Barack Rocks The World
I stand corrected. I thought events in Pakistan would cause voters to feel unease with Obama’s relative lack of experience and benefit Hillary. But I miscalculated the power of this man, Barack Obama. He is clearly a highly gifted politician, perhaps the most gifted since Robert F. Kennedy in his ability to inspire. But there was another factor last night — the man looked presidential — a leader. I have always thought the election of a president is a very primitive exercise. People are selecting a leader, and the selection of a leader requires a level of trust, connection and a sharing of vision. And a level of confidence that someone will succeed, as well as protect and defend your way of life. There was something in Obama’s look — a sense of calm but firm confidence — that conveyed that level of presidential leadership. Never mind that he hasn’t been in the senate very long — the man has got it. I’m not sure what “it” is, but I know he has it. That’s what the voters said in Iowa when they came out in record numbers to vote for him. Obama won every demographic segment, including Hillary’s coveted base of women, and his total voters exceeded all of the Republican caucus votes combined! That’s powerful.
Meanwhile, did you see the folks standing behind Hillary last night? Madeleine Albright. Bill Clinton. All of whom looked a little worse for wear. A 90s reunion. When Obama spoke, there was a legion of young, excited, passionate folks behind him looking genuinely excited. The contrast was compelling. To ignore it is to miss what really happened.
Last night, the Apple/Obama ad came to life. Obama tossed the hammer at Hillary’s machine and shattered the screen. Third place!
If she loses New Hampshire, as I now suspect she will, she may not recover. Obama is well positioned to succeed in South Carolina. As more people begin to see him as having a legitimate chance, and recognize how special he is, he may become unstoppable.
Huckabee is no fool, and he’s trying to capture some of Obama’s magic by claiming he’s part of the same generational wave. But this is not just about generational change. But if there is one thing Obama and Huckabee’s successes have in common, it’s that they both come across as authentic and likable, particularly in relation to their competitors, Hillary and Romney.
That’s right, last night, the voters rejected manufactured politics for authenticity.
Stay tuned for more in the weekly summary this weekend.
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4 responses so far ↓
bmgmom // January 5, 2008 at 4:33 am
Well said, RKR.
momofali // January 5, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Huckabee scares me, in some weird, icky way.
missivesfromsuburbia // January 7, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Well put, but I still live with the memory of Bush versus Gore and Bush’s “down home, regular guy” routine that overshadowed Gore’s hairsprayed, product-of-the-Clintons political persona. Authenticity in politics makes me as nervous as a Mormon with a tail in a room full of evangelical rocking chairs.
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Hilarious as usual! But one difference here, to be fair, is that Bush’s so-called authenticity turned out to be a total fraud. I don’t think anyone really wants to have a beer with the guy anymore. I also think that despite Gore getting more votes than Bush, and arguably winning Florida, if he had connected with voters better he would have won decisively.
-RK Ref
Obama Cites Reagan as His Inspiration; Disses President Clinton « Roadkill Refugee // January 17, 2008 at 12:26 pm
[...] How could Obama see the spin machine of Reagan as inspiration for his own presidency, despite their policy differences? After all, Obama has had a consistently liberal voting record in the Senate. I believe that he said these remarks purely out of political calculation. So much for the triumph of authenticity over manufactured politics. [...]