If presented with the opportunity to ask Jim Messina – The Jim Messina. He of the ‘Michelle Obama wants to meet you but only if you give $3′ emails – a question then you should take it. With great trepidation of course and a shaky voice because clearly you are not worthy enough to be in such a situation where Jim Messina wants to know your thoughts. It took a few minutes (and tweets) but he kept mentioning the need for the “base”. The base vote is key in most any race. It’s that group of voters on whom a candidate can always rally. On the right it might be NRA members, pro-lifers and Evangelical Christians in the Bible Belt. On the left it’s minorities, young people and women. Though there are no absolutes when it comes to a bloc of voters and to think such would mean writing your candidate’s concession speech, this is more of a trend over the years that leads a group to be referred to as the base. As such, when Jim mentioned the Obama 2012 campaign needing their base I thought “Swell!” “Great!”. Afterward questions came but mostly from people of a certain age who wanted to know about intricate messaging thus leaving me wanting more.
In 2008 Obama for America was engaged. Excited. But where has that gone over the last three years. Once upon a time people were crying while watching the President give a stump speech. There was that rapt attention and thrill of breathing the same air as Barack Obama. Though I might still pass out at the thought of just being in his presence my peers are less than interested. That campaign was pure magic which has nothing to do with policy or politics but with its ability to make people feel as if they were special and this person running for the highest office in the world could reach out and touch a voter just by opening his mouth.
During the 2010 midterm election my then 23 year old brother point blank said that he didn’t care. He was apathetic to all that was going on. So while I did labor walks and pulled my hair out over voter mobilization and voter turn out he just shrugged. His excitement was long gone and as he would later say; “There was nothing there for me…they are not speaking to me”. Of course he was neither the first or the last young black male to stop caring but because he was my brother – MINE – I had to wonder and know what had happened.
So when it was my turn to ask Jim Messina a question, I did so with a tremble in my voice knowing full well that though I wasn’t speaking for every other 40+ in the room I had to question this current campaign and how to get back those that buoyed them to success: “You have mentioned the base and the importance of the base vote but as a black woman under 30 clearly I am engaged…I am here, in this room…but what about others? What is the plan to get them engaged about this race? Because I can tell you right now that when I talk to them about the payroll tax extension their eyes glaze over.”
There were nods in the audience especially from those under the age of 30 where gave me a ‘right on!’ Another friend was just happy that I framed it around the payroll tax extension but it’s the truth. Do you want to know the best way to turn off a group of 20-somethings? Talk about Social Security. That shit is better than Ambien.
Messina acknowledged my need desperation for something from the campaign that would get people on their feet. There would be something coming in the New Year for the groups described and the kicker? If I didn’t like what I saw? Then I should call him.
I SHOULD CALL THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER OF OBAMA 2012 IF I AM UNHAPPY.
Just let that sink in for a minute.
The thing is that I would totally call up Jim Messina and tell him that my friends ain’t buying what he’s selling. I want them to win and I have very small doubt that with the current field of GOP contenders that they could win but right now I continue to scratch my head and ask what I think are the most obvious questions: What about your people? The ones who wanted your win at the beginning and those you have since left behind. You cannot get us – the collective young, black and female ‘us’ – on board with promises to veto any bill that includes the Keystone pipeline. Debt ceiling talk isn’t a turn on and we only care about the Euro when it comes to traipsing around Europe on our parent’s dime.
And so, to Jim Messina I say this: Find us. We’re out there. Seek us out. Use us. If a young black female wants to advocate for you; HELP HER. Talk to her. Listen to her. It will be worth it in the end.
The State of Bipartisanship
“Because you cannot charge up those stairs into darkness and danger unless you know that there’s someone behind you, watching your back” – President Barack Obama
I am a total sucker for pomp and circumstance. I love the revelry and enjoy moments of tradition however small. So it is less than surprising that the State of the Union is one my favorite nights of the year. No matter who the President is I still watch with rapt attention not just to watch the address but to watch the reaction of the 535 members of congress in the audience. It’s crazy, I know, to not be among the over 90% of Americans with an unfavorable view of congress right now. That isn’t to say that I think they’re perfect and doing everything right but there’s still that soft spot that has been there since I was 12. The one that cannot help but love congress. So there’s my confession for the day: Congress can be awful but if you find the good ones then you can be swayed.
As I’ve gotten older I realize that I pay more and better attention to the actual address, both the written words and the delivery as I gauge how all of what is said will translate to actual legislation. While I still like congress I am not naive enough to think that bills will be sent to the White House and bipartisan compromises will be made and John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi will hold hands as the ride into the sunset. I am also aware that this is an election year and can I say one thing about that? To all of those angry that the President of the United States is giving a speech that might have notes of what he would like to accomplish into the next year. Can I just say – and pardon my language – NO SHIT. He’s the President and he’s allowed to give speeches and yes some of it might be pandering but I have never read or watched a State of the Union address that wasn’t essentially a campaign speech. For as President of the United States you get to be the Campaigner in Chief. That’s just how it works.
Moving onto the speech itself: It was spectacular. Some might scream BIAS! as I have been less than secretive as to who I will be voting for in November but I can still step back enough and allow for critical thinking. That said it was an address that wasn’t just meaningful in the words that he said but how he said them. He was forceful. He pushed at congress and yes, he scolded. But can you say that they don’t deserve it? He acknowledged the giant rift between both sides of the aisle right now and that for us to move forward as a country we – or, they, the House and the Senate – need to get over their differences and keep it moving. As I tweeted yesterday it was very much “Lead. Follow. Or get out the way”. And that is how I like my President. Presidential. Leading. Keeping us moving despite 535 roadblocks who are more interested in fighting with each other than fighting for the American people.
Despite my congress love I can still be disappointed. I watch C-SPAN and the pointing of fingers and referring to “My friend, the distinguished gentleman from X…” before giving a profound speech that amounts to a giant middle finger. I watch as members speak over each other, heckle and boo and I am dismayed. I’m bothered and saddened that this is the state of our union. As the President mentioned last night we did not receive a credit downgrade because of our finances but because congress was more interested in arguing with each other to the point that they would allow us to default on our loans. The House and Senate have argued us into oblivion and while it’s funny in an “Oh my God, there they go again *rolls eyes*” way it is also disturbing and treacherous. The word ‘compromise’ is not part of their vernacular. But ‘pissing match’ is (well, that’s two words but you get what I’m saying) and right now I don’t know what it will take or how low this country has to go before we are back on solid ground with representatives who care about those they represent as much as they care about their own politics, ambitions and proving the person across the aisle wrong.
I will address the finer points and policy over the next few days – particularly his quest to end asinine policy of ‘teaching to the test’ but I did want to give a few thoughts and hear what you all liked or didn’t like about the speech. Have at it.
Watch: The full State of the Union address
Watch: Mitch Daniels deliver the Republican response