"All of this is clear to me, and yet I have fallen victim. I was at an Obama rally in Las Vegas last month, hanging at the rope line afterward in the cold night desert air, just to see him up close, to make sure he was real. I'd never heard a politician talk so bluntly, calling U.S. immigration policy "scapegoating" and "demagoguery." I'd never had even a history teacher argue that our nation's history is a series of brave people changing others' minds when things were on the verge of collapse. I want the man to hope all over me."
- Joel Stein's Los Angeles Times, "He's Got Obamaphilia" [clicky]
Put another way:
Hillary (Mrs. Clinton) is that repeated teacher-of-the-year institution of a high school teacher, 35-years experience, Ph.D., demonstrated success of teacher, a little marmish, not popular but respected (feared to some), knows everyone in the community, writes great recommendations. She cannot remember your name but remembers your older brother's accomplishments just fine. She volunteers with your parents on important civic matters. Occasionally you are peer-pressured to fuck around in her class and embarrass her. You feel bad for doing that though. Her classes are so difficult that the mantra is, "A 'C' is a good grade." Parents know this as do counselors and colleges. You envision TV dinners and hard-core novels at home. Mrs. Clinton hasn't missed a football game since 1974.
Then comes Mr. Obama ("call me Barack" he says in smoky baritone). Fresh from student teaching in someplace cool like Guam. He's that new guy who gets all the girls in a tizzy (he's married?!). He jokes with the jocks and is "down" with the geeks too. He is post-ebonics but the black kids love him. When the girls are out of college, they're all a little embarrassed for having such huge, baseless crushes on him. While his classes isn't necessary easy, you feel like you're breezing through them because he "believes in your potential." You don't know him for shit (lives two towns over) but he's your BFF. You think he smokes pot. Barack will never go to a football game.
They don't talk in the teacher's lounge but she notices him. He seems not to notice her.
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