Matt Taibi's "Obama's Moment" uses the larger frame of a love story to characterize his commentary on America's relationship with Barack Obama. This metaphor allows him to bring in all the cheesy stereotypes we associate on film, in real life, and in romance novels, in our understanding of some of Taibi's critiques of the 'relationship.' For instance, love often blinds us to logic and makes us require much less out of our partners than otherwise:
"When I suggest that his comment was vague, he shrugs. 'Yeah, but it's good vague.'"
The relationship metaphor also allows us to understand the intensity and great moments of triumph that are experienced by the Obama campaign as winning America over. Taibi explains how even when the media claimed Obama was an unlikely candidate, America hoisted him to the forefront:
"...now that he's got the numbers and the momentum, even the most hardened political cynic has to ask--why not this guy?"And that question certainly can't sound unfamiliar to daters.
What I like most about Taibi's commentary is that he weaves in the positive strides Obama is making at this point in his campaign, along with some of the critiques that could easily be stirred. This way, the reader has a full picture and is more likely to take seriously Taibi's positive conclusion, knowing that he recognizes the flaws. In fact, the conclusion is grounded in flaws, acknowledging that components of Obama's appeal are grandiose, but
"Maybe it's OK because... sometimes it's about us, what we want and what we want to believe."In love and politics, sometimes the heart just wants what the heart wants.
