The question is what happened in the Presidential this year that would yield Obama a victory? We could conclude that Obama-mania just over took the nation and he was the reason. But I want to suggest that it was the perfect storm in some regards for him to take the presidency. What were the ingredients of the presidential perfect storm….
1. Hatred for Bush – This was a revote for 2000 and 2004. For whatever reason, people’s hatred for Bush overwhelmed the emotions of the voters. I am not sure that is a good reason to vote for a president. Look at the mess of Jimmy Carter – he was a reaction from Nixon!
2. Economy goes in the tank one month prior to the vote – No time in history has the stock market crashed and economy shrunk so low weeks before an election. Bush I was facing an economic correction, but nothing like this. Plus gas prices all summer. The Republicans being blamed!
3. War fatigue – people are tried of the war. Even though they were told in 2002 that it might take 10 years. We have little tolerance for any long term nation agony or anything that taxes our national energy for more than 6 months to a year!
4. Obama being an unknown – You would think not knowing about his record or worst his not having a record would automatically make him a liability. But not so. The fact is we were then able to vote or support him without a seared conscience. I think it is fascinating that on Sunday news people were saying… “well we really don’t know a lot about him?” This is to cover there backs if he is a terrible president.
5. Media bias – Picking up from the last point, the media was in bed with Obama from the get go! When Chris Matthews is saying that he gets a tingly feeling down his leg when he talks something is not right! It might be a good idea to have the “Fairness Doctrine” – MSNBC will have to have a conservative show. By the way – FOX News rated 43% -43% for positive things for both McCain and Obama. NBC 73% for Obama and 23% for McCain – Fairness??
6. Historical hysteria – I think the idea of an afro-American president was very compelling. I was a teenager in the 60-70’s and racial discrimination was pervasive! It was amazing to see that we have come this far in my generation. I think many were driven by that element. Again, this is not a good reason to vote for someone.
7. McCain’s age – We have a whole new block of voter to capture – young Americans. A 70 plus old war hero is not going to inspire that group of voters. Also when you consider that he could die in office, it feared people about the Palin pick.
8. Silenced minority – Evangelical Christians were marginalized this election. I thought it was interesting that after Saddleback’s forum, McCain surged. Why? The evangelical voter got excited. HE surged after Palin’s pick – why? The evangelical voter got engaged. Problem is that evangelism is going through changes at its core and the young evangelicals do not have the same passion for theological moral issues. Their post-modern ways do not allow them to hold dogmatic convictions. This will be a problem in the future.
9. Palin pick – I personally like her and like the pick. If she was Mitt Romney’s VP – they win! If Mitt was McCain’s pick – they win! I think politically speaking Mitt should have been picked. Palin is a new comer and it was too little time to ramp her up and make her ready to win! We will see her in the future!
10. Campaign funding – This is a real problem. Where did that money come from? Who gave that money? Obama refusing federal matching funds was integral problem – but his massive treasury basic took McCain out of certain state races (Michigan) because he could not afford it. Fact – John Murtha was about to lose his congressional seat because of his “racist” comment and the DNC was able to dump $500K his way the last week.
11. Obama’s political organization – Remember what he was – political organizer. He knows how to organize communities; get out the vote; stuff the ballot box; as they say in Chicago politics – “Vote early and vote OFTEN” – and they did! You have to give it to him, he was discipline and organized. Combine that with any of these other factors and you win an election.
12. Lack of civic government education – This is the most grievous. Our nation’s lack of quality and unbiased education, has shown itself to be lacking in being able to equip our young people, who are now adults how our country best works. I had numerous conversations about the tenets of socialism and capitalism. These were highly educated and well versed people – completely ignorant! We must start teaching civics again!!!
Now with all of that up against him, CAN YOU BELIEVE MCCAIN LOST BY SO LITTLE?? (51-48 nation wide popular vote). He was gaining in PA, VA, FL and OH….he ran out of time, but more so these issues were too huge to overcome. Obama was the beneficiary of the perfect storm!
FINAL OBSRVATIONS
· It should concern Obama that McCain did so well with all this up against him.
· Obama must realize – especially when things get rough – we did not elect him for him!
· Obama will not be able to show any favoritism racially or he will be called on it. This is a dilemma no white president had to deal with.
· He must deliver on his promises. If he doesn’t nearly half the nation will be where t-shirts and donning bump stickers that say “Hey Obama Supporters – Where’s Your Messaih?”
· Praise God the Senate did not get the super majority!
· He can’t do everything he wants to do – there is NO MONEY!
· Obama wants to get elected a second term – he is a political animal – he will not “over reach” his liberal agenda for fear of major back lash!
· The same relentless and angry accountability that was applied to Bush will be expected on Obama and Bush supporters will be poised and ready to remind (“What comes around, goes around!).
· The Republican party must TODAY determine how to protect the Senators up for re-election in the next year or two and we better get our house in order!