Politicians are something I live and breathe by. I manage two sites for them and, on occasion, I am one myself.
Barack Obama is a politician. An inexperienced politician, but a politician he is. The first time I heard of Barack and his lack of practice I assumed there had to a magical charisma guiding him. The second time I saw him was on the cover of a book at Wal-Mart. The book looked dull, dry and lacking any luster; lacking the charisma I assumed was Barack’s soul savior. I bought his book, The Audacity of Hope, to take a deeper look into what Obama was selling himself as, and why this book was already a bestseller.
Only a few pages into the book I could see why it sold. Obama was talking about the crippling effects of party polarity within in the United States Congress. He talked about party control in the 60s, about filibusters stopping legislation for slavery, about current medicare and social security. There was no stone left unturned when it came to addressing his feelings towards current politics; he covered everything. However there was something different about Barack’s approach. Instead of following the traditional party lines—the same ones that crippled the Congress—he searched for the middle ground.
That’s what attracted me to Barack. He was not blinded by his own party, whether it be from inexperience or idealism, I can’t say. There is no shame in stating that his thoughts were biased towards Democrats, but I was truly surprised to see someone riding party lines in an effort to pull out of the Congress “gridlock” as Obama puts it.
Books, as they always have been, can be nothing more than political hype. Barack could be bluffing early in an effort to boost his political appeal. Still, I find that Audacity of Hope gives me something from a Senator that I have never seen before: what seems like an honest-to-god effort to cross party lines and get something done.
It’s far to early for me to pick a candidate to support, but Barack has me curious and wanting more. I strongly encourage you to read his book, even if just to criticize it.
3 comments:
Kudos on this masterpiece. All Obama supporters should take every word of this entry into deep thought and consideration come 2008.
everytime I see the name "Barack Obama," I think it says, "Black Obama"
Politicians are something I live and breathe by. I manage two sites for them and, on occasion, I am one myself.
Barack Obama is a politician. An inexperienced politician, but a politician he is. The first time I heard of Barack and his lack of practice I assumed there had to a magical charisma guiding him. The second time I saw him was on the cover of a book at Wal-Mart. The book looked dull, dry and lacking any luster; lacking the charisma I assumed was Barack’s soul savior. I bought his book, The Audacity of Hope, to take a deeper look into what Obama was selling himself as, and why this book was already a bestseller.
Only a few pages into the book I could see why it sold. Obama was talking about the crippling effects of party polarity within in the United States Congress. He talked about party control in the 60s, about filibusters stopping legislation for slavery, about current medicare and social security. There was no stone left unturned when it came to addressing his feelings towards current politics; he covered everything. However there was something different about Barack’s approach. Instead of following the traditional party lines—the same ones that crippled the Congress—he searched for the middle ground.
That’s what attracted me to Barack. He was not blinded by his own party, whether it be from inexperience or idealism, I can’t say. There is no shame in stating that his thoughts were biased towards Democrats, but I was truly surprised to see someone riding party lines in an effort to pull out of the Congress “gridlock” as Obama puts it.
Books, as they always have been, can be nothing more than political hype. Barack could be bluffing early in an effort to boost his political appeal. Still, I find that Audacity of Hope gives me something from a Senator that I have never seen before: what seems like an honest-to-god effort to cross party lines and get something done.
It’s far to early for me to pick a candidate to support, but Barack has me curious and wanting more. I strongly encourage you to read his book, even if just to criticize it.
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