America Underestimated The Power Of Image and Hope
It's all about image. And on November 4, 2008, image adorned herself in a sea of red, white, and blue, proclaiming loudly and boldly: "Change has come to America! Now is the time to depart from the political status quo! Now is the time to seek common ground as we embrace a new direction, a new era, and a renewed hope in the greatness of this nation!" Change opened the heart of America. Image opened the eyes of America. Hope opened the heart of America.
You see, it really wasn't the Republican's message that was so brutally rejected. They talked a pretty good game. They promised lower taxes, stood firmly against abortion and gay marriages, and ran on a platform of experience. Mr. McCain was tough. The war hero instilled a sense of pride and gratitude in most Americans when recalling his grueling days as a POW. One would have to be a devil incarnate not to feel a sense of gratitude to Senator McCain for his very unselfish sacrifice while protecting this nation during war. So what was rejected? Why did many Independents and some Republicans turn away from the GOP and to the Democrats in the 2008 Presidential election? Five letters, two syllables: IMAGE. Four letters, one syllable. HOPE.
During the election, Image said that Repbulicans were racist, bitter, and fearful of anything new and different. McCain's town hall meetings (pre-Palin) were dry, boring, and lacked substance. The crowds were so thin that he could have fit them all at his dinner table. After selecting Palin as a running mate, the much larger crowds at the rallies showed racist attitudes and called for harm to come to Senator Obama. The McCain/Palin ticket did little to stop it. For the Democrats, Image said that they were caring, compassionate, intelligent, and refreshing. America was ready to see something different, say something different, and be something different. Image afforded them that great opportunity.
Anything that Image was unable to do, hope brought home. Hope blanketed the nation as a quick moving snowstorm; beautiful to behold and strong enough to cripple entire states. Hope was not the result of blind following, party loyalty, or racial preference. It was the anxious desire to see a nation guilty of the bondage and oppression of human beings correct her wrongs. It was the belief that the last can become first--that equality was not just a dream yet to be fulfilled.
Barack Obama's amazing ability to connect with the hearts of Americans strengthened hope. In him was the hope that the family home of 30+ years could be saved from foreclosure, that the family salary would be able to survive the economic crisis, that the ailing elderly person would be able to continue obtaining life-sustaining medications, that young people in this country could still attend college, and that loved ones fighting the deceptive, senseless war in Iraq would soon return home. His unwillingness to back down or give up when negative news reports saturated the airwaves opened the closed doors of hope, allowing it to break forth with power.
Pretty speeches and racial support did not and could not deliver victory to Obama on a silver platter. Although they certainly had their place in the campaign and election, it was ultimately America's desire to see and welcome change that trounced the GOP and deprived them of political oxygen.
Image broke the back of the GOP. Hope was the stretcher that carried them away.
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