I don’t see the conviction in Obama when it comes to minority issues. Not that he doesn’t have those convictions but he has yet to (or simply cannot) speak to items in depth such as the prison industrial complex or the failed war on drugs. If you ask the average African American why they are voting for Obama, the answer is simple: because he is black. But ask him or her what he stands for and see what they say then.

Political education is a non-factor when it comes to voting for president this time around. White woman, black man, sea monkey, horse, fence, shoehorn or a water bottle would all be an improvement after what George Bush has done to this country during his tenure. Not to take away from Clinton or Obama, but there is no better opportunity for change than now.

So what can he do?

He can make small, non-threatening steps in improving our country. The war is universal. Gas prices are universal. The economy is universal. Food prices are universal. Education (on the surface) is universal.

The plight of African American men and women is not.

You see what happened when he was merely associated with Rev Jeremiah Wright’s comments (which aren’t too farfetched in my opinion). As neutral and un-confrontational as Obama has tried to be - while making the most realistic run at the big seat since…well…ever – his character has been spun out of control by the mere thought of race or being “un-American.” He’s walking on razorblades with the media dousing him in a bottle of alcohol.

Even without the Sean Bell case, Obama is at risk (in my opinion) of having the opportunity to run for president stolen from him by means of media slander and slick posturing by the Clinton campaign (superdelegates anyone?). You mean to tell me that the man that won 10+ states in a row during primaries and seemed to be sweeping Hillary under the rug as a mere formality has now turned into a semi-competitive race (and waste of campaign money)? Hillary Clinton knows something that we don’t.

And here’s the scary thing about this ordeal. Barack becoming president can almost be as bad as him not becoming president. Emphasis on “almost.”

How?

Say, that after four years there has been no substantial improvement to America in the economic department, war or gas prices (a base desire anyone could use as a platform to run for president). It’s not like Bush made this mess an easy one to clean up. Regardless, those that are campaigning for 2012 will surely use that as a platform to unseat Obama – whether they really believe he could have made a difference or not.

Conservatives will have a field day with this. The inevitable “race card” of a black man becoming president will be shredded away and the old farts will be hard at work to say “See, we gave blacks a chance, he didn’t do much so shut up and give the house back to us.” The super radicals that have not backed Obama to begin with will say “See, I told you that he wasn’t going to do shit.” And the urgency to put him in the second term will not be the same as the first. The second term is the true challenge. Once America gets over their “put a monkey in instead of Bush” notions, we will really see how America feels about Obama.

But you must first put the man in office to see what he is made of. I just won’t allow myself to be convinced that society’s ills can be fixed by one man – no matter who he is.

What do I say? Get out there and vote for Obama. What can it hurt? It’s definitely a better option than having another war monger or Bill and Hillary running around the White House again. But don’t be led to believe that things are going to change drastically with one black man at the top. If he does somehow make it in, it would be monumental for our children to see that we can become president. But if he doesn’t - and somehow we are swindled into Clinton Vs McCain - I won’t ask for an LA riot but at least throw a chair or something. Complacency will never change how this country is ran. Neither will one Barack Obama.

“It takes a Nation of Millions…” to quote the legendary Public Enemy. But I’m just a critic…Who The Hell Am I?

Agree? Disagree? Leave a message on my myspace page.