The Audacity of Nope
Last night was President Barack Obama’s swan song before the Democratic National Convention. In front of the gathered delegates the President did what he does best — fire up a crowd with a broad message that appeals to many. However, much like Napoleon, Obama has gone a battle too far this time and demonstrated, just like most of the mainline politcians these days, he just doesn’t get it.
“Il nous faut de l’audace, et encore de l’audace, et toujours de l’audace” — Georges Jacques Danton
While French Revolutionary George Jacques Danton coined the famous phrase “We need audacity, more audacity and always audacity” it was Napoleon who embraced and embodied it. Obama has risen to the top in much the same fashion and used the central word to title his memoir The Audacity of Hope. It was with that same audacity that the President rhetorically wagged his finger at not just the disgruntled Bernie Sanders supporters but at the majority of Americans who aren’t thrilled with our choices to fill his office this year.
The sound byte destined to become a meme spread quickly and far and wide, trumpeted from the mountaintops by the Democrats content to see Hillary Clinton carry their standard.
Don’t Boo, Vote.
In a single moment fitting a man who has made himself with his own audacity he may have stumbled into his Waterloo with his swan song. He told the majority not happy with the choice to shut up. He told them to get in line. I don’t think he was planning on being taken literally.
What the President doesn’t seem to understand is that a great many of the disaffected and sworn opponents of the two nominees are as equal in their determination to vote for someone as they are to not vote for the only two choices he and the Washington machine want us to have. He has, much like Napoleon, underestimated the audacity of the convictions of those opposing his direction.
We do intend to vote, Mr. President, just not who you want us to vote for and your little meme does little to reconcile the gulf between us — it just deepens our resolve.
