I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH BARACK OBAMA

I'm not.  It's that simple.  But I'll tell you what I do love.  I love the fact that I was motivated enough this year to get off my fat ass, invite my neighbors over and make calls for Obama.  I love the fact that more people voted in this election than ever before.  I love the fact that smear tactics and "swift boating" don't seem to work any more.  I love the fact that mainstream media was basically trumped by bloggers, and facebook, and emails.  And I love what it means both symbolically and physically to both our country and the way the world sees us that a black man has risen to the highest office less than a generation after the civil rights movement.

But all this doesn't mean I'm in love with Barack Obama.  

I've been having a somewhat public online argument with my brother Mike, a McCain supporter.  One of his main arguments against Obama is that it's just a "cult of personality".  I heard some Hillary supporters making the same argument during the primary.  It may be true for some.  But not for me.

I think Obama may be one of the smartest presidents that we've ever put in the Whitehouse. And what is also amazing about Obama the person, is that he was able to really cut through the bullshit of the mainstream media and get his message to the people directly.  He did this in many ways.  The internet, the debates, his speeches and indeed his personal charm and charisma.  I've always said that the presidency has been a charm contest since the 1960's and TV became a big part of it.  But now that there are other ways to get information other than just television, charm and personality are no longer the only criteria.  Now there's something called issues.  

Here are the reasons I think it's great that Obama's in the Whitehouse now:

1. I believe in a woman's right to choose.

2. I think the Iraq war was a horrible mistake.

3. I want healthcare to be fixed in this country.

5. I know global warming has to be stopped and we need a green economy.

6. Gay people deserve equal rights.

7. The banking and investment industries need to be better regulated.

8. And I think George Bush along with most of the republican party have just about ruined this country.

Theses are the main reasons I supported Obama as hard as I did.  And I'm glad the democrats finally had enough sense to put a smart, charming, magnetic, hard working, well focused person up for the job.  

But the hard work starts now.  We need to let him know that he's got to follow through and not succumb to the pressures we all know are now bearing down on him.  Some people on the "real" left are already disappointed by some of the people he's setting up in his cabinet.  If you or I feel the same way, we should let them know.  (He's set up a pretty cool site where you can send your thoughts to his administration.  change.gov ) And if that doesn't work, we'll all let him know at the polls 4 years from now.

But don't get me wrong.  I'm still quite optimistic.  I think Barack has the potential to be one of the best presidents ever.  My hopes are quite high in fact.  But I'm trying not to get to high about it.  It's another one of the things that Obama the person HAS inspired in me.  His even keel.  I read somewhere that he doesn't get too high or too low.  It's something that's already inspired me in my work, my personal life but more importantly, in the expectations of my political leaders.

I'm in love with the fact that all the fighting of the last decade hasn't been in vain.  Everything from making calls each two years, local organizing, blogging etc.,  As well as mainstream and popular culture starting to finally inform people in a substantive and sometimes entertaining way.  I'm not ashamed to say I'm a fan of Moveon.org, Michael Moore,  and Air America radio as well as the more entertaining and slightly cynical world of Stewart, Colbert, and Bill Maher.  ALL of this along with the internet has helped inform people.  Much more than any news channel.  

I also put everything from Bill O'Reilly to Democracy Now on my podcast list, because it's important to hear every side.  I find it easier to sift out the truth when even the most different voices get to weigh in.  My brother get's most of his information from one website.  (newsbusters.org).  This is the way everyone USE to get their information.  From one source.  The evening news.  We don't any more.  And we shouldn't.

So I'm NOT in love with Barack Obama.  I'm in love with what he represents.  An informed electorate.  Us.  Finally.