Barack Obama's Place In History

U.S. News & World Report: Senator's Campaign Called "An Important Moment In American Political History"

(US News)  This story was written by U.S. News & World Report's Jay Tolson.

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Barack Obama says he stands for a new kind of politics, and many Americans clearly approve of that message. So many, in fact, that if the junior U.S. senator from Illinois doesn't win the presidency or even prevail in what is now a dead-heat run for his party's nomination, his candidacy will still be seen as what University of New Hampshire historian Harvard Sitkoff calls "an important moment in American political history."

Important is an understatement. That a black man has mounted so successful a charge upon the nation's highest political office speaks volumes about changes that have occurred in America even since Jesse Jackson made his own impressive bids for that office in 1984 and 1988. But to attribute too much of the significance of Obama's achievement to changes in attitudes toward race is to slight the content of Obama's message. That message is the promise of a politics of unity and change--a politics that acknowledges differences of identity and interest but at the same time insists upon the need for compromise and cooperation to achieve the common good.

It can be exhilarating, of course, this talk of a politics transcending party, faction, interest, and identity, but it is not really new. In the earliest days of the American republic, President George Washington called for just such a politics to halt what he saw as a debilitating slide toward partisan intransigence. And, to some degree, American politics ever since has vacillated between periods of intense factionalism and ones of relative national unity. The first decades after World War II, for example, are commonly described as an age of consensus, when a "vital center" prevailed.

If that center began to collapse in the late 1960s, it was completely destroyed during the past 15 years. The labels red and blue now define a partisan divide so profound that it seems to have produced two entirely different nations. That divide is itself sustained by a host of other divisions, including those of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, region, class, religion, and "values." And what such identity politics has left unsundered, the war of special interests has further divided.

So what is it about this man with a black Kenyan father and a white Kansas-born mother that makes so many Americans believe it is possible to govern the nation differently? The answer, inescapably, leads back to race--and, specifically, to how Obama has dealt with it in his private and public life. (He has told much of that story in his two books, Dreams From My Father and The Audacity of Hope.) Obama's struggle with the historical and personal realities of being an African-American in a nation whose original sin was its enslavement of Africans and whose enduring shame has been its unequal treatment of black people is what makes his talk of a politics that goes beyond identity and the special claims of group or interest seem so important. It is what challenges Americans of all walks and political persuasions to consider what this new politics might mean, for themselves and for their nation.

Many have concluded that it means a great deal. In a ringing endorsement that connected his brother JFK's legacy with the inspirational qualities of the candidate, Ted Kennedy hailed Obama's campaign as being "about the country we will become, if we can rise above the old politics that parses us into separate groups and puts us at odds with one another." And even while emphasizing the racial significance of the Obama phenomenon, Sitkoff says that it is also about "getting beyond the identity politics, the rabid partisanship that we've seen for the last 15 years, expressed in the intense animus against both [Bill] Clinton and [George W.] Bush."

Civil rights. Hillary Clinton and her supporters charge that talk of transcending partisanship is so much poetry and that it ignores the necessity of standing up for partisan principles. But this attak ignores that Obama's conciliatory approach has not prevented him from working for a very liberal agenda in Congress.

The big question now, though, is whether Obama's campaign can move enough Americans beyond their attachment to the dominant style of identity and special-interest politics. Given who Obama is, it is no small irony that that style began to take shape in the civil rights era of the Fifties and early Sixties, as the older system of machine and party politics was dying. The urban machine had served blacks at best unevenly, but it was of no use in overcoming the structural barriers of Jim Crow segregation and de facto disenfranchisement. And so a grass-roots movement dedicated to securing the full rights of black people emerged, galvanizing support and making headway through demonstrations, sit-ins, and other organized efforts to register voters and challenge racial barriers.

As a successful black civil rights movement morphed into a movement arguably focused more on securing particular, identity-related benefits--such as affirmative action--rather than leveling the playing field, it became the model for other identity groups, from women to Hispanics to people with disabilities.

The civil rights movement also contributed to the rise of what Boston College political scientist Peter Skerry calls "public interest politics," with scores of organizations emerging to protect the environment, defend children, or bring about campaign finance reform. Lacking the tight bonds between leaders and followers that typified machine politics or even the older political parties, public-interest politics depended on publicity and the media to focus the public's attention on their favored issues. As Skerry says, "It is a style of politics that is extremely rhetorical, exaggerates conflicts, and emphasizes grievances." First associated mainly with liberal and progressive causes, it has long been adopted by everyone from conservatives and libertarians opposed to taxes to fundamentalist evangelicals protecting family values. So we now have it: politics as a televised national shouting match, with intractable gridlock on issues of pressing national concern. And Skerry doubts that even so skilled a politician as Obama can change or even escape this political reality. "I welcome the rhetoric," Skerry says, "but I don't think he is the transformational leader everyone thinks he is."

Others agree. Among them is author Shelby Steele, a fellow at the Hoover Institution and controversial conservative critic of race-based politics in contemporary America. In his new book, A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win, Steele argues that entrapment in black identity and identity politics will ultimately hold Obama back. Steele claims that Obama chose "blackness" partly out of a desire to connect with an absent father he barely knew. While it is debatable that any racial identity is freely chosen in America, Obama himself has written eloquently of his efforts to forge connections with black America, whether through his work as a community organizer in South Side Chicago or through his membership in a strongly Afrocentric church.

More controversially, though, Steele insists that Obama's cultivation of "blackness" led him to deny, or at least downplay, the values by which his white mother raised him, including a strong work ethic, a code of personal responsibility, and a traditional liberal emphasis on universalism over the particularities of race. "He goes," Steele says, "to a black nationalist church that his mother would not be comfortable in."

Race bargaining. Steele concedes that Obama uses his blackness more subtly than an earlier generation of black leaders and that this milder "bargaining" style is the heart of his appeal, particularly among white liberals seeking expiation from their own sense of collective historical guilt. But even this form of race bargaining wil ultimately limit Obama's appeal, Steele contends, because it will not allow him to be honest enough about those values (conservative ones, in Steele's reckoning) that have enabled him to succeed in his own life. "He can articulate the conservative value system very well," says Steele, "but he still looks to government to do everything."

Everything? The extremity of this and other conclusions not only undercuts Steele's more nuanced points but also denies what others see as Obama's success in forging links of shared interest among groups as seemingly diverse as urban blacks in Atlanta and rural whites in Maine. But it is not just conservatives who charge that even a subtle form of identity politics will ultimately weaken Obama's message and appeal, particularly among other minority groups such as Hispanics. Juan Rangel, CEO of United Neighborhood Organization in Chicago, knew Obama as an organizer and as a state legislator and says that he admires much about the candidate. "More than most other African-American leaders, he is looking for ways to buck the old style of black politics," Rangel says, "But he's no Bill Cosby in insisting on personal responsibility."

A Clinton supporter himself, Rangel questions how far Obama will be able to move beyond "a black activist mentality" that he believes emphasizes victimization. "It's hard for someone coming out of that tradition to break out of it without losing their core constituency," says Rangel. "He's trying to walk the line of not offending the old leadership."

But, in truth, how else could an African-American Democratic politician walk? Roger Wilkins, a professor of history at George Mason and both a participant in and observer of the civil rights movement, says that Obama has a political agenda that goes far beyond, but still includes, the issues of discrimination and poverty as matters that must be addressed to achieve a better America. But as Wilkins puts it, "He is not a civil rights era guy, and he can't pretend to be one. Nobody wants someone whose mind is stuck in and formed by events of four decades ago. This man is looking at America whole."

American idol. Yet the carefully calibrated distance that Obama has maintained from Jackson and other civil rights era leaders continues to provoke comment. Some who know him say that Jackson, for one, has been quietly hurt by that distance, even while understanding the need for it.

Obama's critics from the left even charge that he and other members of a younger generation of black politicians--including Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Newark Mayor Cory Booker--have gone too far in distancing themselves not only from the older leaders but also from the issue-driven movement-style politics of the civil rights era.

"Obama's politics is corporate driven," says author-activist Kevin Gray, who headed Jackson's South Carolina campaign in 1988. "It's advertising. It's image related. It hits on broad themes and can't come down on any issues unless there's a broad consensus." Sounding at times a little like Steele, Gray says that he finds talk about an "Obama movement" both revealing and disturbingly empty. "It is dangerous to see a man as a movement," says Gray, "even if he is identified with change in some big way. We ought to be clear what we mean about these things, or we just end up with the American Idol president." In light of what the civil rights movement of the 1960s achieved in the areas of law and social policy, why, Gray asks, shouldn't the new black leaders--whom he calls "smoothy-doothies"--be pressing for equally bold changes?

But many of the old movement people acknowledge that times and challenges have changed. "It's a necessary choice he's made," says Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and a professor of history at the University of Virginia and American University. "You can't hope to be a governor r president unless you appeal to a broad swath of people." Still, Bond doesn't accept that Obama has abandoned the ideals of the movement, even if he operates in ways that are different from those of the old movement leaders. "Listen to what he says; read what he writes," Bond says. "He's combining two [political] styles and making them into one."

[pacific_c]

Odd that the "will of the people" includes Independents and Republicans voting in the Democratic primary. Once nominated the Republicans will have a field day with the liberal Senator from Illinois. Republicans are really smart and they will win a presidential election they are supposed to lose.

IS THIS THE CHANGE YOU WANT?

http://www.realclearpolitics.co
m/articles/2008/02/the_obama_delusion.ht
ml

[bizzzz-2009]

I have a new phrase- "Obama-bots"
Unlike "Bushbots", Obamabots have a bias liberal news outlet to protect him from any self inflicted damage. In fact, you don''t even need a platform to be an Obama-bot. All you need to do is repeat the phrase:
"Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope"

[demwatcher]

The arse is a junior senator, he aint made ANY history to have a place for.

Kiss his other rump cheek, CBS.

[jack3213]

The majority of Democrats don''t want the Clintons, obviouslly, and they are banking on three states. Bill does not deserve to be back in the WhiteHouse as much as Hillary is not experianced just because she was his wife. She has yet told us what qualifies her from past accomplishments?? Obama & wife are very unqualified. The only option we have is McCain- best get used to it.

[sjbj2322]

realpatriot1....this article goes to the very heart of the question you asked me regarding the issues raised in Obama''s book and still you choose to stay in denial about it. Guess its time you did make your way to WalMart to check it out for yourself unless of course you simply find it easier to believe what you want to. That didn''t work for Wilson when he was confronted on national television and it won''t work here in the blogs. Obama is not a Messiah and he is not a man for All Americans. He most definitely has a personal agenda that is not being addressed and it will come back to bite everyone in the tail if he is allowed to succeed. On the face of things he appears to be a unifier but the reality is that he most certainly is not. How can someone whose personal convictions are based on the blatant rejection of half of who he is be a unifier for all the diverse features that characterize this nation. This campaign is not about the people; it is a desperate effort for one man to validate himself at the expense of us all.

[pensacola88]

Republicans aren''t exactly watching in horror at the thought of a Democratic GOP. Just 8 years ago, our federal budget was experiencing surplus and our country was in prosperity. Those in their early 60''s were hoping things would remain that way as they contemplated their retirements.

Republicans want to see their access to health care when they retire, too.

Republicans for the most part are educated and have children and grandchildren. Republicans want to see access to education attainable for their grandchildren.

Republicans enjoyed gasoline when it was $1.65 a gallon just 8 years ago. Now, Republicans are paying over $3.00 a gallon, just like everyone else.

Republicans bought homes in the last 2-4 years and face the foreclosure crisis just like everyone else because of the sub-prime mortgage scam.

Republicans used to buy airline tickets cheap, and now, they struggle to fund a vacation that inflated by 30% in 8 years.

[omega39-2009]

Get your facts straight and look at the Trinity church and all the ugliest *** going on there, with Jeremiah Wright and then think... how would it be if a white person that was running for president on went to a white church that hated blacks..... then they would be highly racist.....
Posted by kstar42

As long as he isn''t feeding them "coded" messages in his State Of The Union speech, who cares.

[tulcak]

skyk, right on!! great post! how come with all his "experience", mccain wants to keep our troops in Iraq for a 100 years? mccain''s "experience" is playing the political machine with insiders and lobbyists. great men and great ideas don''t have to come from experience. the experience I want to see in office is the experience of being able to put together a team full of the best qualified people in the world - not having the "experience" of putting your friends in office as payback for the money they contributed to your campaign. this is called "stay the course" and this means more of the same of bush policies.

[skyk-2009]

It%u2019s sad, but not surprising, that so many Democrats are so desperate for change as to let themselves be fooled by one who is so inexperienced and so unprepared for such a critical job.

Posted by robertkjjj at 12:46 AM : Feb 21, 2008
+ report abuse

How can someone LIVE in a Nation and know so little about it''s history? The People of this nation went to the polls and elected a cripple Governor who lead them through the Great Depression and a World War. They elected him not once but FOUR times. Those same people listened to a young brash senator from Mass. They listen to him dream of a better country and a better future and they elected him to be President, even though he was a Catholic. Both of these men stired the American People to BELIEVE that, yes they could make a better life for their children. They did NOT have to just lie down and accept what was. No Sir you aren''t just WRONG you are DEAD WRONG, this man and his vision ARE what America wants and he is MUCH MORE than qualified to lead We the People, he is ONE of We the People.

[skyk-2009]

This is obvious in the extreme: Sen. Obama will be our next president (the first in 8 years) for the next two terms. Republicans are looking on in horror because they see the inevitable. The closer we move toward Nov. 5th, the louder they will scream, cry, and throw fits. McCain cannot possibly win against Mr. Obama - the majority of Americans view McCain as just the same as bush. This is a once in a lifetime moment folks and its about time. The long nightmare, the long night is about to end.

Posted by tulcak at 05:33 AM : Feb 21, 2008
+ report abuse

You are correct but it will NOT be easy and it will NOT be neet! The South has been living with a LIE for so long now, to have that lie completely and for ever more exposed isn''t something the power brokers in that part of the country are going to give up easy.

[realpatriot1]

Kstar42,

When did you see the Church and what other racist churches have you seen in your life?

She''s tried the smackdown and it doesn''t work because most Americans are looking for something other than your obsession.

Racism is in the eye of the beholder and generally those who se it in others have a certain degree to deal with in themselves.

Physician heal thyself?

[kstar42]

The Clinton-ista''''s are in a political quandary

They have somehow got to protect the white woman from the black man
without sounding racist Posted by mocaIeo at 12:26 AM : Feb 21, 2008.

They need to bring the smack down on BO, He is more so racist then Hillary,,, If you want to ignore the fact that he and Oprah goes to the biggest racist church I have ever in my life seen... Get your facts straight and look at the Trinity church and all the ugliest *** going on there, with Jeremiah Wright and then think... how would it be if a white person that was running for president on went to a white church that hated blacks..... then they would be highly racist.....

[tulcak]

This is obvious in the extreme: Sen. Obama will be our next president (the first in 8 years) for the next two terms. Republicans are looking on in horror because they see the inevitable. The closer we move toward Nov. 5th, the louder they will scream, cry, and throw fits. McCain cannot possibly win against Mr. Obama - the majority of Americans view McCain as just the same as bush. This is a once in a lifetime moment folks and its about time. The long nightmare, the long night is about to end.

[tulcak]

endofempire, why can''t you right-wing nuts leave history alone and quit re-writing it. It was under NIXON that we first waited in line for gas. NIXON is the one who sponsored the new law to change the speed limit to a national 55mph because of the oil embargo... its always the republicans that screw things up...

[endofempire]

Obama knows about as much about running this country as Jimmy Carter did in 1976... Those of us who were around then saw our parents make a line to get gas for the first time in our lives. We also saw thousands of Americans lose their jobs in what economists called the Carter Stagflation. Our debt tripled, not in eight years, it took Jimmeh a couple of years to do it. Oh, but he also came into office riding a wave of discontent with the Washington aparatchik and full of great ideas. Let''s see if history does not repeat itself, this time while we are at war.

[robertkjjj]

What Hillary doesn''t seem to realize is that the vast majority of Democrats simply don''t care which candidate has more experience, or which has accomplished more. Democrats being liberals, and liberalism being a mental disorder, they are not exactly looking at this race thru the prism of logic. This race has nothing to do with logic, and everything to do with charisma. Barack is seen as having charisma and being "nice". Hillary is seen as an annoying b*itch. You can ask a thousand Democrats to each answer the question "Name just one accomplishment of Barack Obama", and you''ll be lucky to find 2 who can do it. Democrats are like teenagers going to a U2 or Sting concert; this is all about the cult of the personality, and nothing else. How pathetic and sad to see what drivel the modern Democrats are willing to accept. Obama is no more qualified to be President than Tony Robbins, Joel Osteen, or Sean Penn. It%u2019s sad, but not surprising, that so many Democrats are so desperate for change as to let themselves be fooled by one who is so inexperienced and so unprepared for such a critical job.

[grazinggoat]

If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He CHANGE? Would He CHANGE the way to make it easy for terrorists to get into this country to over through this country? Would He CHANGE the laws for any of His kind? Would He hang out with those who supported tyranny? Would He impose martial law? Could He start unjust wars for His hidden ideology? Could His decisions CHANGE the course for America? Believe me when I say there are no one with hidden agenda%u2019s in this world! If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He CHANGE?
Posted by pilgrimsway at 10:06 PM : Feb 20, 2008

-Too late piggrimway, all this has already been done by Walking-Liar Bush with/for his cronies.

[rrcampbell11]

We''d like to know what Senator Obama''s critics have to offer our country in return, except negativism.

Negativism will not lead our country forward.

[downtowner97]

He is doing as well as he is because he is as different from Bush as anyone running. If you love Bush, I understand that you can''t see that. That is why the enormous majority in this country is going to show you. Backlash is a ****.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He CHANGE? Would He CHANGE the way to make it easy for terrorists to get into this country to over through this country? Would He CHANGE the laws for any of His kind? Would He hang out with those who supported tyranny? Would He impose martial law? Could He start unjust wars for His hidden ideology? Could His decisions CHANGE the course for America? Believe me when I say there are no one with hidden agenda%u2019s in this world! If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He CHANGE?