For those of you who may not get the reference, Tommy Carcetti is a character from the greatest show in the history of television, The Wire. In order to better explain why I'm asking the question, I should probably elaborate on the character.
In The Wire, Tommy Carcetti is a councilman in the city of Baltimore. He loves his city and is frustrated by the negative cycle in which it has become ensnared. He tries to do what he can from his position of councilman, even getting the ear of both the mayor and the police commissioner. However, the former makes empty promises while the latter refuses to do anything outside the chain of command (he reports to the mayor only). After continuing to get rebuffed in his efforts to change the city, Carcetti makes a drastic decision: he is going to run for mayor.
The problem is that Tommy Carcetti lives in Baltimore, Maryland, a city where two out of three people are Black. And he is White.
However, Carcetti is determined that he is the right man for the job. He eventually wins the election and becomes the mayor of Baltimore. Upon entering office, Carcetti makes good on his campaign promises and immediately begins to institute changes for the good of the citizens of Baltimore:
- He orders the police department to stop juking stats and instead focus on actually maintaining peace in the city;
- He personally visits the heads of various city departments and finds creative ways to make sure that they are staying on top of their responsibilities;
- He tries to bring various--often opposing--city leaders together in an effort to improve the lives of everyone in Baltimore.
Carcetti proves himself to be a tireless worker who is truly interested in making sure that his city rises from the depths into which it has fallen. His charm and the fact that he is not a part of the traditional political system are seen as refreshing changes from previous administrations.
Then one day Tommy Carcetti comes across a problem that cannot be solved simply by his work ethic and charm. When he learns that Baltimore city schools are facing a $52 million deficit, he is left with no choice but to go and ask the Governor of Maryland for financial help. The problem is that the Governor is a member of the opposing political party and sees Carcetti's popularity in Baltimore. He knows that Carcetti has a very real chance at unseating him as the Governor. Thus he makes the smart political move. He is willing to assist the Baltimore schools with their financial struggle...but only if Carcetti is willing to publicly accept the aid at a press conference that would humiliate the mayor.
Carcetti refuses. And at that precise moment, Tommy Carcetti becomes a part of the political machine.
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I find the similarities between Barack Obama and Tommy Carcetti striking. Obviously, Obama is a real person pursing a much more significant goal. However, like the fictional character, he is a refreshing change from the traditional political system who has founded his campaign on the concept of making a change in his home. He is a minority candidate who faces an uphill battle due to racial prejudice. The question I have now is this: what will Obama do when the political machine attempts to swallow him whole?
In November, I will be going to the polls and I will be casting my vote for the next President of the United States. My vote will be going to Barack Obama. Since I live in Texas, that ultimately means very little. However, I still have a voice and will most definitely make sure that it is heard. My choice for Obama as President is indeed based on his catchphrase: hope. My hope is that this man can take over the White House and institute the changes for the common man that are sorely needed at this time. But my hope is also that the man that I vote for in November will be the same man who who will be making the executive decisions throughout the entire term of his presidency.
Indeed.
