Barack Obama

Barack Obama, made history when he became the first African-American professorship of the most powerful country in the world at the new-made age of 47. He overcame powerful competition from extremely popular political heavyweights of the likes of Hillary Clinton and John McCain and enumer fitted obstacles to win convincingly. A brief background Obama was innate(p) as Barack Hussein Obama on Aug. 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii to Barack Obama, Sr. , a Kenyan and Ann Dunham, a native of kale. They were both students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.However, by the time he became two years old, they had separated and subsequent divorced. His mother got married to a fellow student, Lolo Soetoro. As Seatoro was from Ind whizzsia, the family shifted to Jakarta later. afterwards four years of schooling in Indonesian schools, Obama returned to live with his maternal grand p arnts in Hawaii and joined Punahou Academy from which he gradatory with honors in 1979. His first pay off wi th racism happened in this period because he was one of just three African American students. Obama completed his compass point in political science from Columbia University in New York, 1983.After gaining a few years of work experience he moved to Chicago in 1985 where he worked as a community labor organizer. (A&E Television Networks, 2008, p. 1) Opting for a career in right, he joined Harvard righteousness School in 1988. There he created history by fair the first African American to be elected as the editor of Harvard law Review. With the law degree in hand, Obama returned to Chicago and worked in a law firm while teaching at the Chicago Law school simultaneously. Meanwhile in 1992, Obama married Michelle Robinson, similarly a law graduate. 1992 was an eventful year in Obamas career as a politician excessively.He was an active member in Bill Clintons presidential contract organizing a hugely lucky voter registration drive. He wrote an autobiographical book called Dreams From My Father A Story of Race and heritage in 1995. (p. 2) Obama was instrumental in drafting several legislation in ethics, income-tax credit for the poor, health care, education and law enforcement in this period. In 1996, nation of Hyde Park elected Obama into the Illinois State Senate. He was too elected the chairman of the macrocosm Health and Welfare Committee. Post 9/11, Obama was noted as one of the first prominent opponent of President George W.Bushs outline to go to war with Iraq. He warned about the costs involved in such a war in terms of lives, hardships and impact on economy. His predictions came true as it turned out to be a actually messy affair in the end. In 2004, Obama got in the fray for the U. S. Senate arse held by Sen. Peter Fitzgerald. Voters soon took a liking to Obama and he was able to defeat the multimillionaire businessman Blair Hull and Illinois Comptroller Daniel Hynes. Obama entered the national politics when he gave a stunning performa nce as the keynote speaker at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.In the general election, Obama defeated the republican candidate Alan Keyes, who was also an African-American, in a record landslide conquest in Illinois. Obama was very active as a senator with several successful campaigns on wide variety of matters such as transparency on federal spending, elimination of weapons of mass destructions in Europe and Russia, threat of avian flu, rehabilitation of Hurrican Katrina victims, alternative energy initiatives and so on. (p. 3) Obama published his second book, The hardihood of Hope Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream in 2006.In February 2007, he obstinate to suffer for American Presidency and became the democratic nominee against a spoilt competition from the former first lady Hillary Clinton. After running a very systematic and well- organized campaign lasting more than 2 years, Obama became 44th president of the United States by beating republican pr esidential nominee John McCain. Obama is blessed with two daughters, Malia and Sasha. Obstacles Obama had to face in his run upto the presidential term 1) His African American origin- The tumidgest obstacle in his path to presidency was that people of his origin has always found it difficult to get onward in national politics.Obama was only the fifth African American Senator in U. S. history and just the third to have been popularly elected. 2) His seemingly probable lack of experience as a leader or executive director The opponents and the media alleged that Obama was not experienced enough to lead the country. But he was successful in establishing that his years of experience as community organizer is as valuable as any other leadership stint. 3) forged Competition When Obama announced his campaign in February 2007, it seemed that Sen.Hillary Clinton was the favorite for the Democratic nominating address and was touted as the most anticipated presidential candidate in a g eneration. But in a systematic manner Obama went about his campaign and step by step his charisma took his popularity ahead and in face up of the competition. 4) White Voters, the overwhelming influence on the outcome of the US presidential elections, were not expected to support Obama as several studies and history suggested. 5) evening among the African American community, Obama had trouble with his perceived strongest base.It was only after his mastery in Iowa that the obscure sentiment turned in his favour. There was also Obamas perceived lack a shared background with the minority population that suffered centuries of social abuse. 6) Obama also had to carefully handle the allegation on his backgrounds, past life, friends or any glitch on his biography that the confrontation could use against him. (Sheng, 2008) 8. Exit polls reported from several areas pointed to the fact that one in five exsanguine-hot voters would prefer to vote for a white candidate, which meant that Obamas opponent would get these votes no matter what other considerations were.9. Obama also had to handle the seemingly ludicrous but highly influencing allegations on his Muslim background. A Pew Research Center survey found that 13 percent of registered voters stated that Sen. Obama was a Muslim, which was proof that ignorance of voters could be a big factor that Obama had to deal with. 10. Obama also had to deal with a concerted safari to paint Obama as an outsider that did not belong in the US scheme of things. His mixed family background and alleged muslim connections added to these campaigns. (Bryjak, 2008) Obamas lead QualitiesBarack Obamas leadership qualities that leaves the people around him to emulate are the qualities that either efficient leader should posses. Intelligence, Good Communition Skills, a wide range of experience, a multicultural background, and an affinity for variegate. Intelligence -. Obama has shown tremendous intelligence difficulties to find pers picuous solutions to tough problems. His views and thoughts of multiple ways to improve the American life shows his natural covering of intelligence. Good communication skills Obama has been successful in expressing his feelings in their entirety to his audience.His speeches are highly affective and he takes the crowd in his hands. He also used the emerging media such as social networking sites on the cyberspace to fundraise and communicate messages. Experience 7 years of work in Illinois Senate and his work as a community organizer gives Obama the professional experience to fight through the problems. And his multicultural faceted and varied experience on a personal level gives him the edge over others. Change Obama has already taken several key decisions with far reaching consequences to affect the change that he has promised so much and so far.( Fu, 2008) As Madore in his member puts it Obamas ideas are fresh with relevant information. He supplies us sufficient Organizatio n, with well-executed plans. His Word Choice is measured, precise and powerful. His Voice is honest, inspiring, and credible. His Fluency rings jazzy and fine-tuned. And finally, his Conventions are clean and polished, showing evidence of following the rules (Madore, 2008) A charter conducted by NextNationalCEO. com. reports that Insightful judgment, vision and trustworthiness top the list of important leadership characteristics for the U. S. presidential candidates.The following leadership traits were given for ranking to the visitors to NextNationalCEO. com with compliance to each of presidential candidates, it was found that Obama was placed ahead of the other candidates roughly all of these characteristics. They are, &8212 1 Insightful Judgment &8212 2 Visionary &8212 3 Trustworthy &8212 4 Gets Things Done &8212 5 Inspires Others &8212 6 Good try out of People &8212 7 Influences Others &8212 8 Courageous &8212 9 Confident &8212 10 Energetic (Reutors, 2008) Barack Obamas le adership characteristics could be summed up as follows,Obama is ambitious, strong, brusk and determined to achieve his goals. He uses the resources available to him and innovates new ways to do things. For example, the way he used the social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace to raise monetary resource and to build a strong influence among the youth. Obama promises a fresh life at everything without pre-conceived notions. His consensus building approach is likely to win friends off enemies. Obama believes in leading by example which was showcased when his stand that high salary levels select to be checked and revised was immediately put into action among the white house staff.Obama has shown tremendous judgment and conviction to take action when he took seemingly complex and controversial decisions such as the closure of Guantanamo prison, insulation of American troops from Iraq, getting Congress to pass an $800 billion-plus stimulus big bucks to revi ve the economy etc. No matter what the occasion, Obama has shown tremendous energy to remain calm and collected. He hardly looses his cool and is not horror-stricken to admit his mistakes. ( Khan, 2009) References Khan, S. (2009, February 15). Obama Leadership 8 Ways to Lead in the twenty-first Century.Retrieved may 8, 2009, from http//ezinearticles. com/? Obama-Leadership&82128-Ways-to-Lead-in-the-21st-Century&id=1997850 Reuters, (2008,Apr 9). Which Leadership Traits are Most Important to Public in Presidential Candidates? , Retrieved May 8, 2009, from http//www. reuters. com/article/pressRelease/idUS133960+09-Apr-2008+PRN20080409 Madore, R. (2008, Mar 7). Six win traits of Barack Obamas leadership style , Retrieved May 8, 2009, http//my. barackobama. com/page/community/post/rolandmadore/gGB3Gs Fu, spark ( 2008, Mar 22) Barack Obama and Leadership, Retrieved May 8, 2009, http//newsflavor.com/opinions/barack-obama-and-leadership/ Bryjak, J. G. ( 2008, Oct 19), Obamas obstac les, Retrieved May 8, 2009, http//www. copleynews. com/uniontrib/20081019/news_lz1e19bryjak. html Sheng, R. ( 2008, Nov 5), Obama overcomes obstacles to become first black president, Retrieved May 8, 2009, http//www. dailytargum. com/news/obama-overcomes-obstacles-to-become-first-black-president-1. 895980 A&E Television Networks, ( 2008) Barack Obama, ( pp 1-3) Retrieved May 8, 2009 http//www. biography. com/featured-biography/barack-obama/bio3. jsp