TJP

Co-opting Obama’s Change Message

Byron A. Ellis

January 06, 2008

Many politicians want voters to believe that experience is the same as leadership. Many technocrats are experienced in their craft but are unable to lead. Leadership is about influence; the ability to inspire individuals for the accomplishment of shared goals. Thus, what some politicians have been labeling experience is more akin to management. That is, understanding how individuals in institutions mechanically comply with routine directives.

The experience that these politicians postulate often prevents them and the institutions they represent from adapting to changing circumstances. Additionally, it also inhibits their ability to be creative and deductive. Leadership, on the other hand, is about hope and vision. Hope and vision defines what the future should look like. It aligns people to a shared vision and inspires them to transcend pettiness to achieve the vision.

Inspirational leaders, such as Obama, reflect constituents hopes and dreams within the shared vision. Obama, like most Americans, clamor for a greater union, not a divided America. And, that is why his message resonates with voters.        

Romney, a Republican, claims that Obama does not understand the consequences of troop withdrawal from Iraq. However, unlike experience Republicans Obama clearly understood the consequences of a war of choice. So, if Republicans did not grasp the consequences of the Iraq invasion, why should voters believe that they understand the consequences of withdrawal? Romney attempts to deride Obama while co-opting, all be it late, his change message.

Hillary, after her Iowa third place finish, claims that Obama’s message of hope is false hopes. However, hope cannot be false. Someone that claims experience should understand that what is not seen cannot be falsified. For instance, many believed that going to the moon or space travel was impossible; yet, to falsify it because it had not yet occurred would have been foolish. It is this belief in experience that have prevented many politicians from envisioning and bringing into fruition new and cost effective ideas; for them hope, envisioning things differently, has no value.

Change agents hope for what is not, understanding that together with their constituents they can make what is not possible. Those following experience discard hope and attempt to rummage in the past.

Thus, it is hope of a different future that voters, and the rest of the world, are looking for, not a continuation of division at home and war abroad.             

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