You Break-a My Heart, Obama

by zhx

I knew it was coming.

It’s been there in the back of my head since he started gaining momentum, “How can a candidate this progressive win over a country of bible-clutching troglodytes?” In the month or so since his nomination, Obama has disappointed me time and time again. From his support for the telecom immunity bill and his recent change in stance on both Iraq and Iran, to his disgusting support for expansion of Bush’s faith-based initiatives and his flag-pin brandishing, I’m fucking disappointed.

Right, I know: Politics as usual; he’s gotten the nomination, time to shift center. I mean, I’ve gotten a whiff of Obama’s pandering earlier, when I began to sense that he’s almost assuredly a “Christian” purely for political reasons. But for once, just ONCE, I thought maybe a politician would stick to his guns and somehow win an election on principle and integrity. Pffffffff. Not sure who I was kidding. Idealistic of me? Sure, but that’s why I’m so pissed off; I thought maybe this time I could be idealistic and win. I thought Obama was an idealist, too.

Don’t get me wrong, Obama is still undoubtedly the best candidate, but the whole “hope” and “change” buzz has subsequently worn off for me. It’s a painful reminder that politics is a dirty game and I live in a country in which “evangelical Christian pro-war gun owners” are a serious voting bloc.

I can only hope that right now Obama is in his “major-label release” phase. You know when your favorite band releases several independent albums and can absolutely do no wrong, then they sign to a major label and they have big-time producers breathing down their neck to release a pop album with mainstream appeal? The “sound” is still kinda there, but something’s just…off? But then there’s always the second release from the major label, after success has been established and the artist is given more creative control. Perhaps they can even choose their producer. Look, you get the analogy. All I’m saying is Obama’s Nevermind or Blue Album might sell a bazillion copies, but I’m hoping that once elected President, we end up with the artistic integrity of his In Utero or Pinkerton. It might not appeal to everybody, but in the long run, it’s really what’s best.