I thought he should have waited until he acquired more experience in the Senate but was eventually convinced by the ideas he presented and the thought "if not now, when?"
My emotional response is probably not shared with most on these forums but I would ask that some take the time to walk in my shoes.
We can debate whether his Presidency has been or will be successful but what I can't do is ascribe to the misguided notion that the ONLY reason he is President is because he is Black. That on its face is absurd!
You ask what would make tons of people come out and vote for him? In short, I believe America was ready for a change. Was ready to "step out on faith" and not live in fear. I was then, and remain now, extremely proud of my fellow Americans who chose to look past his color and vote for not a Black Man but a Presidential candidate in whom they could believe and support.
You're making the point that, while you had reservations about his experience, 'if not now, when?' and that, to me, means "If not a black guy now, when?" Not because you thought him best qualified but, because of the opportunity.
I have ZERO problem with that. People vote for whom they want. None of that changes the fact, that you seem to agree with, that his experience level was weak. I think we're all paying for that. However, George W Bush had all sorts of experience and we are all paying for that as well.
I try, very much, to keep my criticism of the President to policy. Personally, I am happy to have that box checked off "black president'. To me, that means the next time a black man has a chance it WILL be because of his experience, his accomplishments, the content of his character and not, primarilily, in my view, because of the color of his skin.
One of the worst things about Obama, in my view, is that, with his drug history, had he been busted just once it would have ruined his chances at being president. Pure luck that he got away with it. As president, he's done nothing to wipe out the absurdity of so many other young black men having their hopes, their opportunities narrowed as young men or boys for doing the exact same stuff he did.
THAT, to me, speaks to a lack of character in the man, to live that.
