January 22, 2007
Oh, Red Skirt. Red Skirt, Red Skirt.
You have written eloquently about the media-savvy Barack Obama, noting his lack of experience, his left-of center voting record, and an autobiographical narrative that conservatives believe has been massaged into a “something for everyone” Rorschach. And I have the unbelievable luck of responding to this on the very day, it so happens, that Hillary Clinton has formally announced her candidacy for President.
To be honest, there are elements of Obama that give me pause too: the Presidency of George W. Bush is an object lesson in the disasters wrought by a President with a stunning lack of knowledge in foreign policy (and, in Bush’s case, little interest as well). However, if we were to carry this argument to one of its logical conclusions, we would have to stipulate that very few governors are qualified to hold the office (and certainly no mayors, no matter how large the city) because virtually none have much said experience, an idea that runs counter to the conventional wisdom.
| • Read the Red Skirt entry Alice is responding to. |
On this point about experience, I would note that one of the things I do like about Obama is his own assessment of readiness in general, which he stated on "Meet the Press" with Tim Russert late last year. It is easy enough to invoke straw man comparisons to the current White House staff — to note the mess they have made, presumably using all of their vast foreign policy experience, and leave it at that. But there is a kind of humility in Obama, a recognition that there are actually foreign policy issues about which he knows little, but is curious to learn. And I think it may well be this last quality, a curiosity about the wider world, that appeals to us because of its conspicuous absence in the Current Occupant (as Garrison Keillor likes to call him).
Obama’s curiosity about the wider world is buttressed by the fact that he has actually lived in it. For all of the things that Red Skirt brings up about Obama’s life experience that she thinks he has dissembled about, the truth remains that he has lived in and been exposed to far more culturally than the vast majority of us. Since September 11, Republicans have signalled a growing lack of acceptance of diversity beyond White Christianity (see here and here for two examples among the too-many-to-mention). The idea that we just might have a President who, as Red Skirt says, is “a living embodiment of multiculti chic” is actually quite thrilling! Inclusivity, what a concept!
Obama’s statement that “meaningful change begins at the grass roots,” is derided by Red Skirt as meaningless. I’m not sure why: as a community organizer in Chicago following his Harvard Law School education, he came to understand the power (and limitations) of communities to tap into their own sense of agency. Come on, Red Skirt, admit that he’s walked the walk! And while we’re at it, let’s acknowledge that the civil rights struggle, led by the Rev. Martin Luther King, was at its heart a grass roots movement that touched a young Obama in a way that must have been profoundly different than the way it touched you or me.
As for that beefcake photo, I’m not sure why we’re even talking about it. If the American people were so taken with hottie good looks that they would actually consider voting for a guy on that basis, then John Edwards would be President today. In any event, let’s hope that Obama’s photo ops work out better than this one.
If Obama is a mere poser, and not the real thing, I think we can count on Hillary (no matter how much you may dislike her, and I don’t delude myself!) to expose this in the coming months. Say what you will about her (and my next blog will give you ample opportunity!), she will be a formidable foe. And I know we shall both stay tuned!
Comments
patmcq (anonymous) says...
Tell us more about the depth of his experience--actual experience, not merely speech making--that would give him the "gravitas" to be prez.
January 25, 2007 at 10:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Sunrise (anonymous) says...
Don't you think it's too soon for Obama?
Here are comments I placed in Anne's "blog".
Surely we all must admit that Obama has a lot of potential to serve our country well, in whatever capacity. At this point in his career he seems a little too green to be running for president. Though costly -- financially and emotionally -- maybe this 2008 campaign for the nomination (Phd-esque education) will toughen him up for a future run....or maybe he and his family will determine that it's not worth the sacrifice of their family's well being. The tacky, thoughtless, but powerful, campaign styles by "unknown" candidate handlers is discouraging to both voters and candidates....and I'm sure that's a whole other column for Red Skirt/Blue Skirt.
Well, that's my ramble for the day.
January 30, 2007 at 11:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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