As many of my friends and family probably know at this point, my allegiance to Barack Obama first began during his 2004 speech at the Democratic National Convention (I used to feel special about this until I realized that most Obama fans cite this now famous speech as their favorite Obama moment). My conviction that Obama could and should be the next president was buoyed by Obama's decision to run in 2008, and my passion for the Obama campaign reached its zenith when I saw him speak in February just two blocks from where I live here in DC.
But over the last 6 or 8 months, my feelings towards Obama have chilled. I've been concerned that Obama's campaign, while replete with inspiration and style, continues to lack in substance. I've also been turned off by Obama's politicization, especially in the way he has spoken and argued in the 800 political debates that my roommate has forced me to watch this fall.
Fortunately, Andrew Sullivan's article in the Atlantic Monthly this month, entitled "Why Obama Matters," may have rekindled my hopes for the Obama campaign. In a very concise and eloquent manner, Sullivan explains why Obama may be a better option for Democrats (and Republicans) than Hillary or Guilani because he stands the best chance to "bridge the partisan gulf." One of my favorite quotes from the article:
"If you wanted the crudest but most effective weapon against the demonization of America that fuels Islamist ideology, Obama's face gets close. It proves them wrong about what America is in ways no words can."
Obama's strength is in his ability to communicate in a believable way, and his ability to identify with so many different types of Americans. At first, I thought Obama would have to be able to distinguish himself from the other candidates on the nitty gritty details of his domestic agenda and foreign policy. Now, I think Obama should just maximize his strengths, and appeal to his unique potential to change and bring Americans back together while also repairing this country's image abroad.
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