Music provides the soundtrack to our lives. Whether it’s the playlist that pushes us through the work day, the record we bump to at the club or the hymn that bolsters us in difficult times, a song can capture the essence of our experiences. As President Obama prepares for the debate tonight, I can’t help but wonder what he is listening to but there is one song that seems fitting for the occasion, one track that he can lose himself to…
“Look, if you had, one shot
Or one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted
In one moment
Would you capture it, or just let it slip?”
This debate marks the President’s time to reset the campaign. It’s a chance for him to take back the narrative that was lost in Mitt Romney’s arguments in the debates two weeks ago. Tonight, the President can remind the American public that it was under his watch and calm demeanor that that Osama Bin Laden was put to death. He can reaffirm that America is safer today because the top Al-Qaeda leaders are out of power and the Drone strikes worked. The American people should know that as Commander-In-Chief, Obama does not treat the brave men and women who fight every day to protect our freedom like toy soldiers.
“His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There’s vomit on his sweater already: mom’s spaghetti
He’s nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready”
In tonight’s debate, the President must force the “real” Mitt Romney to please stand up and to call out all the different sides of his opponent. Obama must point out Romney’s contradictory debate performance with the five trillion dollar tax cuts he proposed with no plan to back it; to press the issue of wanting another two trillion dollar-increase in defense expenditures when the Department doesn’t see the need; to clarify if Romney is for more teachers in the classrooms or against (there was confusion there); and if the moderator doesn’t ask, Obama must press Romney to answer if he will provide tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas.
“You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You want it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime”
Mr. President, tonight is the night where you lay Romney’s concept of the 47% on the table. Ask him on behalf of those individuals why he believes they “are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims,” as he says. See why he believes his “job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.” Those are strong words that must not go unchallenged. Use this as a lesson to teach Romney that a President’s job is to look out for all Americans, no matter if they are Republican, Tea Party, Democrat, Green Party, or Libertarian. I can only imagine the rage that was felt on 8 Mile road in Detroit, MI as they rapped…
“All the pain inside amplified by the
Fact that I can’t get by with my nine to
Five and I can’t provide the right type of
Life for my family, cause man, these God damn
Food stamps don’t buy diapers, and there’s no movie
There’s no Mekhi Phifer, this is my life
And these times are so hard, and it’s getting even harder
Tryin’ to feed and water my seed”
President Obama, lay out your economic plan for the country. Sell your job plan to get Americans back to work. Tell us why you believe that your vision will allow for everyone to have a fair shot at success and why your policies to grow the economy from the middle out rather than top down will create opportunity for the working class. Tell us how you plan to be the voice of the 47% and let them know they are not renegades but hardworking citizens. Let the 53% who have been patiently waiting to see if your policies will allow for continued success or merely regulated earnings. Let them know it will be success every time. I know this is in you. I know you are not afraid to take a stand.
Mike Muse is the youngest American to raise a million dollars for Obama’s campaign. He can be reached at mike@iammikemuse.com, on twitter @iammikemuse, and www.IamMikeMuse.com.