination is for something to happen that forces him from the race. Check out the Hillary Deathwatch and Delegate Calculator over at Slate.com for more comprehensive information if you disagree, then get back to us.

Cheers.

[Stevelagain]

Dead lines can be changed, making excuses for Obama suppressing the Michigan and Florida vote does not justify his suppressing their votes. I think they will punish him for it in the general election.

[JeremyO]

Maybe next time the voters in Florida and Michigan should pay attention to the DNC and the decisions of their governors.

[Stevelagain]

But wouldn't it be great if Obama would overcome his fear of losing and allow the voters in Michigan and Florida to vote?

I just don't see how Florida or Michigan could vote in the general election for the man who fought so hard behind the scenes to make sure they didn't get a chance to vote in the primary and have it count.

[pinksheets]

How about Hillary agree to, in turn, let the pledged delegates decide the nominee?

Oh, because she can't win democratically......

[Stevelagain]

I'm not sure what you are saying. "pledged" super delegates WILL decide this race. And they will do so at the convention. Why? because they cannot be held to their pledge or forced to follow their pledge. They are 100'% free to change their minds as they are pushing placing their vote at the convention.

So lets go back to the disenfranchised voters of Michigan and Florida. They deserver better than they got from Obama. Wouldn't it be nice if Obama admitted, that just like he was wrong about Wright, he was wrong about Florida and Michigan?

[Breni]

I'd worry MORE about who would win in November - the REAL contest.

[ghop]

Actually, Hillary's camp has been the latest to block the Michigan compromise. They didn't like the fact that the 42% of the electorate that voted "uncommitted" would get representation. Hillary's hands are hardly clean on this issue, so why don't you give it a rest?

[Stevelagain]

I think there may be only one way to save the race for the democrats.

They need to let the voters of Florida and Michigan have a re-do that counts. They can thus shoot down Obama and show the super delegates that Hillary CAN win and that Obama cannot.

It's time to stop the disenfranchisement of Michigan and Florida and to let the voters of those states demonstrate to the super delegates who really has the support of the voters. I suspect the outcome would be that Obama gets TROUNCED and that would leave the super delegates with little choice but to go with Hillary knowing Obama has lost it.

[mlaiuppa]

Indiana and North Carolina VOTE on Tuesday. He needs to give the speech sooner. Like Sunday Night.

[hussein]

Speeches don't solve real problems. Thinking that making a good speech will make his problems go away is the very reason he is having problems.

[Stevelagain]

But speeches can bring political power. Particularly if you are trying to hide who a person is and get him elected as a cult, personality leader. Then you define your candidate in terms of "change" and other mostly empty words that completely avoid who he is and how he plans to "make things happen" or "unite".

[valleygent]

Trey Ellis can be a very duplicitous blogger, he is just flat out putting Obama down here. Obama can get on Television with a great speech anytime he wants, he simply just holds a press conference and Whamo...there it is. All the speeches in the world arent' going to fight Hillary Clintion. Obama has taken the pacifist route as far as it will take him in a Presidential race, he now has to fight to win, if he fails to do that, he will not be the nominee, period. The public will not backlash against him for campaigning to win, what is Axelrod doing to this man?? Giving him a losing strategy... I could do better and I have no experience at professional politics. Funny thing about it is that there is so much fertile ground in HIllary's past and present that one could write an encyclopedia of how to beat Hillary on the ISSUES alone. Maybe he just doesn't want to win anymore and is tired of the whole process, I know I am.