The Magic of Obama
I’m often called to task for my pessimism and grumpiness. A fair accusation and one I don’t mind, because it puts me in the company of some pretty great people. Mark Twain, Edward Abbey, Emma Goldman, Arthur Schopenhauer, even Woody Allen. It’s often hard to be optimistic in this world, especially when you bury your head in history books and ponder man’s work to date. Overall, the story is pretty bleak, although there certainly are many bright spots.
Last night was one of those bright spots. A night when people of all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds filled the capital of the most powerful nation in the world, a nation that has the power to do either immense good or bad, and said “we are one and we’re for change.” We’re for equality, fairness and peace. We’re for everyone having their fair share and the elimination of poverty. We’re for a better environment and for being a better steward of the world’s resources.
They sang together. They prayed together. They danced. It was a beautiful thing, and it somehow reminded me of how the country seemed to come together after 9-11, but in joy, not sadness.
The success of the movement depends on how well it stands up against the corruption and despoliation that Washington and Wall Street can bring. For the unfortunate reality of the situation is this. There are people that could really care less about that event or about the hopes and dreams of millions. They only care about their own little universe, at the center of which lies a monster known as the profit motive. They’ll try to maneuver and manipulate Obama and his staff in ways that can have tragic consequences, but my guess is Obama is smarter than most of ‘em. But he won’t be willing to do the same things to get his way, either. He’ll play clean, and the the fellow that fights fair doesn’t always win.
Obama isn’t John Wayne in a white hat and this isn’t a film. It’s the real world, and bad guys win a bunch of the time.
Remember the old adage about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer? Well, that’s exactly what he’s doing. It will be harder to criticize him and polarize people if they get to know him and like him. Maybe he can charm them the way he’s charmed the nation. But there’s also another old saying about lying with dogs and getting fleas, and that’s what he will have to guard against.
No, I’m not calling for a Presidential flea collar, but he’ll need a steely will and some of the most deft maneuverability the White House has ever seen. There’s no magic about it. He’ll just have to be tough as nails and be able to master the great skill of knowing precisely when to hold your ground and when to compromise.
For us parents, we understand how this plays out every day in our homes. But Obama is a President and the stakes are therefore much higher. They’re the sort of stakes that give you grey hair and sleepless nights, since the fate of millions often lies in your hands.
As he spoke last night in front of the statue of Lincoln, I couldn’t help but think about how he’ll have to probably be our next Lincoln to get us out of this mess. The odds are high, no doubt. But Obama has a massive advantage over Lincoln, in that the people are firmly behind him. So, I’m cautiously optimistic, but then again, after the darkness of George Bush, I’d be optimistic about damn near anyone.