For the past few weeks, Obama supporters have begun to feel as if Barack really does have a chance. That said, despite some polls having him with 320+ electoral votes, most Obama supporters have remained cautiously optimistic. I mean, we all remember 2000 and 2004, when victory was decided by a right-leaning Supreme Court (2000) and voter fraud in Ohio likely cost Kerry the election.
But after all the enthusiasm, passion and spirit brought on by Obama, what if he loses? After eight years of arguably the worst administration in the history of this country, and McCain's absolutely abhorrent campaign tactics, what if the democrats once again lose their bid for the presidency? I recall an older friend of mine saying a few months ago, "What Obama's doing in this country right now is bigger than Kennedy in the 60s. I've never seen anything like it." But what if hate, lies and corruption once again win over truth, integrity and hope? Will the democrats, independents and even republicans who found a glimmer of hope in Barack Obama just throw in the towel? Can we handle this again? To be honest, I really don't know.
A few months ago, my girlfriend said to me, without a slice of hyperbole, "If McCain wins, I truly fear that you'll be inconsolable." That line has sat with me since that night. Because I still don't know how I'll react and how I'll feel. You see, up until about a month ago, I was fairly certain that John McCain would win. Just like in 2000, I figured his hate-filled lies and deception would once again dupe a good portion of the American public, and we'd once again see evil prevail (I was going to use a lighter description, but given his tactics the past few months, screw it, this once good and honorable man has turned evil in my eyes).
But then the polls started to rise in Obama's favor. And despite a major, major reluctance to truly believe, I have to admit that I was starting to. The clouds shifted a bit and I began envisioning an Obama victory. I still get chills at the mere thought. Despite being perhaps the best democratic candidate ever, I figured that the color of his skin, combined with a gullible and largely uneducated public, that it just couldn't happen. But again, I was starting to believe.
Over the past week or two, many pundits and political "scholars" have deemed this race over. They've handed it to Obama. We'd hear that he's going to start campaigning in McCain's home state. We heard that Georgia is in play! And North Dakota!
But then we hear another shift. McCain is gaining ground in Pennsylvania. The "Joe the Plumber" bs is working as is the absurd "socialist" tag. Educated Americans are fully aware that if McCain wins, this "Joe the Plumber" fella will not benefit one bit. If Obama is elected, he will. But this fool doesn't appear to be a real person, so let's just say plumbers in general.
Democrats are starting to seize up with anxiety. We can't forget 2000 and 2004. And we see some signs of this happening again. It's almost unbearable to imagine, but what if?
1 comments:
I know what you mean. I got very attached in 2004 and it was painful. I'm not so close to it this time, but still hopeful.
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