As Dr. King Turns 80, Obama Represents His Dream Come True...Sort Of

CLEVELAND - Today is the 80th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth and Monday is the federal holiday bearing his name.

Add Barack Obama to this MLK mix.

President-elect Obama, elected in November as the nation's first ever African-American president will take the oath of office on January 20 during his historic inauguration, merely one day after King's holiday and five days after his birthday.

My, the symbolism.

King was a relentless advocate for change and equality amongst races. As the most visible Civil Rights activist in history, MLK was a constant target for the bitter racists that pervaded this country, especially during the segregated 1960's. As a result, he was gunned down in 1968.

Obama has been something of a "knight in shining armor" to Blacks during the past year. Blessed with obvious intellect and brilliant oratory skills, the former Illinois senator represents King's dream of an inclusive United States, where a person's race doesn't define or deny him.

But, all is not peachy keen.

Racism is still very much alive in this country. Many idiots spewed horrible epithets at Obama and hung stuffed monkeys from trees etc. during his campaign in an effort to mimic the horrifying lynchings of the past. Many folks will never accept him as our leader simply because of his race.

Nonetheless, Obama's current position is nothing short of amazing. It was unthinkable in King's day to even fathom a Black president. Now Obama is not only our President (elect), he actually appeals to many Whites!

Wow.

On this great day when Dr. King came into this world, I want to once again congratulate my friend Barack Obama. He's already done America a public service.

He's proven that there is hope for us after all!

Barack Obama: The Symbol of 2008

CLEVELAND - With the new year arriving tomorrow, I feel that it is a great time to reflect a little on the outgoing year of 2008. I made many individual strides in many of my endeavors, experienced great loss and tragedy and many superlative moments. But one person exemplified what 2008 was all about more than anyone else.

Barack Obama.

Obama, our president-elect was by far the story of '08. Not only did he make history by becoming the first ever African-American man elected to the U.S. presidency, he also inspired a remarkable sense of hope and confidence in all Americans, not just Black folks.

Barack's campaign was fraught with adversity after adversity but in spite of the divisive nature of opponent John McCain's campaign, he actually brought us all together and showed us that being focused and driven can get any of us as far as we want to go and beyond.

He also proved that we're more alike than we are different.

Here's hoping that 2009 is just as amazing, if not more so for Mr. Obama as well as the rest of us. He takes office on January 20, 2009, and it can't come fast enough.

Happy New Year.

Obama and Simpson Were At the Top of Every Wish List

CLEVELAND - With today being Christmas Day, I felt that it was only fitting that I made mention of the fact that America got its gifts early.

Barack Obama and O.J. Simpson.

In the 230-some odd years that there have been U.S. presidents, there has never been an African-American one. This year, on November 4 that fact changed forever when Obama defeated Sen. John McCain to become our next Commander-in-Chief. Blacks all over the country rejoiced and shed a trillion tears at the seminal moment which has become something of a flash point in the long history of this country. After intense racial inequality that has lasted basically all of our lifetimes, this event was and is still huge!

Obama in the White House? Merry Christmas, Black folks!

For Simpson, his Christmas won't be so great, but White America is loving every minute of his recently imposed prison sentence of nine to 33 years. The NFL legend has never outran the double murder charges he faced back in 1994 and 1995. With a "mountain of evidence" heavily suggesting that he murdered his ex-wife and her friend on June 12, 1994, he was shockingly acquitted in the fall of '95 to the dismay of millions of Whites.  On October 3, 2008, exactly 13 years after his historic acquittal, Simpson was found guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping, much to the delight of White folks all over the planet.

Simpson in the Big House? Merry Christmas, White folks.

Me personally, I'm just happy to be alive and well on yet another Christmas Day. Happy Birthday to Jesus and Merry Chistmas to my children, fans and everyone all over the world.

Obama's Physique A Metaphor For His Competence

CLEVELAND - President-elect Barack Obama has been on a much needed vacation in sunny Hawaii and even though he took to the beach, he made a bigger splash just walking around.

He went shirtless ... and women all over the U.S. got all hot and bothered.

Obama, the most unique president we have ever had is a skilled basketball player and now we learn, possesses incredible abs. The photos, taken by a relentless member of the paparazzi (no surprise) illustrates the young democrat's vitality and vigor. In my estimation, saying that he is "fit to lead" is more than just a cliched pun.

It's the truth.

When juxtaposed against the image of outgoing President Bush getting shoes tossed at him, Obama's silky smooth gait and sculpted abdomen provides a remarkable dichotomy in philosophy and competence. I'm not saying that his great body is the reason he'll steer the country out of its crippling malaise. But I am saying that the way he keeps his body just happens to be the way he'll lead us.

Just watch. 

McCain Just As Skeptical About Palin As The Rest of Us

CLEVELAND - Sen. John McCain's bid to become the next U.S. president crashed and burned like it was set up by an angry Mob boss.

Either that, or Sarah Palin was really that bad.

Palin, the comically clueless governor of Alaska was handpicked by the supposedly sharp McCain in August to be his Republican running mate. She was a curious choice initially, then became a Wonder woman as she sparked the GOP and gave it new life. Then suddenly, her remarkable ignorance began to surface. She soon became an eyesore and a huge burden to the Republican Party and is at least partly to blame for McCain's stirring defeat to now President-elect Barack Obama.

Too funny.

Since the election ended a month and a half ago, Palin has become a fixture on television to the point of being nauseating. This past weekend, McCain was asked if he'd support Palin for president in 2012 and his response was incredible. "I can't say something like that. We've got some great other young governors. I think you're going to see the governors assume a greater leadership role in our Republican Party," he said.

Ouch!

Let's be clear, though. McCain still admires Palin and believes in her "viability" to be president. He is simply being honest (finally) about other folks who would be better and smarter candidates.

Hey John...we've been feeling that way for months, dude!

Bottom line: McCain just might be a stand up guy after all, and maybe he hasn't lost all of his marbles. You gotta admire his frank language, even though he still hasn't admitted that Palin was the worst choice of his life.

One day though, he just might admit THAT too.

Obama Is A Master At Dealing With Ignorance

CLEVELAND - President-elect Barack Obama has famously made history by becoming the first African-American elected to the U.S. presidency. He's also maybe the first public figure to deal with unrivaled ignorance so flawlessly.

He never appears to get angry in public.

During the course of his election campaign, he was constantly up against opponents and voters alike that made ignorant or disparaging remarks about him. From Hillary Clinton to John McCain, his rivals tried endlessly to destroy his character by linking him to several unsavory individuals, most notably Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright and 1960's radical William Ayers.

Though Obama acquainted with those people, it was the malicious way that his rivals tried to make his affiliation with them sinister and the most important aspect of the campaign. McCain's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin made frequent use of the "guilty by association tactic" which in turn, influenced voters into believing Obama was a horrible candidate and person.

That was low.

There was also the matter of him being incorrectly labeled a Muslim. There was even an insanely stupid and ignorant woman in Minnesota that called him an Arab. The ignorance even went as far as to utter his ironic middle name of Hussein and "accidentally" call him "Barack Osama" in an attempt to stir up ill feelings and hatred towards him.

Wow.

In the closing days of the campaign, Obama spoke often of the constant attacks on him by both McCain and Palin. He always exhibited a remarkable cool and unparalleled temperament that fueled his relentless focus. Those are the key reasons he won the presidency.

In recent weeks, he has been criticized for many of his choices for his cabinet and national security team. Just this past weekend, Obama mentioned to Tom Brokaw that the economy is going to get worse before it gets better. Many people have accused him of hedging on his promises of "change" that he made during his campaign. Not only that, but some folks are going so far as to regret him being our next president.

Unreal.

I think the thing that really gets me is, in the past week, Obama's eligibility to be president has come into question due to his birthplace and father's Kenyan ethnicity. Some people were actually trying to get his electoral victory rescinded. He had to provide a copy of his 1961 birth certificate to prove that he in fact was born in Hawaii and thus, a U.S.-born citizen qualified to run for president.

Barack Obama has handled every annoying instance of ignorance with an otherworldly calm and focus that inspires the heck out of me. Shame on you ignorant people all across the country.

And kudos to you Mr. Obama for always being the bigger person.

Let Bygones Be Bygones

CLEVELAND - In a symbolic meeting of present and future, President Bush and wife Laura welcomed President-elect Barack Obama and his wife to the White House yesterday.

It was Obama's first ever visit there.

While touring the grounds, both men posed for photographers and almost seemed to be the best of buddies. This was clearly for show as Obama repeatedly made clear his feelings about the lame-duck president during his just completed campaign. He continually linked Bush to his rival, Sen. John McCain, repeatedly blaming the nation's economic meltdown on "the failed policies of George W. Bush."

Fascinating.

The men reportedly discussed serious issues while in the Oval Office, yet held no interviews. First lady in-waiting Michelle Obama was taken on a tour of the grounds by current First Lady Laura Bush.

Mrs. Obama also checked out a couple Washington D.C.-area schools for their two young daughters in preparation of their future move. After that, Obama had a couple private meetings before he and his wife flew back to Chicago.

They'll be back though.

You Never Forget Your First

CLEVELAND - President-elect Barack Obama's first ever press conference since he won the election went off without a hitch.

Well, almost.

Flanked by his V.P. Joe Biden and an impressive collection of men and women well-versed in economic issues (his advisory board), the young Illinois senator moved straight to the point of the gathering: the economy.

Obama outlined his plans to lift the nation out of the spiraling depths of the financial industry and made it clear that the economy is priority number one. He once again mentioned the possibility of another stimulus package but carefully noted that "I'm not the president yet."

The current president, lame-duck George Bush and first lady Laura will meet with Obama and his family on Monday for a tour of the sprawling White House. They also will discuss many key issues as is customary during the transitional period from one administration to the next.

Obama will take the oath of office on January 20, 2009.

Though very sharp and succinct in his remarks about the main issues, Obama had a couple questionable moments as well. When a reporter asked if he'd spoken to any former presidents for advice, he mentioned that he had spoken to every living president and wasn't going to have a Nancy Reagan moment and conduct a seance.

He later called the former first lady and apologized for the off-handed remark.

The other moment came about when asked about the type of dog his young daughter would receive once they take up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Obama, who is the product of a White mother and Black father mentioned that they may end up with a "shelter dog" and they tend to be "mutts just like me."

A mixture of laughter and surprise filled the room.

I was impressed with Obama's quick move to address the economy as President-elect. He didn't seem the least bit nervous or intimidated by the enormous tasks he faces, which is a very good trait to have in his position. As far as the "controversial" comments, I felt that they may have been a bit ill-advised, though nothing Earth shattering. Still, this guy will always be under a microscope.

The good thing is, the comments didn't cost him any votes. Too late.

The Drive Of Barack Obama

CLEVELAND - Senator Barack Obama's historic election night victory has been highly touted as a landmark event in American History and a pivotal touchstone in the centuries old battle for racial equality.

I believe his win meant far more than that.

While I am acutely aware of the racial implications of Obama becoming the nation's first ever African-American president, I believe it to be more important to take notice of what got him here.

It is absolutely stunning that Obama, as recently as early 2007 (when he announced his candidacy) was largely a public unknown. Sure, many in the political field knew him, but America-at-large had little knowledge of him.

Still very new as a senator from Illinois, Obama struggled to gain public acceptance and credibility for what he was trying to accomplish. Indeed, many African-Americans supported N.Y. senator Hillary Clinton, who had been first lady from 1993 to 2001 and then a popular and respected political figure since leaving the White House.

Obama had no such resume and was often reviled for his lack of experience and short career in politics. In several debates during the Democratic primary, his opponents tried to marginalize him as a candidate, particularly Sen. Clinton. He was seen as a great orator with a naive concept of what he could accomplish as a president.

But he held strong.

In January 2008, Obama finally began to break through after winning the Iowa caucus. Prior to that, he was a long-shot choice for the Democratic nomination with very little funding. When media mogul Oprah Winfrey threw her support behind him, things got miraculously better. Former President Bill Clinton called Obama's campaign "the biggest fairytale [he'd] ever seen."

With so much doubt about Obama, the early months of 2008 saw many in the media try to discredit everything about him. He always spoke so well and convincingly that I believe that most people were simply jealous of such a wondrous idealist. I'm not stupid though. I know that many people were simply expressing legitimate fears about this Johnny-Come-Lately that might someday steer the country.

But I digress.

The infamous Jeremiah Wright-fiasco surfaced on March 13 and threatened to undermine all of the positive will that Obama had built up. The now 67-year old pastor's incendiary and polarizing sermons were seen as totally un-American. With him being Obama's pastor and mentor for more than 20 years, his beliefs and "hate mongering" were seen as an indictment on Obama's judgement and he was summarily taken to task for his association with the man.

A seminal and critically acclaimed speech on U.S. race relations was delivered by Obama in Philadelphia just five days later. But as much as it was hailed, Obama was criticized for not denouncing Wright in stirring fashion. When he finally did, it was seen as too little, too late.

But Obama kept pressing on.

When he stunningly defeated Clinton in early June and became the Democratic nominee, it was seen as an enormous upset. Even still, this is the time when many began to take him seriously.

The general election proved to be an even bigger challenge. Going head-to-head with Republican nominee John McCain, Obama was hit with everything. His affiliation with former 1960's radical and unrepentant terrorist William Ayers was headline news for weeks courtesy of the McCain camp, most notably by V.P. nominee Sarah Palin.

Obama was branded everything from a terrorist and elitist to a socialist and extreme leftist. He was even called a Muslim and Arab. Talk Show hosts such as Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and radio's Rush Limbaugh repeatedly raked the 47-year old senator over the coals and showed him no mercy. Obama had been dismissed as a "media darling" and his every move was torn apart by many, especially The View co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck.

But he brushed it all off and kept moving.

As McCain's prospects for winning the presidency dwindled, his classless tactics expanded. The GOP launched a series of national "Robo-calls" that randomly called many residents' phones across America with disparaging remarks about Barack Obama. All over the country were bitter Whites that labeled him a "nigger" and even Blacks who labeled him an Uncle Tom.

But he just kept moving forward.

Folks ridiculed his economic policies, especially after the sideshow circus that became Joe the Plumber. When Obama's running mate Joe Biden predicted that "the world will test the mettle of this guy" within six months of his taking office, McCain's people were all over it and turned the comments into an eerie commercial designed to scare Americans from voting or trusting Obama.

But that didn't stop him.

At McCain and Palin rallies, many of their supporters shouted racial epithets and even made violent threats at Obama. On at least four different occasions, the Secret Service and FBI investigated death threats against Obama.

He never flinched.

On election day, a GOP-sponsored group ran national television ads that showed clips of Pastor Wright's most divisive and venomous sermons and juxtaposed his image with Obama's. Just another last-ditch effort to make up for their lack of ingenuity, integrity and creativity.

Ha!

So, it gives me great pleasure to call that young senator "President-elect Obama." Forget race and everything that racism has meant all these years. I wish to hail our next president as being a man of strong character, relentless drive and salute his iconic faith that seems to say, "in spite of anything anyone says or does against you, if you want something bad enough, NOTHING will stop you from getting it."

Just look at his proof.