cross-posted at Huffington Post
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No one could have beaten Barack Obama this year. It was destiny meeting up
with a crack in the facade of time, capped off by the hunger of tens of millions.
It came with a hope from around the world that the people of America were different
than the face of its government.
Barack Obama wasn’t simply a man running for higher office. He embodies the
dream that is America. That anyone, of any background, facing innumerable challenges
to reach the next rung can climb to the highest place on any ladder.
There is no way to express what the last two years have been like, but somehow,
in one picture it was manifest. The face of Jesse Jackson with tears rolling
down his cheeks spoke for generations, those before and in the present, all of whom have waited for this moment. All the work, violence felt, and progress delayed finally actualized by the most improbable of men: Barack Hussein Obama. It took generations
to break that ceiling but when we did we shattered it to smithereens.
What President-Elect Barack Obama sees before him was represented in his speech
last night, in his demeanor, and in the gravity and brevity of his words. The
weight had already descended on his shoulders, witnessed by the sober view of
our new president waving, looking out amidst the crowd, while praying in his
thoughts that he will be able to do what’s needed. It won’t be easy. An economy
in shambles. Two wars unwinding; one in Iraq where the political will doesn’t
exist; another in Afghanistan that has already come apart. Pakistan awaits,
with the troubles with India and Kashmir still to settle, with the Russian Bear
awakened from sleep amidst lack of U.S. foresight and leadership, as China revs right along, devouring resources left and right. … Iran. Israel and the Palestinians… Hugo Chavez. Then there is America, who has
become the step child doing without. We the people and our country are hungry for attention.
No one can legitimately doubt the width, breadth and substance of Barack Obama’s
sweeping national referendum on change. The specifics to be drawn in are quite
different, while the resounding message of Obama’s campaign echoes. To borrow, it’s not
a partisan who feels pain when he or she cannot get healthcare for a daughter
or son. It’s an American. It’s not one party or the other who suffers from our
lack of energy independence. It’s all Americans. It’s not a Democrat who faces stop-loss and unending tours in an unending war. It’s a father, a mother, a husband or wife, sister or brother. How these issues are solved,
however, is where your ideological compass becomes the guide. Democrats believe
we are our brothers keeper. With so many Democrats by his side, President Barack Obama
will be able to manifest what that means. The message must be clear, sharp and
unequivocal and it must be an answer that Americans can see, feel and experience. But the solution comes down across American lines, not only partisan ones.
But if there is one thing President-Elect Barack Obama knows all too well it’s that he can’t meet the historic challenges he will face with only “blue
America.” In fact, he promised to do just the opposite. Where he compromises
will tell the tale.
Coming full circle, I once again revert to the interview former candidate Barack
Obama gave George Stephanopolous, circa May 2007.
“I think that I have the capacity to get people to recognize themselves
in each other. I think that I have the ability to make people get beyond some
of the divisions that plague our society and to focus on common sense and
reason and that’s been in short supply over the last several years. I’m not
an ideologue, never have been. Even during my younger days when I was tempted
by, you know, sort of more radical or left wing politics, there was a part
of me that always was a little bit conservative in that sense; that believes
that you make progress by sitting down listening to people, recognizing everybody’s
concerns, seeing other people’s points of views and then making decisions.”
– Barack Obama (on ABC’s “This Week”)
A president is the leader of a political party, but just as importantly, he’s
the leader of the entire nation. When the challenges are as great for this nation
as what stands before President-Elect Obama, loyalties and responsibility to
one, may not match up with the other. Balancing without breaking will be the test.
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