Senator Obama Gave Me Hope Today

Barack Obama gave me hope today. Not the indefinable abstract “hope” of his campaign placards, but more like an epiphanic realization of our country passing an important milestone that I had all but thought impossible in my lifetime. This hope sprang not from the eloquence of his speech or the sincerity of his beliefs (I am impressed by both), but instead from the very reason why Senator Obama had to make this speech in the first place.

Race baiting and implied racism ceased to be a means to an end today, the race card has lost its trump.

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I think Mr. Obama came to this realization many months ago when the stories first began to circulate about his church and reportedly “unconventional” pastor. Being an intelligent man, I doubt he could avoid seeing the irony in the situation which he would surely have to face. Last year I wrote that Senator Obama had the strength of character and wherewithal to be an extremely effective leader and politician, yet his party of choice seems intent on propagating racial divide and eager to make this an issue in all matters for political gain.

The habit of making race and racism an issue even where it does not belong has come home to roost. It is shameful yet indicative of what the Democrat party and its pervasive use of class/race warfare politics has come to, because while Barack Obama long ago broke the race barrier, yet his peers refuse to admit it. ~ Barack Obama Is Not a Black Democrat

Racial and class divisiveness are endemic to urban Democrat politics and Chicago, IL, the arena where then state senator Obama earned his stripes. He played the game, and excelled. A president of the Harvard Law Review, a lecturer of constitutional law, and probably a shoe-in for an eventual place in the Supreme Court… a man whose content of character was sterling needed no parlor tricks to achieve greatness, yet he had to play the game.

I have no doubt that Senator Obama knew that his pastor and church politics were wrong and ultimately harmful affecting far more than just the immediate congregation, but he was in the unfortunate position of having to accept this to succeed. With his strength of determination and leadership characteristics he had a chance as a prominent figure in the church and community to “change” what he has now defined as “divisive, denigrating, and inflammatory” – yet accepted status quo to further his own ambition. This very acceptance of “the way things are” has come back to bite him on a national stage in which he promised to make a difference.

But I mentioned my hope at the beginning, and I truly think it may be one that I now share with Senator Obama. My hope is that others in the Democrat party, and people everywhere in fact, sees that times have truly changed and that race card is becoming passé. Discrimination is part of human nature from which we may never evolve, but systemic or overt racism is no more tolerated than lighting up on an airline- and just like older airplanes may still have vestigial ash trays the Democrat party and its most passionate followers seem stuck in another age.

I have hope today because Senator Obama had to denounce the very same tactics and tricks the Democrats have been using in minority circles to maintain power, the racial polarization he chose to passively abide, as being a stumbling block to anyone who would wish to seek higher office.

I think the country got its confirmation that we have moved forward as a society, and the Democrats have lost what has been a very egregious, but effective tool and that John McCain will be our next President regardless of his opponent. You know he’s right, hope is contagious.