VIDEO UPDATE: Obama discussing the situation in Kenya with Reporters in a Pool Feed, at about the 3 Minute Mark. A Retort to Bill Clinton in the front of that video. Good stuff.
Campaigning is a tough business that can drive some candidates to tears. The hectic schedule, the press conferences, the Lines and crowds, the meetings, none of it is easy. All of it deserves our respect, appreciation, and awe.
This morning though, an ongoing matter was focused by Joe Klien of all people... I know... and it's a story I believe all Democrats may wish to hear on this historic day.
Namely, inbetween the Campaign Stops, Debates, and Media Interviews, Mr. Obama has shown a masterful skill I think any Democrat would Respect and Appreciate. He has been an actor on the Global Stage trying to keep the Peace in Kenya all the while he's been building his lead and taking possibly his first steps towards becoming the Next President of the USA.
This is a Reality Check for those who argue he's either not ready or "Wrong"...
While his Opponents were trying to dig dirt, go negative, or stop his momentum, Barack has been calling Kenyan Leaders and trying to Keep the Peace. His first message to the Kenyan people broadcasted over Voice of America:
"Despite irregularities in the vote tabulation, now is not the time to throw that strong democracy away. Now is a time for President Kibaki, opposition leader Odinga, and all of Kenya’s leaders to call for calm, to come together, and to start a political process to address peacefully the controversies that divide them. Now is the time for this terrible violence to end.
Kenya’s long democratic journey has at times been difficult. But at critical moments, Kenyans have chosen unity and progress over division and disaster. The way forward is not through violence – it is through democracy, and the rule of law. To all of Kenya’s people, I ask you to renew Kenya’s democratic tradition, and to seek your dreams in peace."
Granted, Kenya is a homeland for Obama, the land of his father, so he has a special interest there. But this reminds me of something, Obama's discussion of his man-of-the-world Foreign Policy Experience. This is precisely the sort of action that I believe negates Hillary Clinton and eventually John McCain's future calls that Barack is Green on the International Stage, not ready for Prime time, and Gasp, even "Wrong" as Clinton mentioned yesterday in the talking points after her show of emotion.
Did Obama leave it at just his message, taped the day before Iowa, as he went on to campaign day and night in New Hampshire? Nah, this is Obama afterall, and Obama could take down Chuck Norris in a streetfight.
On January 3, the day of the caucuses, he had a conversation with Bishop Desmond Tutu, who had flown to Nairobi to see if he could begin negotiations with the factions. In the days since his Iowa victory, Obama has had near-daily conversations with the U.S. Ambassador in Kenya or with opposition leader Raila Odinga. As of late this afternoon, before his rally in Rochester, N.H., Obama was trying to reach Kenyan President Kibaki.
What's amazing to me are the following:
1- This isn't something Obama is bragging about, it's a quiet public service Obama is doing for US foreign interests and the peace of his homeland, and you'd think he's a little busy afterall no?
2- This hasn't broken Obama's zen focus on remaining positive, staying above the fray, and earning a victory.
The man is Tireless. The man was Born to Lead. Those who think he's all talk, "no Substance", well, I have something to share with you. When you find the real man behind Obama, when you dig deeper, read his policies, when you hear of his history as a Community Organizer, when you consider his goals to create a true working coalition, then you'll be right where I'm sitting, namely, In Awe of the Energy and Conviction of a man who we may be lucky enough to soon call our Next President of the United States of America.
UPDATE:
By way of the BBC, the story is getting reported.
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has said he is a cousin of US presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
Mr Odinga told the BBC's The World Today that Senator Obama's father was his maternal uncle.
The Kenyan leader made the statement in an interview in which he discussed foreign interest in the political turmoil in his country.
He said Mr Obama had on Monday taken time out of campaigning for the New Hampshire primary to call him twice, to express his concern, and to say that he would also be calling Mr Kibaki.