I Too Have a Crush on Obama – A Rare Political Post

I’m not a political blogger. I don’t intend to become one. But after Obama’s speech tonight – I have to write something.

I was 18 when George W. Bush took office. It was the first election I voted in. I have lived my entire adult life under G.W.’s administration. My entire 20’s (so far). All of college and grad-school (you see where I’m going).

I realize I’m buying into a tagline – but I don’t want more of the same. In fact, during the primaries this is why I voted for Obama. I realize that Clinton wasn’t a shabby candidate. I know many people that I respect who supported her – but I drank the Obama Koolaide and I think it was a direct result of my life experience.

Don’t forget – before G.W. I lived eight years under a different Clinton. That takes me back to when I was ten years old. And don’t forget from age six to ten I was living under the first Bush. Before that was Reagen who I only vaguely remember seeing on T.V.

I’ve lived my entire conscious life in a country run by two families.

That’s why Obama’s call for change resonates with me. It’s exciting and inspiring.

Hearing Obama say we will break our addiction to foreign oil I got the chills. This must have been what it felt like to hear J.F.K suggest we would send a man to the moon.

Not to say that breaking the addiction will be easy. That’s why it’s called an addiction! It will require lots of work from everyday average citizens – but again, this plays into Obama’s strength. It’s not Obama the person that I like. Nor do I think he is some kind of government-executive mastermind that can balance a budget while rubbing his tummy and patting his head.

What I support is inspiration and hope. To say we will put aside the silly political games (swift boating), put your cards on the table and say “I think this will work. It’s different – but we have to push forward.”

It is hope – it is change, etc.

Again: I realize I’m repeating the obvious rhetoric, but I’m not the only one. Obviously the guy represents these things to more than just me and that, in the end, will be his greatest strength.

If Obama is elected and he says something to the tune of “ask not what your country can do for you…..” – people will respond. Everyone like me that has felt alienated from government for the past eight years, perhaps their entire lives, will stand up and say “here’s what I’m going to do for my country.”

That is more valuable than any other kind of financial capital.

As far as Republicans go I like John McCain. I have always thought of him as a respectable guy. But if he can’t mobolize the country and create the shift not just in our policy – but our mind set – then even if he wins, we all lose. What we need is to get engaged back into the process of politics.