“Voting for Obama is like shopping at Kitson” - Tom H.
Wednesday, February 6th, 2008I have never been involved or had any interest in politics. I don’t understand much of it, at UCLA, poli-sci courses were about as interesting as chemistry ones, and in social settings I prefer not to talk politics since I will just come off as a dolt. However, that all changed last year when I started following a certain senator, who’s path to the White House was, at the time, just a bright twinkle in his eye.
I was an early adopter of Barack Obama’s charm and charisma, perhaps due to his amazing smile, dapper demeanor, and ability to goofily dance on Ellen (yet still seem respectable). Smitten by all this, I quickly purchased my “Obama ‘08,” “I have a Crush on Obama,” and “Team Obama” paraphernalia from Cafepress.com, not really knowing the impact this junior senator would have in the 2008 presidential race. At that point in time, all I knew was that I had a good feeling about him. I liked what he stood for. I liked that he was the exact picture of the “American dream” that I envisioned. I liked that he was a minority that grew up with whatever prejudices he had to endure to get to where he is today. However, it would be short-sighted of me to just vote for a president just because I like him. I wanted to back up my instincts by reading about his upbringing, philosophies, and political issues I feel are important.
So I did my homework. I read “The Audacity of Hope,” watched the debates he was involved in, and took the test online that matches your answers with the candidate that shares similar beliefs. Luckily, or as fate would have it, I enjoyed the book, agreed with his position in the debates, and matched with him on the online test. As the Iowa caucus approached, I never had more interest or been more invested in a political race in my 12 or so years of voting. When he actually won that state, I was suddenly hooked in this thing we ironically call the “political process” and actually began to care who was going to be on the ballot come November.
That’s when it struck me. Barack Obama’s words and overall persona has caused my Entertainment-Tonight-watching, Perez-Hilton-reading tendencies to occasionally switch to CNN and NPR. His mantra “Yes, we can!” would come across as trite from many politicians, but from Obama lips, there is a sense of sincerity and passion that cannot be faked. It’s hard to explain why or how he’s able to do this, but it seems like I’m not alone. His message is resonating from middle-America to homogenous southern states and middle-class minorities to the Hollywood elite.
With Obama’s popularity rising, so was my realization that I am, once again, going with the most “trendy” thing to do. During one of our heated IM debates about the Democratic candidates, my friend Tom said to me the quote I used to lead this post. I laughed at both the audaciousness and truth behind the statement. I guess I really can’t shake off my Trendanita moniker anytime soon, whether it’s about my taste in fashion, media choices, and now politics. So I’m just going to suck it up and embrace the fact I am on the same bandwagon as Scarlett Johansson, the big O, and a Black Eyed Pea. But I guess a wagon that represents change, hope and the possibilities of the future is a pretty good one to be on…especially if Barack Obama is in the driver’s seat.
