OPINION & EDITORIAL
Idealism on tap at Obama fundraiser
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Also by Jeremy Elias:
- Idealism on tap at Obama fundraiser (October 16, 2007)
- Madhatters rejected: Time to throw down (October 2, 2007)
- Lisps, stereotypes valid voter topics (September 18, 2007)
- Protesters don't deserve attention (October 9, 2006)
- Don't be ashamed to know my name (October 25, 2006)
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- Barack Obama: Political St. Nick (October 15, 2007)
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by Jeremy Elias
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Through the palpable anticipation, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., pushed his way from behind the curtain as Kanye West's "Touch the Sky" blasted from the speakers (I guess he couldn't find Biggy's "Big Poppa" on iTunes). Shaking hands and making his way to the stage, a friend of mine said it best, "Yo. This man is the truth." That friend, although unsuccessful in trying to adopt a Mos Def-style dialect, was dead on in his Obama description. I was in awe of the presence this man brought, his assertive voice and cool demeanor. I instantaneously supported his message and supported his cause. And I also fear that this man will not be our next president.
With a couple thousand people jammed into the Monona Terrace Convention Center, body odor so prevalent there was the constant taste of curry lingering in all our mouths, my first political rally was about to begin. The crowd was into it. Mr. Obama knew his audience as he commenced with humorous jokes about being a Bears fan in Madison (total courtesy laugh situation). And as the laughter subsided, Mr. Obama began to talk about his plans for the presidency.
It's hard for me to relate to Mr. Obama. It's not because he's black and I'm white. I don't see color, I only see pigment. Rather, it's because I am not ambitious, I am an underachiever, and I am not too optimistic when it comes to the future. Barack Obama is the opposite. Besides changing health care, pulling the troops out of Iraq and limiting global warming, he plans on changing American politics as we know it. There hasn't been a plate that full since The Cracker Barrel offered its $8.99 buffet. Mr. Obama truly believes he can do it all. I just can't relate to that ambitious mindset. I'm the guy whose definition of multitasking is reading The New York Times while going to the bathroom.
Although I was having trouble relating to Mr. Obama, I didn't have any trouble agreeing with him. He's the voice attempting to instill morality into American politics. I want him in office. I truly believe he will keep his promise and change this country for the better. The only trouble is that he's not going to get to the Oval Office.
Mr. Obama is like the friend who watches "Risky Business" and proposes you turn your parents' house into a brothel while they're vacationing in Palm Springs. Mr. Obama is a wide-eyed idealist who is probably a bit too ahead of his time. The public is going to have a hard time electing such idealism because in many ways it'll equate it with irrationality. "He's so naive" will be the phrase weighing heavy on all Obama skeptics' lips.
As Mr. Obama's speech reached its conclusion, something very interesting occurred. A third and final member of the audience fainted, drawing attention from everyone in the crowd. It had the makings of a complete domino affect, a scene paralleling the Beatles' arrival at JFK. Simultaneous fainting hasn't occurred like that since Joey Fatone announced his solo tour. But it never reached that point. In the midst of Mr. Obama chanting his ideals, he assured the crowd that everything was going to be OK. "This happens from time to time, folks. The paramedics will take care of it." Everyone remained calm as Mr. Obama barely broke stride.
If Mr. Obama had told the audience to abandon the fainted individuals, leave them on the ground and act as if nothing happened, they would have done it. In fact, he could have told me to hide the fainted individuals in a nearby closet, protecting him from any bad press; I would have done that as well. An attribute of Mr. Obama, which is perhaps more distinct that his idealism, is his convincing demeanor; he has this reassuring quality to him, and if he can rely on that charm, there's a slight chance he can convince those skeptics that he's not all that irrational. I wish him luck, and I give him my vote because I know he's going to need it.
Jeremy Elias (jelias@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in communication arts.
Wow, that was not funny. The Badger Herald is totally smitten with the big Obama today, isn't she? Obama said a while back that he'd invade Pakistan to get Osama bin Laden. Just what we need, another war president. Why am I not surprised that you, a twenty-something college student believes that we should stop the war, better our health care, schools, environment, and everything else Senator Obama said that we need to do to better America? Last time I checked, just about everyone I know believes those things should happen--including all the Democrats running for president. 11:03, you can't base his future performance on Senate bills. Bills are usually full of pork and BS that senator might not agree with. This is what happened to Senator Kerry in '04, but he couldn't articulate this point without sticking his foot in his mouth over and over. I get it - it's a metaphor... Wow, when right wingers start criticizing Democrats for being war candidates... No pressure for your next addition to the Herald, but this is seriously my Tuesday humor boost...I had enough of Obama's ambiguity @ the rally, so lets have an extra saucy column next week. Ok, great so it is full of pork and BS that he may not agree with it, the least he should do is VOTE on the bill. I mean is that something hard to ask? What I can base his future performance on is his character, and I don't know about you, but if I work with someone who didn't do his job 12 times out of the last 12 times he was supposed to do it, I would know an awful lot about his character. obama wants out of iraq so he can put more troops in other places around the world...clinton promised to protect a woman's right to choose and provide health care for the poor yet he did neither. the democratic party is a graveyard of true social change and never follows through on campaign promises. at least the republicans come right out and say the evil shit they're going to do... I am way over 20 something or 30 or even 40 something. But without somebody like Obama to make you think, "What If". You may as well give up and just worry about the mundane that makes life so interesting. I won't vote for Obama (or anyone else for that matter) only because as we all know this country will go on no matter who is President. We've been here for a while already and we've certainly had some idiots as President over the years as well as some great ones. So if you think it's so important, think again. No election is ever decided by one vote. And if it's really close, those people who were never elected might have the final say like the Supreme Court. Just enjoy the ride. Great article, I think you've analyzed the mans strengths. That is something we can take home and use. excellent....apathy truly is the way to solve our country's problems We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted. Not registered? Sign up now. It's quick, free, and the email address you provide will not be sold or solicited.
Anonymous (October 16, 2007 @ 8:00am):
Big Poppa, seriously? Anonymous (October 16, 2007 @ 9:26am):
You'd better be careful, or instead you'll be regrettin' mornin' afta !Anonymous (October 16, 2007 @ 9:39am):
Ron Paul in 2008!Brien Barrett (October 16, 2007 @ 11:03am):
While I agree that Sen. Obama was absolutely magical on that stage, a question you failed to ask yourself throughout the entirety of his speech was "how?" If you would have pondered that one word, you would have realized that Sen. Obama has failed to answer that question and has been hitting the same speaking points since the preliminaries in his race for the United States Senate in 2004.
It's a shame you are going to give him your vote after being swooned by his speech, because if you would have done your homework, you would know that of the last 12 bills that have been through the Senate, Sen. Obama has voted on NONE of them. Maybe the Senator should learn how to do his CURRENT job before he looks for a promotion.
Anonymous (October 16, 2007 @ 12:28pm):
You might ask "how" he'll accomplish his goals, but first you should consider where we found $1,000,000,000,000 to rid the world of a single man, Saddam Hussein. Anonymous (October 16, 2007 @ 1:15pm):
Anonymous (October 16, 2007 @ 1:47pm):
There's been a broken record playing on the BH, on the internet, everywhere, about how Obama is such an idealist, such an instigator of change, how we need to elect him with our hope. Yet no one has actually articulated what he's going to do, or how he'll make the world a better place.Anonymous (October 16, 2007 @ 3:02pm):
Brien Barrett (October 16, 2007 @ 4:23pm):
The fact of the matter is Obama isn't saying anything new. We are a country that needs reform in many aspects--we know this, but what we don't know is HOW we will go about this. What we need is a leader who will tell us how we will get there. Obama hasn't proven that he is the person to do this yet, all he has done is give a ton of great speeches and strike the emotional chords of his listeners with enthusiasm for basic ideals.Anonymous (October 16, 2007 @ 7:03pm):
Anonymous (October 17, 2007 @ 4:24pm):
Anonymous (October 17, 2007 @ 8:08pm):
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