I keep my views on political matters as open as possible. That’s the only real way I can learn anything. A good friend approached me the other day with some concerns she had about the passionate fervor many Obama supporters have combined with their relative inexperience with the political process. She was fearful, in the beginning, to have this conversation with me, for she knows I am one of those passionate Obama supporters, but I reassured her that there was nothing she could say about Obama or his supporters that would impact our friendship.
Well, what she had to say was pretty eye-opening, and while she was worried she had crossed lines throughout our conversation, I was reflecting on her every word and realizing how much truth there was to what she was saying. I thanked my friend for such an honest conversation, which she did with a great deal of respect and consideration towards me and my viewpoints. This is the way true and meaningful discussion is meant to be done.
Her concerns about Obama’s campaign and supporters can best be compared to the difference between planning a wedding versus being in a marriage. She was concerned that Obama supporters are too focused on preparing for “the big day” in November, and that they will run out of steam to carry out the responsibilities needed to make the four to eight year wedding a success. Her other very serious concern was that if this happens, Obama will be set up to fail, and, just like in a troubled marriage, he will be the one blamed for the problems, not the American people. I heard her say many times she didn’t want his supporters to unwittingly set Obama up for failure and leave him twisting in the wind after being sworn into office January 20, 2009.
It may be possible that the euphoria being experienced by so many for Obama right now, a euphoria that feels so right and so good, could be the very reason Obama loses many of his most die-hard supporters later on down the road when the sleeves are rolled up for the hard work to begin. Perhaps a message Obama needs to carefully send to his supporters is “chill out a bit.” He will have to be very skillful with how he does this, for he doesn’t want to say that in a way that sounds as if he’s irritated, but instead in a way that sounds like a man who wants his relationship with the American people after he becomes President to be a long-term success in every way. He will have to talk to his support base about the long road ahead and to let them know that while all the enthusiasm being shown now is greatly appreciated, he doesn’t want to risk even one disenfranchised voter or supporter because he didn’t prepare us for the road ahead.
Obama might also craft a message that suggests he is concerned about the image of his supporters, explaining to them that he know how burnout feels and happens, and how he would hate to see even one of his supporters be branded as superficial because they just ran out of steam when it came time to do even more work after the election. Obama is a gifted orator and writer, so there is no doubt that if he decides to deliver this kind of message, he will do it brilliantly. The real point, however, is that I told my friend she was absolutely correct in her worries and fears, and that because of her, I was reflecting on my own Obama energy banks to be sure I didn’t use everything up too soon
