Why Barack Obama?

I was born in the mid 1950s, I recall the confusion of an elementary school student when I learned that President Kennedy was shot. I recall the look of the streets of Detroit in the wake of the 1968 riots. I recall the revulsion in learning that dirty political tricks that Nixon initially denied were, in fact, real. I have seen many public figures, from politicians to priests and evangelists, descend with their careers and dignity in flames when self-interest outweighed their stated purposes; yet my heart has also swollen with pride watching a man set foot on the moon or former President Jimmy Carter attain a certain hiatus in the seemingly ceaseless tragedy that swirls hostilely in the Middle East.

I know nobody is perfect, yet people can rise about themselves when driven with a selfless purpose. Think of (or learn about) Bob Geldorf who was so moved in 1984 by reports of famine in Ethiopia that he organized the world-wide phenomena we recall as 1985’s Live Aid concert - a simple Irish musician, one man, changing the world by deciding to act rather than watch. If you’re old enough, you probably recall that he was so moved that during the ‘84 holidays he co-wrote and released “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” also known as Feed The World.

Nobody’s perfect. Cynicism is the easy path. I dare, despite the scandals and tragedies, to dream the United States is a great melting-pot of a country leading the world - such is our confidence, our arrogance - a great country where anybody can grow up to be anything, that’s the “American Dream,” that we could be so mighty and altruistic that we help solve the problems of the world. Is that not why we followed our current President’s urging to intercede in Iraq?

Barack Obama has looked self-interest in the eyes; he’s stared it down. He doesn’t need to become President, he’s got power and influence to make a difference in the lives of millions already. He dreams of helping even more.

Obama’s largest challenge is not winning his party’s nomination, nor is it the campaign to win the General Election. He has demonstrated convincingly that he can run the sprawling organization to mobilize support among voters in the U.S., that he knows how to find and employ good people, and to let them do what they are good at doing. Obama’s looming challenge is that he just might win the office he’s seeking, at which point, with his candle suddenly burning brightly at both ends, this excellent father, husband, and politician will hold all of our hopes and aspirations in his hands.

Nobody is perfect. We’ve all seen how a politician, mimicking altruism, may influence others for his or her own advantage. You can hardly blame the doubters, or cynics, who point to past associations, or other perceived flaws or risks - we’ve been burned so very often.

So, why Obama? Why now?

He’s learned to admit mistakes; he’s grown up without becoming overly jaded, and he’s ready to give us his time. He’s been inspired to give us his vision. He’s willing to give us himself, when it would be easier to just be a Senator from Illinois. Nobody doubts his intelligence, his ability or willingness to listen, his broad perspective, or the other intangibles we value in leaders — and those who’ve suggest he’s inexperienced can’t support that assertion. In fact, Obama’s actions embody his stated philosophy. He’s dynamic, and willing to change. Barack Obama has matured, as we all should, beyond self-interest.