The Hsu Fits endorses Sr. Barack Obama

Here at The Hsu Fits, we don't only care about sports, and every few days, we like to write politics. This post was inspired our highly influential sister blog, which shares the same headquarters as us. This endorsement was written by editor Kenneth Hsu, Ph.D, on behalf of The Hsu Fits crew.

I shook hands with Sr. Barack Obama last September during his rally at Washington Square Park. As anyone who has done the same would agree, exchanging greetings with the man himself definitely feels like a special moment.


Moments before The Handshake.

But, as I ran back to the dorm and bragged about my new "friend," I secretly thought to myself, "Should I feel this excited about a politician?"

I mean, after all, this is...politics. Before college, I was relatively apathetic about federal affairs. I had read Audacity of Hope, but wasn't the type to read the Times everyday or check the latest polls on the Iowa caucus. As this blog suggests, I was always more into Sports Illustrated and Eli Manning's QB rating, y'know, the dumb stuff.

But why, then, did this one handshake best the thousands of other handshakes I've made in my life? I've locked fingers with Tom Cruise, given a high five to Ronaldinho, hell, I've even pounded fists with McLovin'. Yet Barack's simple handshake, my right arm extending over the ten or so other Obamaniacs in front of me, far surpassed all the other hand-to-hand contact (ooh) that I've made with the best of celebrities.

This seemingly insignificant story explains exactly why I believe Sr. Obama should be the next President.

In terms of policy, I favor Sr. Clinton much more. Her education and health care plans trump Obama's. Her plan for Iraq is much more realistic. She has an impressive history in reforming our immigration system. Sr. Edwards wielded comprehensive proposals that especially addressed the increasing poverty within our borders. All of these issues are extremely important in my political beliefs.

However, Obama compensates for his lack of magnificent policy with something that has so rarely been identified with the political world: change. Wait, no, screw that. Noticeable change.

I believe the most urgent and appalling issue with the American democracy today is the fact that not enough Americans care. Voter participation in recent decades is shameful. Prior to the "Vote or Die" era, the young (and old) generations never thought it "cool" to be interested in politics. Sure, it was American, whatever that means, and something considered noble and intelligent. But, in truth, not much of us felt any attachment to the affairs of our democracy, even after P.Diddy thought he did.


When politics tried too hard to be legit.

And after all those senators and presidents thought they could be "groovy" by appearing on MTV or throwing a football every now and then, it never worked. That is, until Obama showed up, doing not much more than being himself. Yes, he entered rallies to the Kanye's beats and smiled on GQ, but Obama appeared on the sociopolitical scene with simply a story, his story, to tell. Yes, what a story it was, his father dreamed and his hope was audacious. Obama was a real-life fairy tale story, except if Cinderella was a black man from Hawaii / Indonesia with a troubled past. Oh and her middle name was Hussein.

And, indeed, we all believed that "what is past is prologue." Obama overcame heavy criticism about his weed-smoking, experience-less, Islam-lover, big-eared image to become the victor in the Iowa caucus after it once seemed declared Hillary-land. He played his cards right, owning the debates and knocking on doors, and the country fell in love with the handsome black man.

But, remembering that this is politics and not a Disney movie, I heard the voices of Democrats and Republicans alike that Obama was just too "rockstar." This was at the same time Hillary serendipitously "found her voice." Now, the electorate had on its hands a cocky, seductive jock and a humbled, truthful neighbor.

Although I cannot argue that Obama isn't an asshole (though, by all accounts, he isn't), I do firmly believe this "rockstar" quality is not a flaw, but rather an honorable phenomenon that is simply...unfamiliar. Obama's story and ability to get Americans, young and old, black and white (and Asian) to actually give a damn is what redeems him of falling short of ideal policy. His "rockstar" quality educates us and involves us; it eduvovles us in a way no "groovy" president has ever. Obama's "rockstar" is the reason why turnout records are being set in the primaries, why every American (right wingers too) cares more about the Democratic primaries than the Republican ones, why Obama girl is owning YouTube, and why I'm writing this post right now (though, probably not why you're reading this). His "rockstar" is less Tommy Lee and more John Lennon. His "rockstar" makes us care, for once, and because we're not so used to that, we impulsively label it is as a fault.

But this, my friends, is the noticeable change. We we're once too apathetic to even say that Americans were too apathetic. Now, although apathetic isn't considered "lame," actually involving oneself in the political realm is finally "cool." Prior to this election, citizens who refused to vote or educate themselves about politics claimed that federal affairs never really affect me. "Yes, we can vote. But changes in health care plans, tax rates or Cabin members don't really matter at the end of the day." Indeed, the change was never enough for us to really believe we made a difference.

But after this sensation called Obama, we can all notice this when we hear lunch table discussion about the caucus or when we see teenagers defend their opinions on recession against professors or when we see some hipster wearing a campaign sticker. Obamaniac or not, this is change we can notice.


Noticeable change.

If he causing me to care this much when he's not even nominated, I can't imagine how much this country will change when he's in Washington. This is why Obama has my vote.

It's funny, really, that change only took a handshake.

-K.H.