Barack Obama is inspirational and transformational without being confrontational. My crystal ball tells me that he’ll defeat Hillary Clinton handily before the Democratic Convention, and that he’ll then defeat John McCain (a.k.a. Bush III) in an historic landslide.
One reason is his natural charisma, that charming halo that’s been missing in American politics since Kennedy and Reagan were swept into the White House. Another is his skill at public speaking, which probably surpasses that of either JFK or Ronaldus Magnus. A third is his command of the issues, which belies his lack of experience (at least at the federal level–overall, considering his time as a state legislator, he has far more government experience than Hillary Clinton.)
These three reasons coalesce around an overriding consideration: history. Obama has the potential to restore our reputation around the world, to effectively erase the stain left by George Bush’s heavy-handed imperiousness (or is it imperialism?) Obama could also unite the country by rejecting the politics of division, including the identity politics he pointedly rejects, in favor of inclusiveness and collegiality. And then there’s the potential election of our first non-white president. He’s the right man at the right moment.
The liberal media seem to be having their cake and eating it, too, by tacitly anointing Obama as the Democratic nominee, while at the same time pretending–largely in the interest of ratings and circulation–that he and Hillary Clinton are neck-and-neck in the race. The conservative media, meanwhile, are girding their loins for battle, realizing that it will take a concerted (and more than likely underhanded) effort to bring him down. Look for right-wing talk radio, Fox News, and their allies in print (Bill Kristol chief among them) to launch a smear campaign commensurate with the power of its target. The more substantive conservative voices–George Will, Peggy Noonan, Pat Buchanan–won’t join in the smearing.
I can see one major obstacle in Obama’s way. Up until now, he’s been able to craft a message vague enough to appeal to a wide swath of the electorate. Who isn’t for hope? And after seven plus years of the Bush debacle, who isn’t for change? Once Hillary steps aside (or, more likely, is brushed aside,) Obama will be challenged by McCain to be more specific in both policy and philosophy. The devil is in the details.
Cross-posted at
NewsprismBlog--Following media and politics with a big shovel
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