Oh, how galvanized we were when Obama called upon this nation to put geography, politics, religious dogma and ideology aside to unite behind a common purpose. How thrilled we were to embrace a candidate that could inspire and motivate people the world over to collectively forge a better (or at least less bleak) future for our children.
Barack Obama will be inaugurated on January 20, 2009. He hasn't failed anyone yet. On the contrary, we have failed him.
Caroline Kennedy, like so many of us, was inspired by Obama and for the first time, like so many of us, put her heart and soul into a presidential campaign. Most of us could only give time, some of us also gave money, but Caroline was in a unique position to give even more. Caroline, by virtue of her family history, celebrity, education, smarts, tact, grace, and near universal respect and admiration, found herself in a position to go beyond what the rest of us could offer, and actually partner with Obama in pursuit of his grand agenda not only by being a spokesperson and campaigner, but also by potentially being an influential voice and loyal vote in the United States Senate.
So Caroline threw her hat in the ring, because she was moved by Obama, and believes she can uniquely play a positive role in improving President Obama's chances for success. For duty, and patriotism, and loyalty, she went out on a limb, uncharacteristically (and almost certainly against her better instincts) plunging herself into the limelight, not out of any self-serving need to elevate her standing, but for the same reason we have been so passionate about electing down-ballot candidates: she knows that for Obama to accomplish great things, he needs to have Congress on his side.
For this Caroline Kennedy has been mocked, belittled, denigrated, and insulted by faithful participants in this blog, and others.
I wonder if John Jr. were still alive and seeking Clinton's Senate seat, if he would be dismissed with comments such as this from Jane Hamsher,
She's "making calls this morning to alert political figures to her interest?" I guess it was either that or get her nails done.
or if Kos would recycle comparisons with J-lo.
Advisor after advisor, rumored cabinet appointee after rumored cabinet appointee, actual cabinet appointee after actual cabinet appointee, and now the swearing in ceremony line-up, have been mercilessly skewered by the best and the worst contributors to this site, and everyone in between.
I'm growing weary.
Stop raining on my parade.
I'm going to take my son to the inauguration. I'm not going to turn my back on Rick Warren (or, more realistically, the jumbotron a mile away on the Capitol Mall). I'm going to show President Obama the respect that he deserves. I'm going to be proud of my country and my president. I'm going to get drunk with a bunch of Kossacks at the Netroots party. I'm going to cry.
I'm going to be an optimist for a change. I'm going to look at the positive side of Obama and his entourage. I'm going to ignore the insults hurled at Rick Warren and remember this line from an email exchange with my ultra progressive pastor regarding Pastor Warren:
"While I would disagree with him on many points of theology, I have heard he is in the forefront on Global Warming and other social issues in a way we would at least partially agree."
You see, we all have our pet issues, and common ground. Obama recently met with Al Gore. How many of us are praying Obama embraces Al Gore's vision for environmental policy? Wouldn't it be nice if one of our most influential religious leaders was on board as well? Wouldn't it be good to enlist his help on this matter, rather than alienate him?
What did you people think Obama had in mind when he said he wanted to unite people?
Progressives, especially, should understand that everything isn't so goddamned black and white.
Obama promised to do his best to unite this country north and south, red and blue, theist and athiest, rich and poor, gay and straight, black, white, asian, native, Mexican...
Why do we insist on sabotaging his every effort? Apparently Kossacks want Obama to embrace one group, Kossacks (as if there was consensus even here), and everyone else can just go to hell.
Please, resist the temptation to scold Obama for his associations and appointments. He is about to be the president of 300 million Americans, not just one little slice of them. He is charged with the responsibility of easing the massive burdens Bush and the Republicans have heaped on the backs of our children. He has two wars to wrap up, terrorists to fend off, diplomatic efforts to broker, an economy to salvage, a planet to save, an infrastructure to rebuild, health care to reform, a country to unite and a world standing to dramatically improve.
He can't do that by parroting Ralph Nader, or even Kos, Meteorblades, or One Pissed of Liberal...all people I admire and respect...all people Obama admires and respects (or would if he read their posts). To be sure, Obama needs to hear their voices, but bear in mind, he cannot be their voice, at least to the exclusion of all others.
Obama needs our support. That doesn't mean you can't criticize. But it does mean you should think twice about doing anything to undermine his chances for success...like torpedoing Caroline Kennedy without giving any thought as to how some other candidate might better assist Obama in saving this country, and world, from impending doom, or denying the likes of Rick Warren a role in rallying his acolytes to help save the human race from extinction.
If you think you have a better choice than Caroline, make the case. But if you can only make your candidate look good by making Caroline look bad, maybe he isn't such a great candidate.
And if you are going to whine about a cabinet post, try something like this from OrangeClouds115. Rather than complain that Tom Vilsak is a miserable cretin and corporate shill, she responded with this thorough education about the risks of GMO, which earned this comment from dansac:
Here's why I like this diary:
Because Vilsack is a done deal and complaining about him as a person is a waste of time and energy.
But what you've done is focused it in on policy and are re-directing your energy towards influencing policy, which we still have the time to do - a very positive use of grass-roots activism (combined with your excellent knowledge of these issues).
Thanks for this, as with all your work.
And stop pretending Caroline Kennedy isn't special, and her life story isn't relevant. When Darcy Burner (with zero political experience, by the way) touted her military brat upbringing, we embraced that as part of the narrative that made her, in our minds, a good candidate. We are proud of Michelle and Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton, for their humble beginnings, and that history helped shape our favorable opinions of them.
Caroline Kennedy didn't choose to be the daughter of an assassinated president and niece of an assissinated presidential candidate. Like so many that grow up in the spotlight, she could have pursued a path of self-destruction. How many of you would have been able to handle the enormity of her personal tragedies, and the massive pressures of being an involuntary celebrity without going completely off the deep end? And now I must endure asinine questions like "is she tough enough to be senator, or will she wilt under the pressure?" I have a very comprehensive, reasoned answer to that question: "Fuck you".
I've been thinking about Orange Clouds and Caroline Kennedy a lot lately. They happen to have one horrible tragedy in common. They both were devastated by the death of their little brother, and for no rational reason, I love them both a hundredfold more for it. I just want to give them each a big hug (I have yet to meet either). And I implicitly trust them. I'm not capable of any cynicism about their motives. The point is, of course my support for Caroline is emotional. So what? So is my support of Obama, to no small degree. I just want elected leaders I trust, and that make me proud. So shoot me.
I believe Caroline Kennedy has been inspired, and that she believes she can put her clout, energy, intellect, and enthusiasm to work helping Obama chip away at the world's problems. Yeah, it's a pollyanna, Camelot fantasy, but it's my fantasy, and I thank you in advance for not going out of your way to shoot down the efforts of those who have volunteered to shoulder the responsibility of saving the world.
Thank you for listening.