Leadership

There are many definitions of a leader, and many different qualities that people expect to see in their leaders. One aspect of being a leader is encouraging and enabling those around you to become better people.

Think of the lionized leaders in American history: Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King, JFK -- of the many things that they did as leaders, they all challenged Americans to be better people.

On the flip-side, we generally don't have statues and schools named for people who encouraged bickering, pettiness and squabbling (unless the particular person strong-armed the funding for the project and had it named after them - see Stroger Hospital).

At the moment, one Presidential candidate has struck a tone that has resonated with the American people, and the people of the world, in a way that has caused millions to engage in the political process and social endeavors. And the other guy is just cranky.

Even if the former has a thin resume, and doesn't have solidified policy statements on every issue, I am hopeful that his mere presence and energy will encourage and enable the American people to move into the 21st century. (And stop fighting Vietnam. Please, just stop fighting that war -- we've normalized relations with the former enemy at this point!)

Obama represents a new generation, one with a different understanding of race, poverty, homosexuality, the information age, and how success should be defined. Are we going to keep driving toward enriching the bank accounts of a few at the cost of the environment, social strife and the destruction of the family? Or is there a role for community and coming together for a bigger, better cause than ourselves?

I think the biggest challenge Obama will face is that which brings down all great, inspirational leaders: failing to live up to the expectations of their followers. Great leaders have a tendency to encourage others to be better people -- all the while masking their own personal flaws. And while Jefferson, JFK and MLK may have been able to hide their flaws until after their death, in this era of intense media coverage, any speck in the character of Obama will be magnified. Can he manage the expectations of the masses? That may be President Obama's greatest challenge.

Recently, commentators have pondered why Obama doesn't have a bigger lead in the polls. Americans want change, and he is the candidate of change. So why isn't he farther ahead in the polls?

Gosh, could it be because he is a black man with a Muslim name?

This election environment clearly favors the Democrats. I'm glad that we had the opportunity to choose between two Democratic candidates who would each be breaking a barrier as President. This was the ideal year for a non-white man to run for President -- it will take a substantial tailwind for either a woman or a minority to win the White House because there is a steep hill of prejudice to climb. But that is the case this year, and now is a prime opportunity to break the monopoly that pale penis people have had on the Executive mansion.

So yes, Obama isn't winning as dramatically as he would be if he were a conventional Democratic candidate. But I believe that if the American people select him as our leader, he will inspire us - and the world - to new heights.