Those words are likely the motivation behind so many in the birther, deather, and various hater movements ostensibly opposing the President's policies.
They look at a picture of the first family with revulsion.
I look at the Obamas with misty eyes and at least a tiny glimmer of hopefulness for our country.
Come take a breather with me after the jump...
Like many around here, I find it easy to panic or become reactive when things appear not to go the way we want in the political landscape. And that's very understandable. The needs are great. The Bushies/neocons/corporatists/usual suspects have had free rein for the last eight years on top of anti-progressive trends going back to Nixon. We can't afford to fail. So it's easy to become tightly wound.
So I'm looking at pictures of the Obamas, Soetoro-Ngs, and Robinsons on their trip through our National Parks on Huffington Post, and it hits me. Look at this beautiful multi-ethnic family, with roots across our country. A family of achievers who worked hard to succeed and represent what is best about America.
WOW!!!
Most here will remember that I came to support Obama via a twisted path--I still don't understand how he and his team manage only to screw up on LGBT issues. It makes it very hard sometimes, and I struggle to maintain perspective. Similarly, it's hard for us to look at the big picture when he's playing his low-key, keep-the-cards-close-to-the-vest, patient, calculated game.
But just step back and look at those pictures. Look at what this guy did--he made it! He fought a hard campaign, defeated a supposedly undefeatable competitor for the nomination, and ran probably the most disciplined campaign for president in a generation (at least). And now The United States of America, for the first time, finally, has an African-American-identified, mixed race, born in Hawaii President. Dayum! We did it!
When I stop long enough to quit panicking, I marvel at who President Obama is. I've been studying the Presidency for 40 years. Don't ask me about the White House, or Air Force One, or the Limos (that's one of the 2005 models Michelle is stepping out of in the first picture on the HuffPo series) after I've had a couple of beers unless you have several days. LOL. But I've never seen a President move into the role as smoothly or as quickly as President Obama. He doesn't strut--he doesn't need to. He does the job and lets everyone else treat him like the President. To use an analogy, in acting class you are often taught that there are two ways to play a character, like a King. You can walk out on stage puffed up and act like you are telling the audience "I am the King", or you can play your part and say your lines and let the other characters act out "He is the King". I believe President Obama was successful at doing the latter from Day One. This is a man with a clear sense of self.
So while we gnash our teeth over healthcare (and I have been, just as I did over their latest fuckup over LGBT rights) let's stop for a moment of Zen and look at this beautiful family. President Obama's victory in November was a victory for all of us. We didn't elect a black President (much though the haters would tell us so). We elected a brilliant, gifted man from a single-parent home, who worked hard to get a great education, with a beautiful family who is African-American and whose accomplishments are testimony about what America does right. On a good day.
No, the fight for justice and equality in the USA isn't over. Not for people of color, or women, or older workers, or seniors, or LGBT people, or people with disabilities. The struggle continues. But I look at those pictures and I see one of the most beautiful sights of my 54 years. And for a moment, I too say "We have a black President". And I have to wipe my eyes (one more time).
Now back to kicking his butt on healthcare!