Barack Obama and John McCain--Will the Most Emotional Senator Win the Presidency?

One of the key principles about the Native American Medicine Wheel is that forward motion yields positive outcomes and backward motion produces negative outcomes. In a previous post, dated February 8, 2008, I argued that we would probably elect a President who was born in the summer. The summer is associated with the emotional part of the Wheel (referred to as the "South.") The basis for making that prediction is that since 1988, all of our Presidents have been born in the summer including Bill Clinton. In 2008, we are still as a society, pursuing our feelings. Logic is not as important as honoring what we feel.

Even though Hillary Clinton was still the "presumptive" nominee at the time, given the emotional nature of our times today, it didn't seem likely that her message of "experience" would resonate with the American electorate. Clinton is born in the fall the "West" direction on the Wheel.  She has a masterful knowledge of the facts and can discuss them easily with no notes. This is what you would expect from a West person--knowledge or "knowing" is their key strength. HIllary emphasized her experience which is a West's person's greatest strength. The electorate, however, wanted to feel good and Obama's message of hope hit the right chord.

In contrast to Hillary Clinton, McCain and Obama are both in the South/Emotional part of the Wheel. What's interesting to note is that even though they both have emotions as their base strength, their demeanors and styles are quite different.

McCain is known as the most emotional Senator in the Senate. He trusts his gut and is unafraid to go against what others think. He makes decisions trusting his emotions first and then combines that with his experience, before making a plan. Because of this approach, he has gained a reputation as a maverick. His willingness to work with Democrats, often to his party's chagrin, demonstrates that he takes actions based upon his community as well. This is full forward motion on the Wheel.

Furthermore, those born in the summer have no challenge coping with emotional turmoil.  The scientific research shows that those born in the summer have calmer, more resilient nervous systems, as compared to those born at other times of the year. This may also help to explain how McCain was able to endure five years of torture that would have destroyed most people. McCain goes from his emotion and ties it to his experience. McCain's movement movement on the Wheel may at least partially account for  the "positive outcome" of his nomination.

Obama's approach is very different. He radiates a calm, even approach. The challenge for Obama in terms of the Wheel is that he appears to be taking a "North" approach to the campaign that emphasizes thinking rather than emotions. 

For example, after defeating Hillary Clinton, Obama began expanding his campaign support. Hillary's supporters were accustomed to in-fighting and confrontation. Any one who wanted to join the Obama campaign was told that the tenor of this campaign would not allow for internal disruptive behaviors. North individuals want to avoid confrontation. They prefer to approach things logically. Some of Obama's supporters have termed the former college professor, "the most thoughtful person in the Senate." Unlike McCain, Obama tends to trust his head rather than his gut. This is a serious problem for anyone who is born in the South/Summer since emotion is their strength.

Using the Wheel as a guideline, Obama would be better served by returning to his message of hope. People feel good when they hear Obama speak. He inspires them and helps them to feel that things will improve if he is elected. Remember, the American electorate is still feeling based. As Obama has shifted his message from hope to "citizen of the world" and "We are the ones that we have been waiting for," (this is moving to the East or community part of the Wheel and is backward movement), he has veered away from what took him to the nomination--tapping into America's feelings.

While the American public loves hope, they are also angry about gas prices and they have legitimate fears about an expanded conflict in the Middle East. Yesterday, Putin said that Russia should be back in Cuba. McCain will probably continue to play upon the emotions of anger and fear. His rise in the polls during the last week shows that tapping into American emotions is working for him.

Bill Clinton won the 1992 election by portraying himself as the "Man from Hope." The question for Obama is how he will meet the challenge--with thought which will probably cost him the election or with hope?

Posted by Bernice Ross

Photo by MarcN