Barack Obama: A different kind of popular vote

I come from a generation of people who immediately disregard anything that gains any popularity among the general public. It’s cool until other people like it. Then, “It’s played, man. Played.” These are the kind of people who support the Electoral College because they don’t want to get caught supporting the popular vote. My, wouldn’t that be embarrassing.

The only way for my generation to like something past its peak of favor is to hope for its death. If the anti-popularity crowd feels comfortable that which they like can be martyred, they won’t feel embarassed about supporting it. There’s no chance the object of their affections will sell out (see Kurt Cobain circa the Buckshot Overdose Years).

Hence, if something–anything–stays around too long, it runs out of cool fuel. A priest told me the other day (me and about 50 other people, but still) that we live in a throwaway society. Most of the things we like these days are disposable. We have neither the patience nor the will to make a commitment to something that will be around for longer than Britney Spears’ sense of self worth.

Columnists with hipster backgrounds have started using perjorative words like “cult” and “religion” to describe what is happening in our nation. It is hard for a culture that eschews anything popular to accept what’s happening to the Barack Obama campaign.

I understand this. Even I, a fairly reasonable guy, tend to disregard Oprah-picks. I, like most people, don’t like being told what I should like and what I shouldn’t. And really, when somebody suggests I’d really enjoy a Nicholas Sparks book, I have a hard time taking the recommendation or person behind it seriously.

That’s what makes what’s happening right now so important and interesting. This is something we 18-35 year olds (admittedly, I’m in the long-tooth end of the curve) have not seen our our lifetimes and something we likely won’t see again. If Obama can find a way to court the important Old Racist and Institutional Washington voting blocks, he could very well be the next President.

Yeah, it’s odd. It’s strange to see people crying and falling out when Obama speaks. We, as a country, are naturally skeptical when people talk about being “inspired.” We expect those folks to start speaking in tongues or bombing abortion clinics. Because “inspiration” too-often translates to “fanaticism.” Fortunately for all of us, Obama isn’t running with Eric Robert Rudolph. He’s simply speaking a language a lot of us want to hear–and not in tongues.

If Barack Obama told me to put on a pair of Nikes and off myself, I’d say no. If Obama suggested it would be a good idea if I killed Sharon Tate, I’d say no–after reminding him the poor lady has had enough killing in her life. Hell, if Obama had an open house in Waco, I probably wouldn’t attend.

But, if Obama suggests he will be the candidate who seeks to change the Washington paradigm and be a candidate for a generation of people who have never believed in anything, well, the guy has my vote.

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Brad Willis

Brad Willis is a writer based in Greenville, South Carolina. Willis spent a decade as an award-winning broadcast journalist. He has worked as a freelance writer, columnist, and professional blogger since 2005. He has also served as a commentator and guest on a wide variety of television, radio, and internet shows.

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9 Responses

  1. Being that I’m a lot older than most readers here…either that or more wise for I read tons and tons of speeches. I once did get a CD of great speeches and I remember me sitting with my friend David LaGrange and listing to this one over and over…see we were alive and saw jesse on the podium…never so have I been so moved…Obama nothing…I highly suggest that everyone listen to these speeches:

    http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jessejackson1984dnc.htm

    http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jessejackson1988dnc.htm

    I always wanted to vote since but nobody ever put the hope in my like Jesse…B. Obama might be the guy to bring me out and vote…I’m really wanting to vote for his wife…but that is another story.

  2. Anonymous Little Willie says:

    I find it interesting that in consecutive posts you complain about the size of check you are going to write for your taxes this year, but then offer support for a presidential candidate who supports increasing your taxes.

    You are welcome to vote with your heart and emotions, but you then give up your right to complain about your taxes. Forever.

    Think hard.

  3. Rooster–I live in Jesse’s home town. He gets decidedly more respect from you than he does here in town. I have had many a run-in with the guy.

    Little Willie–My thinking goes like this…neither party is going to take significantly much more than I’m paying now. If I’m going to be paying this much anyway, I might as well see it spent in a way I can feel good about in the morning.

  4. 3 things…

    1) “There’s no chance the object of their affections will sell out (see Kurt Cobain circa the Buckshot Overdose Years)”

    2) “Even I, a fairly reasonable guy, tend to disregard Oprah-picks. I, like most people, don’t like being told what I should like and what I shouldn’t.”

    3) “But, if Obama suggests he will be the candidate who seeks to change the Washington paradigm and be a candidate for a generation of people who have never believed in anything, well, the guy has my vote.”

    These three things… all speak volumes, (to me) about the man we call ‘Otis.’

  5. Obama is no different. He believes in murdering unborn babies in their mother’s womb and believes in sexual perverts being married. He is a pig for that reason. It is a sin to vote for Obama and support these evil things.

  6. Well written, Otis! Very nice. Who needs the NYT when we have RER.

  7. Rev. Don,
    You mean sexual perverts like married ex-presidents who like to get head from young girls while in the Oval Office? Or maybe you mean married evangelical leaders who like to get off with male prostitutes. Yeah. You’re right. Those perverts shouldn’t be marrying women.

  1. February 22, 2008

    […] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIt is hard for a culture that eschews anything popular to accept what’s happening to the Barack Obama campaign. I understand this. Even I, a fairly reasonable guy, tend to disregard Oprah-picks. I, like most people, don’t like being … Read the rest of this great post here Posted by […]