Brilliant. I was just expressing this same thought to a co-worker.

Thanks. It's a relatively idle observation I've enjoyed making, especially over the past several months. While there may be millions who view Obama as an icon, there is no shortage of sour voices on either side of the political divide – people who will downplay his campaign as mere rhetoric because that makes it easier to justify their lack of humanitarian ambition.

There are folks who have honest policy differences with Obama. Those people get far more respect from me than those who are just looking for excuses to remain in their shells.