Change in Increments

"Since the founding, the American political tradition has been reformist, not revolutionary," Obama told Harper's magazine in 2006. "What that means is that for a political leader to get things done, he or she ideally should be ahead of the curve, but not too far ahead. I want to push the envelope but make sure I have enough folks with me that I'm not rendered politically impotent."

Obama's approach to change is more complicated than some of his more poetic rhetoric might suggest. Compromise in politics does not have to mean selling out to retain power. Voting present as a strategy to keep a bad bill from passing in the state legislature is NOT signing the Defense of Marriage Act. **

Obama knows how to get legislation passed. He can do both and be an inspirational leader. That is not a fairy tale.

** No, I'm not blaming Hillary Clinton for Bill Clinton's action here. I am using it as an example because he is coming out so vehemently against Obama.