Interesting how it seems the only reference to living in "obscurity" revolves around the mention of teaching. As much as I agree with the great majority of Conservatives' viewpoints on this site, I cannot agree on the point made above. What about an obscure electrician? Mechanic? Carpenter? Oh, that's right...I almost forgot...if one does not produce something material or provide some service that is considered "productive" to society, then he or she must be a worthless teacher who provides nothing of benefit to society. Ahh, gotcha'.
And here I thought all along that teachers/professors DO "produce" something for society...silly me! Guess I should get a job at McDonald's so I can be "productive" to society, huh? *spits*
What I meant was relative obscurity. Instead of being the most recognizable and powerful man on Earth.
I believe affirmative action has taken him way beyond his ability.
There is nothing wrong with living in obscurity. Most of us wouldn't have it any other way.
Meaning absolutely no disrespect to teachers at any level, they do provide invaluable service to helping students develop their own talents and hopefully find their best skills to provide for themselves and serve society, I do agree that Obama would likely have become a teacher. Giving him the best benefit of the doubt - assuming that without any affirmative action consideration he could have been accepted into the schools he attended (and maybe he could - we really have no way of knowing as no records are made available), his post-law school work centered on community organizing and teaching. Doubt he would have been a white community organizer. President of Harvard Law Review, if published comments at the time are given the credibility they should be given (see http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/06/us/first-black-elected-to-head-harvard-s-law-review.html ) should have resulted in him obtaining a coveted clerkship position for a Federal Court of Appeals judge followed by a clerkship for a Supreme Court Justice. While such clerkships are invaluable for establishing oneself in the legal profession, Obama indicated at the time his intention to return to Chicago and community organizing. Perhaps he recognized that he would be found out for his lack of actual talent and work ethic in an Appeals Court clerkship, which would have definitely eliminated him from consideration for the Supreme Court clerkship, ending his political aspirations.
But - if he was white - probably never would have “won” the title as President of the Harvard Law Review to begin with. Previously awarded to the top student based on GPA until the ‘70’s, when it was replaced by a system intended to increase minority representation and ultimately simply a popular vote contest.
That all being said, he seemed to enjoy teaching, probably would have been his profession. Failure to produce anything beyond his own autobiographies as published works, doubt he could have risen to much prominence.