I am actually one of those who took President Obama at his word

“I am actually one of those who took President Obama at his word when he first ran — that he would get us out of ill-advised wars, that he would do something about health care costs, and that he would protect civil liberties. Like many Americans, I was disappointed.” Thus spoke Gary Johnson, a man of independence and candor, reflecting the disillusionment of a generation that placed its trust in promises of renewal. His words are not uttered in anger, but in sorrow — the quiet sorrow of one who has believed, and found that belief unmet by action. In this statement lies a truth as old as governance itself: that faith in leaders is sacred, and when broken, it wounds not only the people’s trust but the very soul of democracy.

In the wisdom of the ancients, the bond between ruler and citizen was seen as a sacred covenant. The philosopher-king, the just ruler, was bound not by power alone, but by truth. A leader’s word was his oath before heaven, and the people’s faith in him was their tribute of hope. When Gary Johnson speaks of taking a leader at his word, he speaks of that sacred trust — the belief that those who rise to lead will do so with honor and integrity. To be disappointed in such a promise is not a small thing; it is to feel that the moral compass of leadership has faltered, that vision has given way to expediency.

Barack Obama, in his first campaign, carried the banner of hope and change. He spoke to a weary people who longed for peace after years of ill-advised wars, who sought compassion in health care, and who cherished their civil liberties after a time of fear and surveillance. He was, for many, the embodiment of renewal — a symbol of the possibility that politics could once again serve the people’s heart rather than its machinery. Yet, as Gary Johnson laments, many found those hopes unmet. Wars continued under new names; health care reforms brought new complexities; civil liberties remained fragile beneath the weight of security. The disappointment was not simply political — it was spiritual. For when hope is betrayed, cynicism takes root, and the light of civic faith grows dim.

This cycle of hope and disappointment is not new. The chronicles of history are filled with it. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote of emperors who spoke of liberty but governed through fear; the prophet Samuel warned the Israelites that kings would promise justice but bring burdens. Yet even in such disappointments, the wise saw lessons. For while the failure of leaders reveals their frailty, it also reminds the people of their own responsibility — to discern, to question, and to hold power accountable. Faith in leadership is noble, but blind faith is perilous. The ancients taught that true liberty requires vigilance, not passivity.

Consider the story of Pericles, the great Athenian statesman. He rose on the promise of wisdom and equality, and for a time he fulfilled it. But as war dragged on and Athens suffered, even he could not escape the disillusionment of the people. Yet, unlike many rulers, he faced their anger with humility, reminding them that ideals are not achieved in a single moment, but through the patient labor of generations. Perhaps this is the deeper truth hidden within Johnson’s disappointment — that the quest for honest governance must never rest in one leader alone, but in the continuous striving of a people who refuse to abandon their ideals.

Thus, Gary Johnson’s words become more than critique; they become a lamentation and a call. They call upon citizens to remember that democracy is not the art of believing in leaders, but of building with them — to demand truth, to question authority, and to measure progress not by rhetoric, but by action. When promises fail, we must not sink into despair, but rather rise with greater clarity. The ancients would say: the failure of one ruler is not the failure of the republic, unless the people cease to care.

The lesson, then, is clear: trust must be earned and guarded. When you give your faith to those in power, do so with both hope and discernment. Let not disappointment harden you into cynicism, but sharpen you into wisdom. Be watchful, be engaged, and never surrender your voice. For the health of a nation depends not on the perfection of its leaders, but on the courage of its people to seek truth even when betrayed.

So remember the words of Gary Johnson, and take them as both warning and wisdom: “I took him at his word... and I was disappointed.” In that disappointment lies the seed of renewal. For when a people learn to demand honesty from those who govern, and integrity from those who promise, then even broken trust becomes the forge of a stronger democracy. Let not disillusionment silence you; let it awaken you. For the courage to see clearly, even through disappointment, is the first act of freedom.