You probably saw the video of Peggy. She was so moved by Barak Obama’s speech days before the election, that when a local TV station interviewed her on the spot, she uttered these words, “I never thought this day would come. I won’t have to worry about putting gas in my car. I won’t have to worry about paying my mortgage. If I help him [Barak Obama], he’s going to help me.”
You could interpret her words a number of ways, but to be fair, I think in the quickness of the moment, she didn’t make herself very clear. I’m going to presume she meant that under Obama’s presidency, the economic state of the nation will improve enough that those who are struggling every day (the lower-income bracket), will be better off … and paying for gas and a house will not be the thing that keeps her up at night worrying. It will just be a normal thing, seemingly like most people. I think the emphasis is on the word “worry,” not on who is going to pay her bills. You judge for yourself, however.
All that said, it ultimately doesn’t matter if I give Peggy the benefit of the doubt, her expectations are still enormous. In fact, I sense that our country has incredible expectations on Obama to solve most of our problems … and I don’t think anyone can match that kind of hype. I will pray for Barak Obama, but I am also a realist. What people are hoping for and expecting out of him and the position of the presidency are almost god-like. Yes I am inspired, but it’s almost not fair to him.
I think my wife said it best. We were watching the incredible crowd in Chicago during Obama’s acceptance speech. I had said something about the moment being so amazing … so many people, so many tears, so much hope. It was like they looked at him like he was a savior. There was a long pause, and then she quietly said, “that is what people want … a savior.” Wow, she’s right. I just don’t think they’ll find it in our next President.
*View Peggy’s comments here: Peggy’s Expectations.
