Is Obama a Bound Man?

Bill Moyers' guest a few week ago on his Journal program on PBS was African-America author Shelby Steele whose new book is entitled A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win. My daughter and I had a fairly long discussion this week about Obama's presidential run, and I am trying to understand why there are so many differences in families, especially between mothers and daughters, regarding Obama. I have no doubt in my mind that of the four viable remaining candidates Hillary would be the best leader of our country for the next few years.

I know that part of my belief that Hillary is the best leader comes from my belief in feminism. As a young mother of two in the early 1970's, my husband and I attended a very conversative Baptist church where I was told from the pulpit every Sunday that working women were responsible for the economic woes of the world. If they just stayed home and fulfilled their God-given talents as mothers, the world would be much stronger. I did not believe that theology then, nor do I believe it today. I did struggle, however, with a compelling need to be--as Shelby Steele classifies people in his new book--both a bargainer and a challenger. Bargainers, according to Steele, are not those "in-your-face" folks who make sure you know about the injustices of the past but those who can live in peace with those who differ from you. He considers Obama a bargainer, and I consider Hillary a challenger.

Yes, the majority of us in America are very tired of the wranging in politics between the two major parties. We would like to see hope and change, yet at the same time people of my generation, war babies, have lived too long to believe it can take place easily. We are not called "war babies" for a reason; we believe it is necessary to have someone fight for our positions. Hillary is that person, in my opinion. While Obama's position is attractive to the younger generation who tend to hold on to their idealism as long as possible, I believe, like Steele, that it is doomed to fail. But . . . I would love at the same time to be proven wrong.