Is Obama just a "regular guy"?

Question

Where do we draw the line where the President is just an "ordinary guy"?

I would prefer to have a President who doesn't show his dance moves on a talk television show and then challenges his opponent to do the same. I would prefer to have the person who holds or aspires to that high office, to display more dignified actions. (It's about time!) The person who aspires to hold the office of President of the United States of America should be a person who (ideally)behaves in a dignified manner and does not display arrogance. It is easier to respect the quality of humility.

The aspiring First Lady appears as a "Host" on The View. I would like to be able to hold the aspiring First Lady in a place of higher esteem than that. Perhaps "Obamaism" is just a temporary immature phase that we are going through. Hopefully, it will pass quietly into the night and we can have someone that we can truly respect hold the highest office in our country.

After all, the government is just an innocent reflection of the consciousness of the people. I hope that we can rise to the occasion and elect a person that we can be proud of--a person who brings dignity to the office of the President of the United States of America.

It's not that I am Pro-McCain, but Obama seems like a lot of gloss and too much hype. At least McCain and his wife seem more dignified in their behavior.

Answer 1

It is my opinion that there isn't any way for the leader of a country to be a "regular person". If he/she were - then how would we distinguish them as the "leader". A leader must have particular qualities that distinguish them from the pack. However, it is also true, that in a democratic system - when people are electing you in part by popularity, there must also be a shared quality of sameness. That way, people can feel comfortable that the leader can see their lives as they experience them - not from "above it all" or in an abstract way. That is legitimate. However, I agree, that the marketing machine that propels our candidates forward as entertainment personalities, too - rock stars, if you will, is a symptom of our times - and is a bit gross. I would rather "identify" w/ a candidate through the town hall meeting format, or through, 60 Minutes type interviews, than through false identification w/  displays that just scream, Look at me - I'm Cool - I'm Just Like You - but don't speak to any of the issues......We live in a short attention span, click of a dial or mouse, time....the candidates are giving us what they perceive "we" want.....I am definitely not part of that "we".....I would so much prefer substance......oh - I am currently and STILL undecided on my vote.

Answer 2

I agree with you. It's pretty showboat-y to insinuate that you'd like your wife to show her b***s to a bunch of bikers at a biker rally. We don't need this kind of grandstanding in our politics.

Answer 3

Well, are the Obamas in a normal house?  Drive a 6 year old Toyota?   Girls go to Public School?

a. Sometimes

b. Every other Tuesday

c. Always

d. Never

Answer 4

Obama is an elitist, so this precludes any semblance of being a "regular guy". He is arrogant to the point of smug. He believes he can offend the sensibilities of anyone who doesn't agree because we are all just gun toting, religion spouting, green guy voting hillbillies in his eyes. I finally figured out what the change he keeps talking about is though. That is "I will change my story as many times as necessary to get elected".

Answer 5

Yeah. Your current President has been so dignified on so many occasions. He yucks it up for the cameras at international conferences. Forgets the names of visiting dignitaries. He can't remember the lines to his speeches so they have to put a bug in his ear and a powerpack down his collar just to get him through the formalities.At the APEC conference in Australia he thought he was addressing OPEC and had to have APEC repeated two or three times before he could get it right. It was very impressive to all of us I can assure you. Why we were just awed by the intellect and dignity of the man.....NOT!

You people against Obama are just so transparent. You cannot stand the fact that he is better looking, better educated, more successful and overwhelmingly more popular than your sad pathetic little selves.

Don't worry buddy. You don't have an inferiority complex. I'm sure you really are inferior!

Answer 6

Wow you must really hate Bush then, that mans a dancing fool.

Or when he told Osama to "Bring it on" That's neither humble nor dignified.

And your sainted Cindy was a druggie who stole painkillers from her charity work with cleft palate kids who were recovering from surgery.

Not some nasty rumor, shes talked about it openly, and, like Betty Ford could possibly do some good talking about addictions to prescription painkillers.

At least Obama is on his first wife, and there has been no evidence that hes played around or had a DUI, like Bush and Cheney both have, Cheney twice.

I don't know what your definition of hype and gloss are, but McCain has glossed over a good many things hes been open about in his book, and we have allowed it.

Please check these sources, I'm not making anything up.

Answer 7

I would rather someone show who they really are rather than the polished "act" some people can put together...

Answer 8

Obama has not matured enough politically to be prepared for the role as president.  His Senate office still has that newly elected smell.

Answer 9

Gosh, I'm so bored today?

I even don't know what to think.

Answer 10

Your choice for President cheated on his wife, is a member of the Keating Five, and runs a dirty negative campaign. People vote for the candidate that represents their own morals. I perfer to vote for someone that will not swindle honest Americans.

Answer 11

Yes - with regular achievements and skills - except he is a good public speaker.  But we have thousands of those today making homilies in our churches every Sunday, yet we aren't trying to elect them!  Obama is definitely in over his head

Peace

Answer 12

You are so right, and you know the old saying "s**+- rolls downhill". The president and the presidential family project a standard. To expect the people of america to act in a dignified manner while their leader acts like an over rated rock star just will not happen. Many of the values held dear by americans are dismissed by Obama. Patriotism, love of country, morals and values seem to be what he wants to "change". Some things do not need to be changed, in fact if we "change" those things, it will lead to the destruction of our country.

Answer 13

I agree!!!!!

Answer 14

Do you think it really matters?  Career politicians all have similar interests and no, you're not it.  They may have slightly different agendas but 99% become slaves to the machine.  Many people of true, high moral character can not stand to be in politics past one or two terms.

If you think "Obamaism" is a temporary phenomenon look at the recent past.  I bet you can name a handful of celebrities who took office in the past 25 years without even really thinking.  As far as a president you can respect, just look at our current leader... he was making an *** of himself for 4 years and was re-elected because people liked the other option less.  People are ready for a change and are hoping that Sen. Obama will bring that for them.  He does not give the appearance of other presidents (and not just in skin color) and a lot of ignorant citizens want to believe that he is just a regular guy who will actually care more about them than big business and lobbyists.  The McCain campaign is killing itself by endorsing Obama as a celebrity.  This is America, political office is more of a popularity game than anything else when it comes down to election time.  

It bothers me slightly that people are still so deluded that someone making a somewhat intelligent question/comment would say "...the government is just an innocent reflection of the consciousness of the people."  The people are no longer given a choice.  It's either the guy the republicans put up or the guy the democrats put up; anyone without their support, and thus indebted to them, does not have a remote chance on winning a high office.  (If you want to argue that's still a choice, I feel bad for you.) Oh, and BTW, how is giving billion dollar no bid contracts to former companies, firing/hiring employees based on political standpoints, appointing the CEO of a massive investing firm to head the housing crisis 'solution', or going to war to up-show daddy a reflection of the people?