By Frederick Alexander Meade
(December 24, 2008) - President-elect Barack Obama is working to establish his administrative cabinet and make arrangements for his upcoming inauguration. Towards these ends, Obama has made some decisions that have caused controversy and unsettled parts of his base. His selection of former political rival Hillary Clinton as the next secretary of state, plus his request to have evangelist Rick Warren perform the invocation at his swearing-in, have provoked a storm of protest in some quarters.
During the Democratic primaries, Sen. Clinton depicted Obama as a neophyte who relied on his oratorical abilities to spellbind constituents and simultaneously mask his political unpreparedness. Further distasteful Clinton camp manifestations surfaced as Bill Clinton attempted to interject race into the contest by equating Obama with Jesse Jackson Sr. in an effort to stir racial tensions that might function to disadvantage his spouse’s opponent. To the dismay of both Clintons, Obama overcame these and other ploys to become the Democratic presidential nominee.
Noted Pastor Rick Warren found relevance during the general election as host of a forum in which he interviewed Obama and his Republican rival Sen. John McCain. Controversy ensued as information surfaced that suggested that while Obama was being interviewed, McCain initially had not been sequestered in an area void of outside stimuli (as proclaimed by Warren) but was in fact en route to the event. While McCain denied that he had heard any of the questions posed to Obama, the ease in which the Arizona senator answered Warren’s questions made many wonder if he had prior knowledge of the response items presented that night.
In spite of Clinton’s acts and the speculated behaviors of Warren, Obama has brought both of them into his circle.
Why Obama has aligned himself with those who arguably sought to compromise his rise may lie in an assessment of his ascension. Obama captured nearly 53 percent of the popular vote. However, such figures fail to warrant overwhelming glee considering that the candidate belonged to the opposing party of an unpopular residing president during periled times. It’s not completely certain why Obama (given the prevailing circumstances) was unable to secure more votes, but the “politics of race” and the notion that he somehow is not “American” enough have been largely argued as the cause.
In countering these circumstances, Obama must stabilize his base while making overtures to those who may hold reservations about him and his intentions.
The involvement of Clinton and Warren in Obama’s political dealings accomplishes both feats. Clinton supporters who begrudgingly supported Obama may be further brought into the president-elect’s fold as he has granted their champion increased political powers. Warren’s expected participation in Obama’s inauguration may potentially provide a bridge between the president-elect and the Christian Right while simultaneously combating many of the ideas that serve to call Obama’s faith and affiliations into question.
“Obama must stabilize his base while making overtures to those who may hold reservations about him and his intentions.”
Barack Obama’s emergence was an improbable event. His ability to inspire masses of people, while compelling, may not be enough to sustain his standing if our nation’s economy continues to slump over the next few years. With such oppositional figures as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and “embattled” but ever popular Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin looming as potential future presidential candidates, Obama must maintain a considerably diverse constituency. If such procurement is not brought into existence now, a second Obama term may not be assured.
Frederick Alexander Meade is a freelance writer and can be reached at meade1900@yahoo.com.