I'm still overjoyed at Barack Obama's victory. And with many millions of people around the world, I'm basking in the promise of a new day for the U.S.A.
But when President-elect Obama spoke last night, he made it clear that he knows the seriousness of his task, and that he intended to get right down to work. It made me want to follow his lead.
So my question for the community today is -- how do we help President Barack Obama? Please weigh in.
(more below...)
I wrote "help" President Obama rather than my first, more neutral impulse, which was "how do we deal with President Obama?" But as I write below, I don't think helping President Obama precludes disagreeing with him, and pushing him on issues we think need pushing.
Below are my first thoughts on how to help/ deal with Barack Obama, and I welcome yours below in comments:
- Let Obama know that we have his back. This means keeping the movement for change alive, including many of its structures. We need to keep communicating not only to Obama, but to his allies AND opponents, that we're out here supporting him and we'll keep fighting the good fight -- with time, money, legwork, and passion.
- Keep the pressure on the media. Through blogs, through letters to the editors, though phone calls... do not let up. Ever. The traditional media is deeply corrupt, and less than a day later it's already trying out storylines that trivialize Obama's victory and mock the idea that he has any kind of mandate. Push back, and HARD.
- Keep up the fight for more AND BETTER Democrats. We got more last night. I sure wouldn't mind even more in 2010 midterms. But it's time for better, too, across the board. There are too many Democrats who have been part of the problem for too long -- either way too timid, or too complicit, or too corrupt, or some combination of the preceding. Let's make an effort to weed them out over time, and replace them with better public servants.
- Stay involved in local politics. So many of you out there do this already that I almost hestitated to include it, but... it's what will make item # 3, above, work. As much as the national scene seems to be where the drama and the players are, the next generation of potentially great Democrats are coming up the ranks now, in local politics. (Evidence: Barack Obama, virtually unknown five years ago outside of Illinois.) Let's support them, and know that our individual effort can make even more of a difference in a local race. When we get their backs, they can help us get Obama's for the next eight years. (Yup, I said eight.)
- Push Barack Obama when he needs pushing. I love Obama, and he's already a transformative figure in American history. But I still don't agree with him across the board on issues. We don't have to, and Obama -- as far as I can see -- doesn't expect us to. Despite his relative youth, though, he's the most mature presence we've had in the White House in some time, and he WILL listen. We may not always be able to push him where we want to go, but we shouldn't hestitate to make our thoughts heard, even when we disagree. Democracy demands it, and President Obama can handle it.
- Have patience. Having said # 5.... we must have great patience. The tasks ahead are enormous, and Obama said last night, the climb is steep. There will be frustrations and setbacks. We've already experienced a few, mixed in with the elation of last night: Prop. 8 in CA., some victories we were hoping for not emerging (it's a bittersweet day here in Minnesota, for instance). But it's a marathon, not a sprint. Obama knows that, and ran his campaign like that. We must follow suit. If we hope for changes that last for generations, many of them will take generations... with three steps forward, two steps back, etc. etc. We must have patience, and we must...
- Word hard. Patience in the above context does not mean "waiting." It does not mean passivity. It simply means that one doesn't always expect immediate political gratification. That way madness lies. But when we work hard, and in good faith, with the knowledge that it WILL pay off in some way, someday... that's how we can effect REAL change, over time. Take Barack Obama's cue on this: work hard, have patience, have faith... and keep our eyes on the prize.
These are quite general, but I'm interested in any other thoughts below... either similarly general, or very specific, or some mixture.
Yes, we did! Now let's keep doing.