A story about Democratic Senate candidate Barack Obama by reporter David Mendell on March 18 (“Ryan, Obama enter new ring,” Page 1) said that if Obama were elected senator, “he would be catapulted into the top ranks of black leaders in the nation, setting expectations (about representing the black community) that may be difficult for a freshman senator to meet.”
He said, “Obama’s ascension to political star is being watched nationally, in large part, because of the symbolism of his candidacy and what it means to black Americans. And with such status comes the heavy burden of becoming a prominent spokesman for a race, with all the grandiose expectations accompanying that.”
My hope is that if Obama is elected, he will be mindful that his responsibility and obligation as a U.S. senator is to represent all of the people, not one race.
