Rick Raw: Obama–On to the Presidency–Now We Must Take the Leap of Faith

By Rick Grant rickgrant01@comcast.net www.rickatnight.com

Clearly, Senator Barack Obama is an unknown entity in his historic victory over Hillary Clinton in the hard fought nomination process. Now his supporters, including me, will take the leap of faith to vote him into the presidency. For we believers, his inexperience as a freshman Senator was overridden by his reassuring oratory and confidence on the campaign trail. During every speech, Obama seemed to be talking to each of us, individually, addressing our concerns. As a senior citizen struggling to pay back taxes, I cheered when he promised to end taxation for seniors drawing social security. His platform was based on common sense and logic, not the typical platitudes spewed by other entrenched Washington politicians, telling the voters what they wanted to hear.

Indeed, Obama’s clinching of the Democratic nomination was the most important accomplishment of any African-American since Martin Luther King sparked the Civil Rights Movement with his "Gone to the Mountain" speech. For me, his race had absolutely nothing to do with my decision to support him. Obama transcends racial issues.

Obama’s victory as the Democratic nominee has given hope to all of his supporters who welcome his promise of change and thinking outside the beltway. Obama has already redefined presidential politics, giving the issues back to the people. He listened to us-- he absorbed our anxieties–he brought the long past Kennedy enthusiasm back to ordinary people.

Now, Obama must make his most important decision since winning the nomination–deciding on a running mate. Of course, the logical choice is Hillary Clinton. She has a mighty voter block that is presently pissed off. If Obama doesn’t’ reach out to Clinton, conceivably she could contest the seating of delegates right up to the convention in August. Yes, what to do about Clinton is a huge problem for Obama, given there is left-over bitterness in his camp. There is a sense that if they buckle under to Clinton, it could hurt Obama’s chances to beat McCain. If Obama chooses someone other than Clinton as a running mate, her voter block might vote for McCain out of spite. Whatever, he decides he will get criticized.

Just as Clinton supporters proved, she convinced millions of people that she would be the best choice for president. In contrast, there is a large anti-Clinton contingent that think she’s the devil in a pant suit. And then there is the matter of what to do about Bill, who seems to have turned into an angry old man snipping at reporters and becoming an embarrassment to Hillary. Obama must be asking: "What would Bill’s role be in an Obama-Clinton administration." The last thing Obama wants is Billy-Bob lurking around the White House hitting on the female staffers.

Perhaps, Obama should not go with Clinton as his veep. His message of change would be in tact and I still think he could beat McCain. As a compromise, Obama could promise Clinton an important position in his administration as his Chief of Staff or Secretary of Defense. I’m sure that would satisfy the Clinton supporters. Bill would be out of the picture. He could travel on the lecture circuit or spend his days in hotel lounges picking up women.

The Hillary question is a conundrum of Biblical proportions. Obama needs to make this decision soon to get it behind him and concentrate on the campaign ahead.