The Great Obama--a Guest Post

I thought the following might be interesting for you to read. It was written by one of my best friends from law school, Jerry Sorkin. He has given me permission to post it here. Jerry is a tremendous and remarkable person--I wish I could be more like him: This was posted to his John Hopkins Care Pages website. For more than a year, he has been battling Stage IV lung cancer. He is doing amazingly well, and his optimism, humor, humanity and expansiveness are an inspiration. No one who has ever met him has failed to be impressed--or to have become a friend. He's just a lovely human being. So read on. . .and if you wish, keep Jerry and his family (wife Lisa and daughters Emma and Claire) in your thoughts and prayers:

The Great Obama

Twenty years ago, I was a first year law student. I can’t remember who came up with the nickname for our classmate, but there were a few of us who called him “The Great Obama.” I don’t think we ever called him “The Great Obama” to his face – it was a nickname that grew out of the kind of admiration and jealousy that you might expect from first-year Harvard Law students, who all had very high opinions of themselves as well.

From the beginning of law school, he stood out. Smart, articulate, a leader. Ironically, he stood out, in part, for having “real world experience.” Most of my classmates had come to law school straight from college. Barack was a few years older, and when he spoke he could talk about his experience outside of the classroom in a way that few others could.

Not surprisingly, Barack got a lot of airtime in class. And sometime during first year, I learned to do an impression of him that made friends laugh. I can’t do that impression anymore. Over the years his rhetorical skills have improved far more than my ability to impersonate. But every time I hear him interviewed, if he uses the phrase “my sense is…” or uses the word “folks” when he means “people”-- I laugh, remembering him talking in class during our first year of law school.

You could tell from the moment you met him that Barack would do great things; he had the charisma and leadership ability that just made him stand out. But no --- I certainly would not have predicted that he would run for and be elected president. I don’t know that any of our classmates can honestly say that they could have foreseen what has happened since.

When he decided to run for President I had my doubts – too inexperienced, too soon in his political career. But I supported him because of what I and my classmates had seen in him 20 years ago. He was smart, honest, hard-working, cool, and open-minded. Law school was a place with its ideologues on both sides, but Barack was willing to listen to and work with people regardless of their political beliefs. I didn’t think he could win (I had my doubts until Fox news called Ohio for him on Tuesday night), but I figured if he did it would be great. Barack has the characteristics that I wanted to see in my president.

Across the last two years, we have done our tiny part to support his campaign. We’ve had yards signs and bumper stickers for the first time. We’ve attended fundraisers, I’ve made phone calls, Emma and I have been canvassing in Virginia. We’ve even eaten Obamaburgers. And we got on the local TV news for doing so:

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/us_world/Gastro-Politics_All__National_.html

I spent the last few days of the campaign volunteering in Virginia, helping to get out the vote. On Monday, the final day of the campaign, we went as a family to canvass in Manassas, Virginia. We stayed that evening to attend the final rally of the campaign -- along with 80,000 other supporters --- at the Prince William County Fairgrounds.

It was very important to me to bring the girls – even though Claire fell asleep before Barack spoke at 10:30 p.m. I wanted them to be a part of history at the rally. To remember that they heard Barack Obama speak the night before he was elected president. But even more importantly, I wanted them to help – even a tiny bit -- on the campaign. I wanted to help drive home the lesson of the importance of working for causes you believe in. It is not enough to sit home and watch it on TV and to wish for something to come true – if you want something to happen, you need to work for it.

One thing that amazed me about the Obama campaign was how many people I know got involved. We had friends and relatives volunteering in Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana and Florida. And many of these were folks like me: People who had never been involved in a campaign before – and they were traveling to battleground states to try to make a difference. Yes, a few of them were law school classmates – but the vast majority was not. They were simply moved by this election to take action.

I believe that – whatever your political beliefs -- electing the first African-American president is both an historic moment and one that makes you proud to be an American. It has been so moving for me to speak to people who see Barack’s election as a validation of the American dream. To speak with immigrants and people of color who can now say to their children honestly, “In America, you can grow up to be anything you want, even President.”

I believe in Barack Obama, and despite the horrible state of current affairs, I believe he and his administration will be able to help right the ship of this country. I believe it because of the character of the man I met 20 years ago. I believe it because I think he will attract a new generation of the “best and the brightest” to come to work in government again. And I believe it because of his (and his campaign’s) ability to motivate millions. If he can run a government half as well as he ran a campaign – as a country, we will be in good shape.

I haven’t done much celebrating since Tuesday night. In part, I’ve been in shock. In part, I’ve just been exhausted. I put all my energy into those last few days of the campaign. But I did not want to wake up the day after the election and see that Barack had lost Virginia by a few votes and know that I might have been able to contribute. Even in some tiny way.

The election has held such a fascination for me, I am certain to go into withdrawal over the next few weeks. Luckily, we have the transition and the inauguration to look forward to.

Oh, and if someone can score tickets to the Inaugural Ball where Springsteen is going to play…let me know.

Love,

Jerry

Oh, and (Karen here. . .), for those who want to know Jerry's background, his undergraduate degree is in economics from Yale and he has spent most of his working life in business-and finance-related fields...

Lipstick, Pigs and Pit Bulls

I can't say it (or show it) any better than Cynthia Samuels did, so I'm not going to.

Mosey on over and read what she has to say. You won't be sorry you did; she couldn't be more right on.

Palin, Teen Pregnancy and the Constitution, Oh My!

I'm just going to post some random thoughts about Sarah Palin and all that is roiling around her. I've been thinking a lot these past few days about her nomination, her family, her choices, her policies, her political views and, finally, last night, her speech. I've had quite a few ideas. Slow cogitator that I am though, others have beaten me to the punch in posting observations that are in line with my thoughts. Pundit Mom has a couple of good posts on Palin (I'm just linking to her general website, since there are multiple relevant posts. . .you'll just have to, and I know this is cruel of me to ask it, scroll down and find the articles yourselves.). MojoMom's "Give me a Constitutional law prof any day" beautifully dissects a couple of the troubling parts (would that there were only 1 or 2 troubling parts) of Palin's speech last night.

1. We should all have sympathy for Bristol. Not because she's a pregnant teenager (could and has happened to countless others), but because she has been thrust into a media spotlight not of her own making. And one way or another, she's going to end up being used as a pawn in the campaign--directly or obliquely, by one side or the other or both. We can question Sarah Palin's bona fides as a parent for either (a) naively not thinking this would affect her daughter or her candidacy much or (b) ruthlessly using her for her own practical and/or idealogical ends. I'm not talking mommy wars, here, I'm not talking about ambitious working mothers--I'm talking about protecting ones children while one can. Unless she herself did not know of her daughter's pregnancy until after the nomination (which, whatever anyone says, is possible--kids are really good at hiding things when they want to), I have to question her judgment in thrusting Bristol front and center. She may say she discussed the ramifications thoroughly with Bristol, but how equipped is any 17-year-old to really understand what she would be getting into? Coupled with her young age (yes, old enough to have a child, I know. . .), she does not exactly come from a long line of national or even state politicians--she has no real frame of reference from which to make an informed decision as to whether and how this would affect her. Assuming mom truly asked for her input.

Also--even if mom did sincerely ask and listen to her daughter, how many 17-year olds are strong enough to tell a parent not to run for vice-president if she didn't want that parent to do so. It is likely though--being raised by her mom and with the values her mom instilled, Bristol would have freely said go ahead--and that again, is where we get into her youth and inexperience. Because even if Bristol was all gung-ho about her mom's candidacy, was she really the best person to judge for herself what the effects would be on her life? Lest anyone accuse me of being unduly paternalistic (or maternalistic, if you prefer), let me remind you that Bristol is still a child, and a little paternal/maternalistic oversight might be just what she needs. (I'm not talking about the pregnancy, nor am I blaming it on a lack of parental oversight, I'm talking about how her mom's candidacy will affect her life--probably long after the spotlight has moved on to someone else).

2. While many Democrats have been both incredulous and gleeful over the news that Bristol is pregnant, thinking it sounds the death knell for Palin's candidacy and possibly showcasing McCain's oft-discussed impetuousness, I'm not so sure that the Republican's didn't get it right (disturbingly right)--from their perspective, that is. In reading a lot of comments by Joe and Josie Q. Public--I've found not outrage or despair or anger or disappointment, but rather support for Palin and McCain. This has humanized Palin to a lot of "regular" folks. "It could happen to anyone" is a frequent refrain. "What a GOOD Christian, what a fine parent Sarah Palin is for not blaming her daughter and supporting her and the grandchild-to-be." There is little talk among this constituency of the role abstinence and lack of sex education and birth control may have played in the current scenario--nor how Palin's views and policies on these subjects may be relevant to Bristol's teen mother status. There really isn't much of any discussion about how teen parenthood isn't a great thing, and, gosh, what can we do about it. Somehow, to these folks Sarah Palin comes out looking like a loving, generous heroine. If this was all calculated by Palin, the campaign and/or the Republican party, it couldn't have been calculated any more accurately. Democrats need to watch out--this may NOT be the boon they initially envisioned.

3. There were so many troubling things about Sarah Palin's speech--and I don't know which to attribute to her and which to the campaign's speechwriters. Yes, she was a poised and engaging speaker--with a sense of humor. But the content was scary at times and frequently short of detail, save that of bashing the media and Obama (and the Democrats in general). In her assessment of the media and "the enemy" I almost felt shades of a threatened cultural revolution (in the sense of China's Cultural Revolution). McCain's campaign as a whole, of late, has had that feel--as if we needed, as a moral matter, to purge this nation of idolaters and unbelievers. Palins views and rhetoric only seem to underscore this.

Aside from spouting blatant misinformation about Obama and herself (dare I call them lies?), she also dismissed the Constitution and the Supreme Court with a airy wave of her hand. "Rights? Who needs to be read their rights? These are terrorists . . ." Gee, I really feel safe in her hands. If she is so quick to deride Miranda and Habeas Corpus, what else is she willing to dispose of in a heartbeat? For more on her less-than-truthfulness, click here. There's an even more detailed rebuttal here.

Actually, most of the speech seemed contentless--there was nothing truly politically meaty to sink our teeth into. No real policy suggestions, just a lot of demonizing of the "other." And people were just lapping up everything she had to say--seeming to believe without question whatever she propounded. My husband and I could not believe folks were cheering her on. She gave Obama a lot of grief for his "pretty rhetoric," but what, really did she offer instead? A lot of empty rhetoric, rhetoric very short on substance and very long on ridicule and scorn. Wow, that's really admirable. Makes me want to vote for her--I totally see what she stands for now.

4. Hosts of other questions have been raised about Ms. (or does she prefer Mrs.?) Palin--and these all need to be investigated and understood--including, among other things, her understanding, or lack thereof of national and international politics, her pork-barrel spending requests (that McCain criticized her for), her true connection with the Alaska Independence Party, her role in firing a state official who did not dismiss her former brother-in-law. (Maybe the ex-bro deserved it, I don't know--but we need to find out the real story). Ah yes, and then there's the story of her affair. Well, the NE got it right once--maybe they have once again, although I hate to stoop to that level. I'm sure we can all find lots of other reasons not to elect the McCain/Palin ticket.

5. Finally--did you notice how DIVERSE the Republican convention looked? Wow. I'm bowled over. They are SO inclusive! Ha! Perhaps they thought that having a female on the podium would distract folks from the sea of white, largely male faces on the convention floor.

P.S. She talked a lot about McCain's honesty and integrity. . .um. . .let's see--Keating 5 scandal, anyone? Cheating on wife and marrying another? Flip-flopping on most of the issues he in the past found important? Uh-uh--yep, honesty and integrity. . .he has 'em all. (And I used to like the guy--until he sold out all his old beliefs to get to the White House, turning his back on all the things that made him unique and likeable).

P.P.S. I just read a relevant and terrific post from Cynthia at Don't Gel Too Soon--please also check it out.