Me and Mr Obama

I freely admit that early on the race between Obama and Clinton, I was intrigued by the notion of a black man running for the Presidency. I jeered along with most people when the Clinton campaign began to race-bait, and clapped with others as Obama fluently, coherently and charismatically decimated both Senator Clinton and the erroneous press reports printed in the mainstream media. I ignored the issues pertinent to the Democratic Party, which go against my beliefs, because this man, this black man, had risen so high in politics. No one had ever fired up people my age until Senator Obama.

I shrugged off his dismissal of Donnie McClurkin when homosexual groups cried out against Obama's acquisition of this controversial gospel singer to take part in a sweep of the Southern states. I was opposed to the crucifixion of Reverend Wright and Obama's connection to him, finding it racist and unfair. I didn't look into Obama's position on the issues, nor did I look into his life and background to wonder how someone could come out of nowhere and capture the nation, the world.

I ignored my disquiet because it was so amazing to think America could have a black president and a black First Family who would be the face of this country to the world.

I eagerly followed such blogs as The Black Snob, and Mirror on America, among others, entertained by the coverage of Michelle Obama's fashion and the charm of the Obama daughters, Malia and Sasha, and agreeing with posits breaking apart the racist rhetoric of the press and the Opposition.

But my spirit continued to gnaw hungrily for attention against this onslaught of rousing support for Obama. When discussing Obama with my mother, who, like me, was bemused by the notion of a black president, nonetheless posited that Obama could be the Anti-Christ, I resisted the notion, turning my face away from the thought that his rise was not something positive. But I felt even more uneasy and guilty, and sat on that feeling, not wanting to take it to the Lord because it felt like a betrayal that this black man's candidacy was not a great historic moment for blacks. On this matter, I refused to allow myself to be more Christian than African-American.

Then McCain nominated Sarah Palin as his VP.

I am a Republican, and even though I didn't trust any of the Republican candidates during the primaries, I was rather enchanted by the nomination of this woman from Alaska, and found it a shrewd move. But this was a catalyst for my break from my enchantment with Senator Obama. Not because I threw my support over McCain/Palin, but because as I began to research Palin, I couldn't help but realize I had not done any research on Barack Obama.

The more I read, the more I began to feel that unease which I suppressed so long ago until it couldn't be ignored. Then I stumbled upon the video series I posted about and it put into words every single thing I'd been suppressing about Senator Obama, the Presidential race, the year 2008, etc.

It was disillusioning to say the least.

You mean Obama isn't someone to support? His success isn't full circle from the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr (of whom I've been shaken from admiration)?

It was a difficult road to walk and I still feel lingering feelings of wistfulness when I see him on TV or read articles about him, but I no longer feel the guilt and unease, and most importantly, the disconnection from the Lord that came about ignoring the Spirit.

America Under A Spell