I am not David Axelrod. While I voted for President-Elect Obama and, when asked, shared my positive feelings about the presidential candidate, I am not and never have been connected to the next President of the United States. This much appears obvious to most, but I have noticed a growing trend among the politically-petulant members of the voting bloc.
This is not meant to disparage those who voted for Senator John McCain as those I am speaking of are far too small to represent his voting contingent in any significant manner. This, frankly, is a knock on the state of American politics in my lifetime.
I am far too young to discuss what the discourse was like in the 1970s, 1980s, or even most of the 1990s, but I know something is amiss when I see it. Americans like to think of themselves as winners in every sense of the word: in business; in war; and in values Americans are winners. America hates losers.
Every four years, however, roughly half the American electorate goes home feeling like losers and defeat is not something most Americans are comfortable experiencing. So, what happens? Well, some decide to extend the campaign through the next Presidency in hoping they’ll be proven right over time, pointing fingers all along the way.
Too many times in the months that have passed since President-Elect’s November 4 victory, I have been cornered in one way or another over the decisions, appointments, nominations, and priorities of the man I voted for last Fall as if I am accountable for the actions of our new President-to-be.
Let me make something clear: on January 20, I will no longer be the Obama voter full of hope and admiration ready to defend my candidate at every turn and neither should any other Obama voter.
The moment President-Elect Obama becomes President Obama, everything changes. In the time that it takes the junior Senator from Illinois to recite the Oath of Office, a transformation will take place that may be difficult to see through the naked eye. In that moment, he will go from being the man as in “you da man!” to the man as in “fight the man!”
While my respect for the man and the office will not change, it is important to note that now is the time for all those who voted for him to become the politically-astute electorate that President-Elect Obama said we could be. It is time for all of us to hold the new President accountable, and that is why the finger-pointing, accusatory statements, and general discontent must end.
I am not a member of the new President’s administration, as over 99.9% of the country are similarly not, and the only Americans who must defends themselves about the actions of the next administration are those who are members of the Obama administration.
There are far too many obstacles facing the President-Elect for any of us to fall asleep at the wheel while celebrating the election of the country’s first African-American president and tough times cannot be navigated through sheer faith.
So, in that vein, to Obama and McCain voters alike, we’re in this together. The stress and animosity that we all experienced throughout the general election must end. Let us all quit acting as proxies for political parties and instead act like Americans.
