You know, I'm slowly figuring out why I have suddenly become obsessed with this election. Aside from the obvious reasons, you know, the economy, the stability of our nation, national security, my children's futures... I think it is the complete and utter lack of caution and overabundance of optimism that has infected those who are self-proclaimed Obama-ites.
Let's just put my own affiliations aside. Looking at this objectively, pragmatically, and logically (often seen as foreign concepts to the more liberal population), I have found that what my sweet, dear, and what I want to believe are well meaning friends lack is caution. At first, I found myself fuming as I would read post after post on Facebook about how amazing "Team Obama" was this year, how Obama was once again going to SAVE our country, cut taxes, heal the sick, part the seas... A seething frustration began to boil over into chest-beating anger. What in the world am I missing, I often thought.
Seriously, have I unknowingly entered the Twilight Zone? Have I fallen down a well and ended up in a parallel universe? Did I get knocked on the head? I get it: Oba-manians love their leader. They see him as doing no wrong. They see him as being a hero. A savior. The all-knowing. The all-fixing. They are blinded by an all encompassing optimism that has rendered them... dumb.
Dumb. That's it. Why are they being so dumb? Fine. Vote for him. Fine. Go to his rallies. Fine. Stick his sign in your yard. But, stop denying the FACT that his promises have been left unfulfilled.
Earlier this evening, I read the following post by a friend: "Loving Obama! Watched tidbits that would come through on my slow internet connection, but he looked radiant and beautiful. Way too busy of a week to go and stand in the lines with my kiddos..... but so glad he blessed this area and got to see our beauty."
What? Radiant? Beautiful? Huh? This is only one of the many posts, comments, messages, Tweets I read that praise our leader. He has become an icon. He is no longer a man. That must be the answer. If he were a man, he would be subject to the same scrutiny we apply to ourselves, our children, our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers. If we are lied to, we cease to trust. If we are made promises that are left unfulfilled, we cease to believe. If we are left in ruins after being told we are fine, good, recovering, we are left shattered. Thankfully, the resiliency of human nature takes hold. We confront those who have harmed us and we move on... cautiously optimistic. We do not give in. We do not forget. We do not deny.
Since our beloved president is not subject to this same scrutiny, he must be an icon, an inhuman representation of all that is perfect in an imperfect world.
That is the only explanation for the behavior of many Obama supporters.
"What would make this right for you?" my spouse asks as I shake my head in frustration.
I want them to tell the truth. I want them to acknowledge that not only is our current president NOT a god, but that he is imperfect. I want them to admit that he messed up. I want them to say that he made mistakes. I want them to agree with the facts and admit that he did not keep his promises. I want them to embrace cautious optimism. This is how we know they are being thoughtful instead of merely bowing to the alter of a mere man. That's all. If after that they still want to cast a ballot for him, so be it.
Remember, he is just a man. Only a man. He is imperfect. He is flawed. No amount of praise, adoration, or media infatuation will change the fact that he is merely human.
In my life, there is only one God. And his name is not Obama.