2 posts tagged “obama”
After spending time being riled/disappointed about the lack of leadership on Mugabe's Zimbabwe over the last few days, i've decided to collect some videos that i think exemplify the kind of leadership that the world can and should have. There is an obvious distinction between what Obama and McCain would do for Zimbabwe as president... Given the way that Obama's campaign is run and financed, and how simply and powerfully it exposes the corruption at the heart of the American system he seeks to change, I don't think you can even call McCain a 'leader'.
See, It isn't just that Barack delivers great speeches - which he certainly does. And it's not just that he is a first class intelligence willing to speak truth to power - which he is. What is truly great is the boldness to make radical changes about how his campaign is financed, so that the idealism and hope he embodies aren't compromised. This is not following. This is leading. This intention, and this act, to reach out to millions of people he plans to represent for $20 or $50 donations stands in stark contrast with a Pollster driven, Oil Dollar and War Money financed campaign that comes from McCain. That he takes it one step further (see the third video in the showreel) by forgoing the public purse for the critical final months ... that ... is nothing short of inspiring.
To choose against pollsters writing your speeches, and to choose a measure of financial independence from the those most nefarious forces at the core of the American system is a very great and very unusual thing. It should be applauded because in American Presidential elections, it really is unprecedented.
For me, this is the difference between following and that old word 'leading'.
A friend texted me, confessing that they were in tears while he delivered his speech. I wish i'd caught the beginning so i could have enjoyed the catharsis. I found a full text of the speech, and picked out my favourite passage. After some rousing passages on Universal Healthcare and Education, came this. I think he'll make a fine president.
"The other side will come here in September and offer a very different set of policies and positions, and that is a debate I look forward to. It is a debate the American people deserve. But what you don't deserve is another election that's governed by fear, and innuendo, and division. What you won't hear from this campaign or this party is the kind of politics that uses religion as a wedge, and patriotism as a bludgeon - that sees our opponents not as competitors to challenge, but enemies to demonise. Because we may call ourselves Democrats and Republicans, but we are Americans first. We are always Americans first." (emphasis his)
Though i missed the CNN of this speech, i did get to switch over to Fox News. It was instructive. Their hand wringing either pathetically weak, or downright mutinous. Their talking heads were so moved by Obama's speech, and were so ready to concede this, rather than their usual 2c hack job, that Brit Hume crossed to a different (and totally unprepared) studio... the new host confessing his surprise that he was suddenly on the air before trotting out Karl Rove (the architect of the Bush Campaign) ... and the best part was that even he was stuck with a measly handful of terribly weak comment. e.g.
So he wants to pay teachers ... as far as i know how this is the first time that the federal goverment has gotten involved paying local teachers, how exactly is he going to do this?
... which hardly sounds like an attack ... and nor does:
... again ... not exactly an attack. Though Karl (as a major shareholder in Big Oil) put on quite a 'shocked' face while he was being so deliciously unconvincing.He says that he wants to 'make the oil companies record profits to provide a clean energy future' ... so he wants to tell the Oil companies how to spend their money?
If the chief republican campaign architech only has that, it seems to me that Obama has more than a good chance of taking the Presidency.
Over coffee, Al and I got to talking about taking a Cadillac roadtrip down the campaign trail come september... doing a Fear and Loathing on the campaign trail ... i think that it's too perfect and too historic a campaign to miss. Al is keen to follow McCain as he slowly falls apart, and to document - film verite for youtube - the paid rent-a-crowds ... i'm keen to use it as an opportunity to be terrifically Australian (they LOVE us over there), and charmingly american kitsch in 10 gallon hats, stetson boots ... maybe even six shooters ... vox-popping our way along the campaign trail and through the contradictions of neo-conservatism. I.e. this strange alliance between the radical Libertarianism of Poor White Rural America, and the egregious Plutocracy that the Republican Leadership not only represents, but IS.
We could us the charming wild-west hick image that the american's have of us to totally disarm them, and as a humourous wedge to open the door to some biting irony and mock-surprise on our parts.
Al came up with the title "Shock and Awe"
... so tempting. Anyone else wanna come?
