Barack Obama and the Emotional Power of Reason / THE FIFTH COLUMNIST by P.M. Carpenter

[Demeter]

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/carpenter/017


As great oratory goes, Barack Obama's race speech rivaled JFK's inaugural address, Lincoln's second, and virtually anything ever spoken by FDR. The national jury came in with that unanimous decision after very little deliberation, so I repeat it here without fear of hyperbole.

But his was more -- much more -- than just great oratory. It was, in addition, that rarest of displays -- that of a politician in possession of an authentic and deep historical understanding of the American Experience. This man does more than memorize and re-heave the latest and hottest-button talking points scribbled by jaded advisers designed to position their guy with a short-term edge. He's a profound thinker, for the benefit of the long haul, and he uniquely invites the nation to think along with him. That's unprecedented in my lifetime, and was enlightening enough as well to finally move me from mere opposition to one candidate to confident support of another. It takes a lot of something quite powerful to stir a bona fide cynic, but Obama stirred this one.

He did it through the use of an open, personal and pragmatic reasoning power that reminded me of Franklin Roosevelt's fireside chats -- exhortations of splendid leadership, for sure, but also artfully crafted and gentle reminders that we all need to be on the same page before we can effectively move forward.

His speech was the stuff of the professorial without the haughtiness. Between the lines Obama was asking, simply, Do you get it? Do you understand what I'm saying here? Because if you don't, I'll gladly back up and we'll go over this material one more time. And we'll keep going over it until everyone understands. It's not that difficult, really. It's just that no one in my political position has ever asked anything of you before.

Other politicians ask only for your vote. Obama is asking for your heart and mind. And he seems to genuinely care less about personal power and next-hump victories than national reconciliation through individual comprehension.

[pscot]

1. Hear him. Hear him.

You have to be blind and deaf not to get it.

[Demeter]

3. Unfortunately, There's A Lot of That Going Around

Maybe a greater Depression will open the eyes and ears of America--too late, but better late than never.

[Jensen]

2. K&R!!!

:thumbsup: :applause:

[Emillereid]

4. I have noted before that Obama seems more connected to his feminine self than Hillary.

Actually Obama comes across as one the most integrated, self-assured and thoughtful person I've ever seen in public life.