Who should be our leader? What is leadership?
Obama is a man of tomorrow, but here today. His multi-racial background, having grown up in Hawaii where the oppressive tendencies of a White majority don't tug at the reins of peoples judgement, or dreams. Having spent years abroad he has an inherent view of the World as a community. He is our tomorrow, whereas Hillary is not only literally from a decade past, but represents nothing new. A woman you say, that is new? I am not sexist enough to say that is enough. And when you factor in the less tangible but more influential ability he has to move people to act, to bring people to there feet, to sweep people off their feet with hope, yes, to inspire, how can anyone else compare? That is something so rare, I haven't experienced it, until now. I was too young to know those extraordinary qualities of leadership, shown by JFK or MLK. I have always wondered, "What must that have been like?" Until now: until Barack Obama. This special quality is so rare, people don't know what it is until they experience it. Nobody is calling Hillary brilliant. No one is saying anything close to this about Hillary. Does Hillary move people to tears? Tears of sympathy aren't the same. Tears of passion. Tears of hope. Tears of inspiration. These tears signal the power behind this mans voice, his ideals, his humanity. That's a gift. It is power. It is real. It's something so special, it's unfortunate that not more of the people have experienced it. If that were the case, we wouldn't be in such a close race. Really, Hillary should have had this race locked long ago. And, she may still get it soon. But, there's also a reason an unknown young Black man with a name like Barack Obama is able to level the playing field, given the fame and recognition of that favored name – Clinton – of recent democratic history.
Power, ideals, motivation, inspiration... Some qualities of leadership I have seen in Obama and why I find myself feeling, "Yes, I want him to lead."
—CT
Oscar® winning Actor/Director • Theatre/Film/Television • SAG-AFTRA/AEA/DGA/SDC