Does Something Wicked This Way Come?

What is it about Obama that continues to gnaw at a huge number of people? His election as first African American President of the USA is, and should be, a source of pride for all Americans. It sends a message loud and clear to the rest of the world who harbor notions of our deep seated racism that it is they, who have never elected a minority to their highest office, who should look inward at their own collective feelings about minorities.

But there is something about this man, color aside, that deeply disturbs. It goes beyond his far left record in the Senate, and his radical, fringe element associations of the past 20 years. There is something elusive, and dare I say, creepy, about this person, Barack Obama.

Nobody seems to know the real Obama, not even his closest associates. While giving his convention speech, he surrounded himself, Zeus-like, with Greek columns. He stood alone on that giant stage in Grant Park, Chicago to give his victory speech on election night. No kids, no wife, no running mate to detract from all eyes upon HIM. Simply viewing him on TV, one can sense the arrogance, as if he transcends above us regular human beings.

Many politicians, perhaps most, have narcissistic tendencies. It is their desire for adulation that propels them onward. Obama, who is clearly a gifted politician and orator, seems to take this to the next level. It is all about Obama, all the time. This will make for interesting times in the years ahead, as he has never been in the position of actually having to make unpopular decisions and deal with the consequences. In the Senate, he voted Present for difficut bills. On other votes, he followed the party line, so as not to arouse the ire of his party leaders. This is a man who works the system to his own benefit and advancement. He clearly will not want to be ousted in four years. So how does he keep the wackier elements of the Democrat party happy, without irritating a centrist electorate who simply wanted change, any change, and who will turn on him should he prove to them that his brand of change is not what they thought they bought into?

Many charismatic leaders throughout history have demonstrated such self grandiosity. But a President of the United States of America should be most interested in serving the people, not in calculating how to most brightly make his own star shine. Perhaps someone should inform him that he is merely human, or he is destined to fail and bring us all down in his agonizing self-realization. I sure wouldn't want to be the one to tell him.