An Open Letter to President-Elect Obama

Dear Mr. President-Elect Obama:

I first want to congratulate you on a job WELL done and a victory WELL deserved! You have managed to capture the hopes and dreams of an entire nation and the world. You showed us that victory can be achieved while staying to a higher moral standard and while sticking to the issues that matter to your constituents.

As you know, now the real work begins. It's time that we as a nation put our "money where our mouth is" and roll up our sleeves on a daily basis and begin to right the wrongs that have been done along with you. We have been complacent as a nation over the last 8 years in holding our elected officials to a higher standard. Now is the time for that to change. I will be blunt in letting you know that the American people (and the world for that matter) will NOT be fooled again. The left, the right and everyone in between will be holding you and your administration accountable from day one. I know you will never forget that. Because if you do, you WILL be hearing from us, the American people.

You may be the "skinny guy from Chicago" but you have broad shoulders and the weight of the world is on those shoulders. I do not envy you. But at the same time, be it chance, circumstances or your prophetic ability to lead and inspire, the world could not ask for a more aptly suited individual to take the reins at this important time in history. The "dream" has been realized in so many respects. But we are not done. The "dream" is never done. It is continuous. Passed along from generation to generation, like a torch. We have to be careful not to get burned, as we have so many times in the past.

We cannot fool ourselves and think that we are now entering into Utopian times. What has been done over the past 8 years is an example of the tenacity by which the balance the world hangs on to. One event can tip it either way. Towards heaven or hell. But what is even more important is who and how that situation will ultimately be handled by the world population, and its leaders. But remember, we consider you a leader and not really a President. Because it is only a leader who can successfully channel a movement in the right direction. The word "leader" is an active word. Whereas the word "president" or "presides" denotes inactivity or simply "watching" and standing still. You, Mr. President-Elect are a "leader" and not simply one who will be "presiding".

I again, congratulate you, Mr. Obama and your family and all of those who have supported you along this fantastic journey, myself included. And I remind you that have gotten where you are because of the American people and the hopes and dreams that each one of us holds. We hold these truths to be self-evident. And we look to you to uphold those truths. And we will be ever watchful that you do. I wish you all of the luck, good will, tenacity and audacity that you will need over the next 4 years to lead this nation and world out of the darkness and into the light.

Sincerely,
Scott Stoddard
An American for Barack Obama and CHANGE!