The Obama Factor

I have wrestled about writing this post as politics is an interest of mine but often is not the interest of those around me. Therefore, silence is often golden. However, most recently, I have been brought into several conversations about politics. With the continuing movement which is Obama, more and more of the average americans weigh in on the issue of politics. It used to be said that Politics is only really important to 1% of the population. However, with the most recent elections, it appears that we in america are waking up to the fact that every vote does count. I call this the Obama Factor.

Let's face it, Presidential Candidates are job hunting and interviewing for about 12-18 months or longer. It is the job candidate that produces a kind of energy. The candidate that shows a sense of confidence and yet a bit of humility, it is the one who captures the imagination which is usually the one who is hired. Obviously, they have the skill and talent but the interview sets them apart. In HR you have a second interview to see if your gut is correct and then work out the details. Does this sound familiar? It should because that is exactly the purpose of the primaries. It is an interview for each party.

It has been said that Obama is not a good candidate because he has achieve a status like a rock star. Yet, that's the point. He has captured the imagination of everyday americans. He's greatest statement is the "what if". He challenges everyone to look at the politics and say "what if" which is far different from "here we go again". I'm not saying that he's on target with all policies however, he is making individuals look at the issues again and ask questions and come to there own conclusions and that is what politics is supposed to be.

Yes there is a question of experience, however, only a previous president can truly say they have "experience" with the position. The rest is up for debate. Can Obama deliver? Can anyone? He has said that there will need to be compromises. But out of all the candidates, he is the one that seems to want to bridge some gaps, which may start with the American people apathy for the political game.

The primaries are the first interview, the National elections are the second and final interview. Finally, we have a pool of candidates that we can say, "What if" not "here we go again." This is going to be an interesting fall season for sure.