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“May God Continue to Bless Us With People Who Choose to Be Twice as Good…”

By Sherman Ragland | November 5, 2008

Maybe it is because I was actually born on the 4th of July.

Or, maybe it is becuase I grew up in Washington, DC, but I have always been an election junkie.

As I got older, however, I realized how powerful it is to study political campaigns as case studies for great marketing ideas.

Campaigns have a start, a flow and a definite end.  And at the end there is no such thing as “coming in second”.

So, what did we learn from Obama’s historic win last night?

There will be much analysis and pundentry over the coming days and weeks, but I do believe that we can already see a few things that are “Self-evident”:

First, regardless of one’s political stripes, it is hard not to be awe struck by the manner in which the Obama Campaign was run, specifically as a 21st Century campaign.  Robo Calls were replaced with text messaging.  Text messaging that seemed to be written just for the recipient, knowing where they lived, how much money they had contributed and what they were concerned about at that moment in time.  A campaign in which the Internet and a website were able to raise more money ($725 million) than ever conceived possible in the form of an average contribution of $80.00.

Second, Barack Obama has a vision that goes beyond simply “Winning”.  It is clear to both his (early) supporters and (early) detractors that Obama’s vision for his presidency is not simply of “getting there”, but much deeper.  It is in many ways a vision that was similar to the vision of Ronald Reagan.  A unique appreciation for what the President of the United States is suppose to be, the unique role that this office represents and a commitment to never stain the office.  It is said that Ronald Reagan never entered the Oval Office in the White House without wearing a suit and tie, becuase of the deep appreciation and respect he held for the Office of the Presidency.  I believe that the reason Obama was able to win over the support of people like Colin Powell, Peggy Noonan, Ken Duberstein and many other “hard core” Reagan Republicans crossed party lines in their high profile endorsement of Obama is because they saw this specific quality;  Obama’s clear recognition that the President of The United States is not just another political office that is awarded.  It is a position on the World’s stage in which the person who holds it is “always on duty”, must always represent “All the People” of the United States, and must demonstate to the world what is right and best about America.

Which brings me to my last point…

There are many who say: “I want a President just like me, a regular guy”.  Good for them, I hope they never get their way.  Personally, I want a President who is a “rock star” (without the drugs and groupies of course).

Like most other Americans, I want a president who says to the world: “I represent the only country on the planet that has the capacity to singularly change it for the better, or the worse, that is still a shining beacon on a hill, and has the humility to understand that it holds this place because it is a blessed nation, and as President, I am this country’s senior Ambassador.”

A guy who is steady, self-assured, and can think on his feet, and is smart as can be, but decides to surround himself with people who are even smarter on the topics that a President needs to be smart about.

In short, I want a guy who was “TWICE AS GOOD” as the guy who came in second.

… and on November 4th, 2008, the People of the United States recognized that Barack Obama was TWICE AS GOOD as the guy who came in second.

Like many Americans, God has blessed me.  When I tuck my youngest son, David, into bed tonight I can share with him a modified version of what my mom use to say to me:  “You live in the United States of America, you can be anything you want to be, if you are willing to work hard and be twice as good.”

And once again, God has blessed America with a person who has the capacity to make smart decisions that are grounded in faith and coupled with very a deep respect for what it means to be President of the United States.

May God bless and keep President (elect) Barack Obama in the coming days months and years ahead.

p/s – See what Don Peebles, The Peebles Corp. CEO, Jack Welch, former GE CEO and Dick Armey, FreedomWorks co-chairman have to say about Obama being “Twice as Good…”

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=919675866

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