280 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 56 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing Summarizing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H4'ed 2/16/13

Why Obama Can't Destroy Hope Or Prevent Change

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   3 comments

Message
Even though I consider the only major difference between Barack Obama and George W. Bush to be that Obama has the better vocabulary, I don't see Obama's election as being the unnatural disaster that Bush's being elected was.

When Obama got the Democratic nomination, I was in a minority among people I knew, on two counts: 1) I didn't believe anything he said, and 2) I thought it was likely that he would become President.

Most people I talked to liked what Obama said, but they told me I was crazy if I thought America would elect a black man to the Presidency. I told them that it would be easy for a black person to win if he/she* gave people a reason to vote for them - and if they could motivate people who normally saw no reason to vote for either branch of the corporatocracy that rules America.

Election day came, and, by 7 p.m. Arizona time, Obama was a clear winner.

His first term in office hasn't disappointed me (though I could not have anticipated just how identical to Bush he would turn out to be), but only because I never bought into his empty rhetoric about "hope" and "change." Like Bill Clinton, he is a master of talking for a long time while rousingly and brilliantly saying nothing. I'm horrified  by his administration, but not disappointed.

And, even though he's an amoral huckster, the meaning of his being elected is the opposite of what Bush's election meant.

In the long view, it doesn't matter that Obama is not what he pretended to be. America didn't vote for the reality of the man; it voted for the illusion. It voted for what he pretended to be - a man with a progressive vision, who would bring change. America, despite its infamous racism, wanted that change so badly that it was not daunted by the man's being black.

The math is simple: racists and reactionaries were outnumbered and outvoted by progressives.  Sadly, the man they elected turned out to be a reactionary and - witness his disregard of Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans - racist, or at least willing to use racism to his advantage. But that's not what America voted for, and so Obama's success in lying his way to the White House is evidence that the change so many of us hoped for has already come about.

* I said "he/she" because the other myth is that America would never elect a woman President. Do you really think Oprah Winfrey wouldn't win if she ran?
Rate It | View Ratings

Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

U.S. Media Helped Keep Debra Milke on Death Row for 20 Years

Why I Watch People Die

Why Scotland Must Vote Yes

Racism and Classism in the Argument for Fluoridation in Portland's Water

Bernie Sanders Sells His Soul and Ensures a Trump Victory

Why Obama Can't Destroy Hope Or Prevent Change

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend