Barack Obama, The Man

This year’s person of the year has to undoubtedly be Barack Obama, the man. Time awarded the president-elect the honor last year after a historic election, but this year is even more important. I believe that it is he, as a man, who deserves the honor. He is a year into the presidency and has faced more struggle and conflict than one can imagine. He inherited an office and a nation filled with problems. While I realize that any president is going to face challenges and must deal with problems, these of today seem almost insurmountable.

Barack Obama ran his campaign on the promise of change and that is exactly what he is doing. He is changing perception, vision, and operations. Many are critical of his path thus far and his inability to create a non-partisan Washington. I think that many forget that he is the president, not a magician. He doesn’t have the luxury of dealing with one issue at a time. He just has to prioritize which one he starts the day with and oftentimes, he is not the one prioritizing. He has to deal with the pressing issues of the day. I only know what it’s like to run my own, somewhat simple, household and that can be a daunting task. You know…going to work, cooking dinner, exercising, socializing, paying bills, etc…This is overwhelming for me so I cannot imagine what it would be like to wake up each morning as the president of the United States of America. But he does wake up and put one pant leg on at a time and goes about the business of the day.

Everyone is looking to “our” president to solve every existing and potential problem known to man. He is a circus performer juggling so many balls in the air at once and trying to keep all of them in motion. While we all realize that he inherited these problems, there seems to be very little being done to actually help the president in identifying the key issues and working to resolve them in the best interest of the people. In the midst of all of this strife, he is still forging ahead and continuing to try to work with his opposition and honor the promises of his campaign, all while being a dedicated husband and father to two young children. He respects and recognizes both his responsibility as the president and as a man.

His is a 24/7 job and he is always up for the challenge. I constantly marvel at his ability to answer the tough questions and be so knowledgeable about so many various issues. It’s as if his brain is always working, but he is very socially aware. He is a man of humble means with a strong sensibility. I think we can all relate to him in one way or another and he truly seems to have the best intentions for the people. He came to Washington, D.C., as an outsider. He doesn’t come from a political dynasty yet he managed to ascend in the political arena rather quickly through sheer will and determination. He has changed the dialogue in this country and forced us to take a hard look at ourselves. He is changing the perception of this country around the world and has created a more positive image for America. Now, more than ever, it is viewed as a nation of possibility. If you can believe it, you can achieve it. Barack Obama is determined to move this nation forward and he is not backing away from the hard decisions that lie before him and our nation.

His philosophy comes from within and is based on his personal character. He is a man with a heart, a conscience, and strong intellect. We are all going to benefit from having this man on our team. He is a wonderful role model for fathers and husbands everywhere. He exemplifies a partner in his marriage and both he and Mrs. O acknowledge that it’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. They share a vision for their family and a vision for this nation. Barack Obama was definitely called to office and despite the many twists and turns of this coveted position, he is still determined to move us forward.

-Daphane is a blogger for The Sorbate. Check out her bio to see where her view comes from.