Obama has embarked on a profound sociological and political gamble. He
gambles by offering the electorate a deep respect by quietly and firmly
telling truths. His campaign, to a degree unparalleled in normal
campaigning, constantly and repetitively gambles that voters of all
stripes, indeed, can handle the truth. It must be at times agony to
watch the 'gotcha' spin from opponents and the press while waiting to
see if the American citizenry can make intelligent decisions faced with
a cacophony of spin.

So
far the voters have proved Obama's respect for them to be well placed.
They have showed their common sense by ignoring mindless spin battles
and continuing to vote increases in Obama's winning lead primary
numbers.

Hillary has made
herself into the politician's worst nightmare, a caricature of the
pandering politician. This week I am against trade deals says she as
she enters a post-industrial state. This week I am a bird hunter she
advertises. Last week I was a policy wonk and before that Mrs.
Experience and whoops I find myself in rural hinterlands so fetch me a
shot and a beer.

Obama
was thoughtful, honest and a bit perhaps too cerebral last week. He was
thoughtful, honest and trusting of the electorate and a bit perhaps too
cerebral the week before. He said his white Gramma distrusted black
people and that she said bigoted things, which was honest, thoughtful,
respectful of his listener's intelligence and a bit too cerebral the
week before that. Pennsylvania's rural voters in the majority accept
that there is bitterness and a penchant to be angry over race, guns and
religion but Barack's delivery would have been better couched in more
palatable down to earth terms.

It
must be agony for Barack and Michelle to watch and listen to twaddle
gossip cast as news, waiting and waiting to see if common folks respond
with common sense to not particularly revelatory truisms, that
widespread unemployment encourages bitterness and that racism at
varying levels is part of America's culture.

I'd
like to think that the Obama family is actually in a "win-win"
situation. They will continue to rise above pandering political
showmanship and tell truths, although perhaps in a voice a bit too
cerebral. They will ask and tell the electorate that their
understanding is required to define and tackle America's open sore
problems in health care, job creation, a dollar driven Washington
culture and the USA's international posture. If Americans in a majority
can actually "handle the truth" we/they will stand with the Obamas when
they inherit the White House and begin a brutal slog to "change." If,
on the other hand, voters revert to distraction over race, religion,
sexuality and Annie Oakley panderings then Barack's quest for truthful
definitions to guide America will be seen as a bridge too far of an
endeavor; a bit perhaps too cerebral.