Could we be seeing the emergence of a future black president?

[IrateCitizen]

I know all of this is a wee bit premature right now -- I admit that I never even heard of the guy until a couple of months ago -- but I can't help but think that we could be seeing the coming of the future first black President of the United States . . . Barack Obama.

I know that many here have posted before that Harold Ford, Jr. could be the first black President. But personally I think that Ford is just a little too twist-in-the-wind to really energize people. He's also a second-generation politician, which while conferring some advantages on him, may also act as a hinderance when it comes to actively energizing minority voters.

Obama, OTOH, is quite different. Here's a quip from Bob Herbert about him, courtesy of the most recent issue of The Nation:
Obama is already being hailed by New York Times columnist Bob Herbert as "the point man for a new kind of politics designed to piece together a coalition reminiscent of the one blasted apart by the bullet that killed Robert Kennedy in 1968."

While Herbert may be engaging in a slight degree of hyperbole here, there is a certain ring of truth to what he's saying. Obama is not only comfortable speaking to diverse groups, ranging from predominantly white suburbanites to inner-city blacks -- he is also able to "speak the language" that each group understands. He seems like he's able to talk of his political vision in a way that doesn't exclude people, but rather that energizes everyone. And the fact that he may not be a traditional liberal, but he's certainly not a "New Democrat" either, is quite refreshing.

Obama seems like he could be a rapidly rising star in the Democratic Party, and in the country as a whole. Whether we are truly ready for a black President is up for debate. But it seems to me, out of the current crop of black politicians out there, Barack Obama seems to be one of the best equipped to make that leap.

[Blue Wally]

1. Anathema on the board........

I would look for the first black major party presidential candidate to be more like Colin Powell.

[FlaGranny]

2. I would like a member

of the Black Caucus as my president. They are all brave, patriotic, and inspiring. I was so proud of them in 2000. I need to learn more about Barack Obama, but if he's anything like them, I'm all for it.

[Eurobabe]

3. Charlie Rangel for PREZ!!

Love that guy...