Warning: Barak Obama Can Be Addictive

Living in the Washington, DC area for the better part of five years, I have witnessed my share of rabid political supporters, from the conservative Christian base of George W. Bush, to the liberal feminists lined up behind Hillary Clinton, to the roving bands of Oompa Loompas that follow around Dennis Kucinich and his hot young trophy wife. However, I have never seen anything comparable to the unmitigated devotion inspired by Barack Obama in recent weeks.

Obviously, Obama, as the first serious African American contender for President, has been drawing a tremendous following from the black community, spearheaded by none other than all powerful Oprah, but what has been most amazing to me is the wide cross section of Americans who have been streaming into the Obama camp. I had two experiences this weekend that cemented this view of Barack as the Real Uniter.

The first took place near the mall, as I walked past a group of Puerto Rican youths gathered around their cars and blasting music with a thumping baseline. Being somewhat ignorant, and an avid watcher of the nightly news, I thought that the assemblage was gang activity, or at the very least an impromptu car wash.

Upon closer inspection, I was shocked to find that the meeting was political in nature, with people holding up signs reading "Obama for President" and "Obama para presidente." Eventually, the Hispanic teenagers were joined by older white people, many of whom tapped their feet and reminisced about Jennifer Lopez's performance in Anaconda.

The second incident occurred over dinner at a Moroccan restaurant downtown. My friend's wife was celebrating her birthday, and one of their guests was a doctor from Israel. He entered the establishment clutching a picture of Barak with Hebrew writing that translated to "Barack for President." Apparently, he had decided to have this poster with him at all times until the election, and yet, somehow couldn't quite figure out why he didn't have a girlfriend.

Moments into the meal, a member of the Muslim wait staff came across the poster, and asked who it belonged to. Due to historical concerns, everyone at the table became anxious until the waiter broke into a toothy grin, announcing that he would also be voting for Obama. On this night, Barack’s power was such that he was able to bring together Muslim and Jew in a soulful duet of political kinship.

I am still firmly in the corner of John McCain, but if Barack's ability to garner support across the political and cultural spectrum is truly as strong as demonstrated this weekend, then he will be our next President. On the one hand, it makes me proud that as divisive and angry as our nation can sometimes be, we can move past those differences and elect an African-American President. On the other hand, it pisses me off that Oprah is right again. She already decides what we watch, what we read, and what we eat, and now she picks the president too.

We might as well prepare for a Dr. Phil/Steadman ticket in 2012. You heard it here first.

[Barack Obama] [Oprah Winfrey] [John McCain] [Dennis Kucinich] [Oompa Loompa] [Hillary Clinton] [Jennifer Lopez]