Pronouns, Money, and America

Barack Obama is up against a mighty opponent. The Clinton machine is a network of mafia-like dues and obligations that has had thirty years and a presidency to extend itself. Obama has effectively side-stepped this, and gone right to the heart of our political process. The people.

It may seem like some weepy, romantic concept along with the hype about "hope" and "change" - but it's a concept that's on track to deliver 30 million dollars a months into the coffers of the hope-monger's campaign - all with, potentially, the nomination itself, while Hillary upends the cushions at the Chappaqua to look for cash.

Can you imagine any Republican anywhere fueling a bid for the White House on $25 and $50 checks? One reason campaign finance reform is anathema to Republicans is because the grassroots model would never work. If your world is mostly corporations, from your employer to the sub-development to your home full of products - it's a natural assumption that the culture of GOP politics would include big donors and corporate special interests.

The small-scale donors that have fueled the Obama effort are in line with the rhetoric that is emitting from the podium, which relies heavily on the first person plural. Unlike the first person singular, "I will do everything FOR you" bromides of his opponent Hillary - which have grown increasingly tiresome (not to mention condescending) in the past 40 years - Obama asserts the national "we" as the only means to accomplish anything politically.

Against "yes we can" the GOP is sending in John McCain. Even his detractors will admit he's a fighter, although usually against his own team. He certainly seems to own his pronouns, "us and them" per the (say it with me) transcendental challenge of our times, militant Islam.

Obama's first person plural might seem like socialism to some people, who may think such let's-do-it-together concepts should be banished to harmless, impractical places like Kindergarten or Church. Ours is a world where one must man up and carve out a slice of the American pie - and if our rivals lose a finger or two in the process, those are the breaks. Hate the game, not the player (said Shakespeare, I think).

There's much about Obama's politics that I find alarming, and even dangerous. But it seems to me there's much appeal in the notion of an inclusive, uplifting "we" at this time in our history. And it wouldn't be the first time, either - come to think of it, if I recall correctly, it's the first word in the Declaration of Independence.