Obama: Mr. Cool's Intensity

[dkf]

By David Ignatius
Sunday, May 11, 2008; Page B07

Barack Obama called himself an "imperfect messenger" in his victory speech in North Carolina last Tuesday. That was a refreshing touch of humility, but it was also a fact. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is far from perfect. But he has demonstrated the most mysterious and precious gift in politics, which is grace under pressure.

Obama has remained "Mr. Cool," even when his campaign seemed to be blowing up around him. He didn't do the politically expedient things: He didn't wear his patriotism on his lapel with an American flag pin; he didn't promptly disown his race-baiting former pastor, Jeremiah Wright; he didn't apologize for comments by his wife, Michelle, that many Americans found unpatriotic. You can say what you like about the substance of these positions, but the interesting fact is that Obama didn't flinch.

...

The past several months have revealed Obama's vulnerabilities, but they've also shown his ability to take a punch. Many whites are furious that he didn't throw Wright overboard sooner, but blacks surely like him all the more for resisting the pressure. And there's an instinctive American fondness for people who don't rat out their friends, even when their friends are creeps. That's why a Wright-based strategy may backfire for the Republicans, just as it did for Hillary Clinton.

...

What's compelling about Obama is that fusion of grace and ambition. He's playing for the highest stakes, but he makes it look easy. That cool, graceful quality evokes John F. Kennedy and the Rat Pack -- all these sleek, handsome men in silk suits and skinny ties who never break character, never miss a beat.

Albert Murray titled a collection of his essays on black culture "The Omni-Americans." That was his view of the African American experience, that it pointed in every direction at once -- toward anger and healing, toward rage at America and a patriotism that has led blacks to serve in disproportionate numbers in the military, toward the paradox of hating America and being intensely loyal to it.

That's the history-changing package that Barack Obama brings to the presidential race. Based on last week's primary results, we have a rendezvous in November with that vision of "Omni-America" and the transcendent and potentially disruptive change it represents.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/09/AR2008050902045.html

[NYCGirl]

1. Really nice article. And one of the things I like most about Obama is, to

paraphrase one of the points in the article, is that he doesn't always "do the politically expedient things".

[db1234]

2. we need a democrat in office period

Why can't people see what's going on. The republicans have proven to be experts in winning elections, especially by cheating, but truly by knowing exactly what to do. Obama, no matter how great of a guy he is, CANNOT beat McCain. The republicans know this, which is why they are voting for him in open primaries...no matter how they've spun it in the media. Hillary's the only one that has a chance at beating him. Even though Bill tarnished his record with some of his actions, the country was in a much better state when he was in office, and people remember that regardless of repubican spin. I think Obama should run as her VP myself, they can crush McCain if they take that route, but no matter how dispicable, or how far we have come in race relations, this country will not put a black man in office. Their are too many redneck morons (which is where our last embarassment of a president came from) to let that happen. Put him in as VP, let him prove himself, and then he'll have a real shot in 2016. Be smarter than the republicans people, we need a democrat in office period! Don't let them win another one by not playing it smart....PLEASE!

[tibbiit]

3. no

[db1234]

4. ah, another unfortunate simpleton in our party...

To respond to your "elaborate" reply, I assume that you are part of the problem. "No", no what? No, you refuse to be smart, or at least smarter than republicans? No, you don't want a democrat in office period? I hope you'll enjoy another 4 to 8 years of another warmongering republican who doesn't know the difference between Iran and Iraq, or between Sunnis and Shiites, in office, more of our soldiers needlessly losing their lives in the most unnecessary and embarassing war this county's ever been a part of. Mark my words, if Obama wins the nomination, he will NOT win the presidency. And it's not only because of his race, it's because he has next to no experience in anything he needs to to be successful. McCain's camp will chew him up and spit him out.At this point he's nothing more than a card carrying member of the cult of personality with some good ideas that cannot be accomplished in 8 years in a two party system and in this current society. No!? How about yes! What is the goal here? The goal should be to get a dem in office. Anyway....this is my last and only attempt to convince you, I'm banking on you being the minority in our party and the rest of his current supporters will wake up and do the right thing. Get him some real experience first, let him prove himself as VP, and then put him in office. You see, I like him too, but I'm a realist with the ability to think beyond the surface. You should try it...

db