Wake Up!: An Open Letter to Obama Fanatics
Wake UP!: Progressive Punditry and Action Alerts for the Apathetic Advocate
Dear Obama Supporters, Obama Fanatics, Obama Devotees, and Obama Girl:
Thank you. Your hard work payed off. Obama won, and we don’t have to worry about Alaska’s favorite hockey mom making moose chili of our Constitution. Give yourselves a big, hearty pat on the back.
Now, get over it.
If you thought your work was done, all those long hours volunteering in the heat and cold and rain and snow for the past two years…well, you were wrong. That was only the beginning… that was the fun part. When you were marching through the snow, arguing with your friends and families, persuading people to vote for your guy, you had the momentum of excitement behind you. You had the spirit of conviction, the hot passion of hope running through your veins like whiskey. It was intoxicating.
Now that’s he’s in the White House (or will be shortly) you’re going to need a lot more motivation to do something. You’re also going to have to put all those “Obama Can Do No Wrong” convictions out of your mind.
He is our president now. Your job now is to keep watch on him like a hawk to make sure he doesn’t get a big head and begin thinking he’s as awesome as you think he is.
It’s important for our elected officials to believe that they are under scrutiny, and that even their supporters are not above questioning their motives. It’s important they don’t get complacent and think that they’re above reproach. It’s important that we continue to hold Obama to task as if he were just as unstable as Bush, and it’s important we make him prove us wrong.
The sad, hard truth is that Obama is a human being. He’s not perfect, he will screw up. Campaigns are meant to introduce you not to the real person, but to the idealized person that we want to see in office. It isn’t until they roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty that we find out what they’re really made of. We can’t let our visions of Obama as this wonderful candidate block out the reality of Obama as president.
I’m not saying he’s going to switch from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde, but that’s something we have to be prepared for. If we give him a blank check and unquestioning support, then we’re asking that he have the restraint of a saint not to take advantage of the situation. It’s like putting candy in front of a toddler and then telling them not to touch it…some kids may listen to you, but the vast majority are going after that candy. We owe it to President-Elect Obama not to ask that of him.
It’s better that we tell him he has our support, but that we will be expect him to make good on his campaign promises. It’s better that we tell him we’re marching right there behind him, but we’re also watching every step he takes. It’s better that we let him know we are proud of him, but that the second his pride overshadows what’s best for the citizens of the U.S. A., we’re going to take him down. (That, in no way, is an allusion to violence…so back off, Secret Service!)
So to all you Obama Mamas and Grandmamas, Republicans for Obama and Dems for Obama, Hillary Supporters for Obama and Die-Hard Obama supporters from way back:
Don’t let your joy over his election overshadow your duty as a citizen–to keep him honest, and make sure he never forgets who got him to the Oval Office.
Sincerely, and with the Warmest Regards and Greatest Respect,
Chardon Moore
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About Chardon Moore:
Chardon Moore is a political junkie, LGBT ally, and the webmistress of LiberalMartyr.com. She’s been a human and civil rights activist for over a decade, as well as working in broadcast media, academia, and state government. She now lives in Raleigh with her longtime boyfriend and young daughter.
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That is one healthy dose of realism and responsibility.
Thank you Libhomo (love your blog, too!)
Too many people chastize the right for mindlessly following Bush…only to mindlessly follow their own leaders. Nothing pisses me off more than a hypocrite, and it’s important liberals don’t follow the same playbook as the party we are fighting against.