Why Obama is The Green Lantern

And no, it's not just because he is black.  There have been Green Lanterns of various ethnicities (and species) and it is THIS reason, among others, that Obama reminds me of the Green Lantern.

My local radio station had a poll this AM as to who the Official American Cartoon Character should be.  I proposed GL, as the John Stewart (black) GL would look nice standing next to a President Obama, but other GLs (including female ones) could be used for various other Presidents.  

Unlike Batman, who works out of a developmental injury, or Superman, who has been bestowed on humanity, the GL on Earth is always human but has been ENTRUSTED by outside powers with the RESPONSIBILITY to GUARD Earth.

Sometimes he goes out into the cosmos to do this.

Sometimes he stays at home.

And, much like Superman, the John Stewart GL believes no problem is too small.  Every little bit supports the common good.  This is partially borne from his experience as a black man in Central City (largely recognized as the DC comics analogue of Chicago).

And thus, Barack Obama is the Green Lantern ... follow me below for a fun yet hopefully interesting dissection:

1. GL's number one responsibility is Earth, but he is not beyond helping other planets.  In much the same way, Obama emphasizes that we must rectify wrongs here at home, but must sometimes go abroad.

2. GL is not a hot dogger.  He works with the GL Corps, the Justice League, and in various pairings with other DC heroes.  Alliances are important to GL, and they lend the moral high ground by keeping him from the temptation of vendetta.  One of the other GLs (Kyle Raynor?) once eliminated an entire city out of anger over failing to catch a bad guy.  That's not usually GL's style.  Obama talks about alliances in much the same way, that they lend assistance AND help ensure correct action.

3. GL sometimes must oppose others who have been entrusted to enforce justice, but have lost their way.  The Guardians of OM, who developed the GL Corps, first had robotic enforcers.  These were not flexible enough in their interpretation of justice, like some of our own reactionary elements on the left and the right.  At one point, they put John Stewart on trial for crimes he did not commit, so as to discredit the GL Corps.  This was mainly though guilt by association and coincidence, and was so skillful that even John Stewart questioned his innocence.  Sound familiar?

4. GL is not just John Stewart.  Obama is not just black.

5. GL relies on the power of will and hope.  His weaknesses are fear and the color yellow.  I don't know about yellow (although that yellow writing on the Dean for America signs certainly sunk his campaign), but fear is the main weapon being used against our movement.  We can't wish things into existence (which has been the flaw of the right wingers who have compared Bush to GL), but motivation can inspire action, and actions can lead to further motivation.

6. When the chips are down, GL is one of those heroes who is often saved by ordinary citizens stepping to his defense.  This is because his real power is not the ring, but the inspiration of his taking on great responsibility on the ordinary citizen's behalf.  The lack of fear among the citizenry empowers GL to keep fighting, even when his ring fails (or the color yellow appears).

7. GL often hangs out with Green Arrow, the alter ego of a renowned millionaire who speaks out on social and environmental causes (literally the "Green" Batman in several ways).  I'm still waiting for our Green Arrow to endorse our Green Lantern, but you can't get everything.  Maybe if Gore grows his beard again ...

Can anyone else think of connections between GL (particularly John Stewart GL) and Obama?