Anyone surprised by Obama's 'sudden' rise to prominence? I mean, this man was not known by the majority of Americans just a few short months ago. What happened to bring him from someone we barely know, to a leading contender for the highest office in this nation? In just a few months? This is almost unheard of in politics today.
2007-07-09 08:34:53 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
It is not at all unheard of. Bill Clinton did it, Jimmy Carter did it too.
2007-07-09 08:43:33 · answer #1 · answered by crknapp79 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No -- The government that was in power badly botched Hurricane Katrina clean-up efforts. We have "The Tale of Two Cities" here: the affluent, white, upper class -- and everybody else. Except Bill Clinton, no other President has done a darned thing about improving African Americans' life or other suffering minorites. They are more likely to die young because of violence and lack of health care. Hillary was the first to actually bother suggesting that our current system actually sucks and to take on the healthcare giants. But people view her as the establishment, whereas Obama is young, and new to Washington. He brings a unique perspective being his mom is white and his dad is Kenyan. I don't deny that his race could be his ticket to Washington or his Achilles' Heel.
The nice thing about being multiracial and inexperienced is that you stand apart from a bunch of white guys and one white woman. You also have no idea what you're getting yourself into half the time, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. If we continue to elect old, white men who are stuck in their ways and have their hands buried so deeply in other people's pockets, how will sh** change?
2007-07-09 09:00:40 · answer #2 · answered by Carmen 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I too also live in Chicago and this guy has been the biggest thing since sliced bread before he announced he was running so we the people of Chicago think its AWESOME.
Also alot of people dont understand the value of having a " CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER" as president. Too many presidents not upholding the constition or just regular law. Take the last 2 (bush and clinton) CLinton wouldnt leave once impeached and Bush wont leave the war?
VOTE OBAMA 08
2007-07-09 10:13:35 · answer #3 · answered by 2008 matters 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually he has been working to make a name for himself for several years now. I think his big lead in was at the DNC and he gave some killer speech last presidential election. But even so it is not uncommon for a candidate to be relatively unknown before the election. How many people knew or cared about Kerry outside of MA or New England before the election? Only if you follow politics do know the players from states other than your own unless they really stand out. And what about Clinton (Bill) I had never even heard of him before the election, why would I care who the Governor of AK is? (I am not from that area of the country obviously) We know Hilary because of her husband, and we know Rudy because of New York, but who knew McCain before last election? Or that screamer guy from NH???
Obama has been working the circuit to lead up to this for a few years, he didn't have the name in 04 so he worked for the party to get his name out there, not to mention he does have experience and a lot of charisma. I am not saying I would vote for him yet, depends on who gets there and who's the VP but you could see this coming several years ago.
2007-07-09 08:43:59 · answer #4 · answered by ellusionary 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Democrats have known about Obama since he gave the keynote address at the Democratic convention three years ago. Great speech...great man.
2007-07-09 08:40:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
He started out with no excess baggage. It is accumulating though. I can think of two who went from nowhere to the Presidency: Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Both were governors of unnoticed southern states.
2007-07-09 08:38:47 · answer #6 · answered by regerugged 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Obama 2016
2007-07-09 08:39:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Those of us who watch the news or politics in general have known of him for a long time. He gave one of the best speeches at the Democratic Convention in '03. He praised what he thought was the best that America had to offer, a place where "a skinny kid with a funny name" could rise to the honor of calling himself a US Senator.
He is probably less than pleased with the less than thinly veiled racism he sees in these United States. I think he can handle it though, as racism has long been a hallmark of American society.
2007-07-09 08:42:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
well just because you've never heard of him doesn't mean no one else have. listen, i'm no democrat but this guy has been in politics long enough to be running for president. i doubt we see him win the office though, don't worry! no black man or woman will see that for many years. i'm not prejudice and i'm a woman... so it's not what i think, it's just the truth. it won't happen.
2007-07-09 08:38:36 · answer #9 · answered by staci 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm really not surprised, because Americans are very affected emotionally by a person, and I think Obama stirs up people's emotions by the way he speaks and acts. He is somewhat of a political celebrity.
2007-07-09 08:37:36 · answer #10 · answered by cassnate 4 · 6⤊ 2⤋