'Thoughts on Obama'

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

-Confucius

So, I'm not going to tell any of you to 'vote' because I'm sick and tired of getting text-messages, seeing buttons, and being pressed by others to 'Barack the Vote.' I AM DAMNIT! I swear, if one more person tells me to 'vote' I just might swing on them.

But, let me not be so negative.

Today is indeed a historic day and I truly hope that Senator Barack Obama does win this election. Aside from his prestigious degree, political credentials and undeniable swag, that man has soul. Even when he's just sitting there, his whole aura is ridiculously cool. Not even DIDDY was able to sell people on voting with his 'Vote or Die' slogan, circa 2004 (probably because nobody REALLY knew what the hell it meant).

Obama on the other hand, has a message with meaning. Even more impressively, he has built about as much brand equity and global recognition as Nike. EVERYBODY knows his name, his face, and his message. Any media outlet that you can name has Barack Obama covered in it. He's like the new, Black Che Guevara: iconic.

The refreshing thing about Obama is the positivity attached to his image. No matter how many slanderous things are said about him, or how many punches are thrown, his supporters recognize his resiliency. This brother simply brushes the dirt off of his shoulders and sticks to the script. When you're a man on a mission to repair a damaged nation, who has time to entertain the haters? Not him. He has broken the poorly characterized prototype for the Black man- a segment of people in our society that has carried a negative stigma since our people were enslaved and brought here. But Obama is not the typical modern Black icon. Embodying honesty, ethics, practicality and power with modesty and graciousness is a rarity. He is an anomaly in his own right, being a Black man who has become a role-model for the youth, outside of the sports & entertainment industries. A politician-a change agent-an intellectual. He has glamourized politics and made it irresistable: sexy even (ladies would agree).

Listening to his interview with Ed Lover yesterday morning, I realized why people take to him-he simplified and identified with the people. Period. He is someone we can all relate to and we feel we can trust. His candid answer to the 'why should you become the next US president' question revealed his clarity on the real issues at hand. No samba-dancing around the questions and no political garble thrown in to confuse people. Obama said 'I know how to bring people together'-and that's no lie. He has raised the most money in history, registered the most new voters and built a brand name for himself while running a flawless campaign in a matter of months, to prove it.

There is no doubt about it-from Jay-Z to Julia Roberts, this man has a nation backing him: supporting his philosophy, believing in his promises, and rooting for him to succeed in re-Uniting the States with the rest of the world, who have probably outlawed red-necks and apple pies by now. In the global scheme, even foreigners who don't speak a lick of English, want him to win. This morning in the Metro NY daily paper, statistics showed over 80% of foreign people support Obama.

He keeps it real, he keeps it simple, and he relates to us all. He has established emotional connections with people by reaching out and he knows how to provide logical solutions to big problems. The courage, the charisma and the humanism he has exhibited is why he has quickly become a world favorite. People have faith in him and truly feel he has the ability to bring about CHANGE.

I personally like him because he is human and puts it on the table. He brings out his family, he plays basketball with his boys, and he is unapologetic about it. People sense the realism and although I'm sure he has a flaw or two, he's the type of man that would have the dignity to be honest about it. It is what it is when it comes to him. And even he experienced the unprecedented death of a loved one-his grandmother. My grandmother died too, but I wasn't trying to win a presidential election the next day. That, his little girls, and his genuine and open display of affection for Michelle all contributes to his humanism. It shows that 'he's one of us.'

So, why am I REALLY voting for Obama? Because he's Black, of course! Na, I'm joking. The color of his skin is only part of the reason. And yes I emphasize that his racial background is part of the reason. It's only natural to identify with someone who knows your struggle. But I wouldn't vote for any-old Black person just because they're Black-because some of us are just downright ignorant-especially when in a position of power. Jessie Jackson is a prime example. He says some dumb things and his actions are not characteristic of an effective leader-and I felt this way long before he made that embarassing comment about 'chopping Obama's n*ts off.' Such a damn fool...

McCain's team has exhausted their options. The commercials they've been running on Fox, BASHING Obama by showing clips of Pastor Jeremiah Wright, was living proof. Again, focusing on irrelevant shit which Obama did not say. From the last time I checked, Obama was not openly endorsing the racial comments made by his Pastor. And Obama has no control over the next man's mouth-no matter how much influence he may have. McCain is pathetic and so are his ads. They have all been so 1990's with his whole angle-even his production was trashy. I mean, if you're going to spend all that blasted money on anti-Bama ads, at least have better substance than 5-month old news. We already know what Wright's senial behind said-THANKS! And even with the Republics coming at him from all of the negative angles, Obama maintained his composure, never changing his modest and positive position.

And as for Sarah Palin...? The real question is who or what actually lives in the State of Alaska besides baby seals? I saw that chick in OK! Magazine with her signature 'rimless frames,' her Paul Mitchell-hair and...wait, let me compose myself. Some GOLD-EARRINGS IN THE SHAPE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA!

Just when you thought Tina Fey was enough.

She ain't no different from a bird from East-Flatbush wearing a name-plate that says 'Keisha' if you ask me. This is the very reason why politics have to be so stern-or else you give people petty things to talk about in their blogs. The earrings were 'cute' and would have been acceptable if she was applying for a job as an Art teacher. But, VP? Of the US? Come on Sarah-that's way too ghetto..

That's all I have to say. May the best man win...