m-cause

Barack Obama’s mythical rise to (hopefully) President has inspired the world. In Europe, there seems to be a similar grassroots effort starting for a new British Obama–David Gustave. James Pattinson, a good friend and fellow P&Ger, recently started a facebook group that has spawned mainstream media articles around the possibility of David Gustave becoming the next British Obama.

How similar are they?

There are definitely similarities between Gustave & Obama. Both are tall, in their forties, and of mixed ethnicity. One major difference is the Obama is a Christian (yet many in the US still think he is a Muslim) and Gustave really is a Muslim.

David Gustave

Gustave’s story is inspiring…he left school (and home) at 16 unable to cope with an abusive father. He then spent several years finding a range of (sometimes dubious) ways to earn a living. At 30, a series of unpleasant events caused him to truly seek a life change…and so he enrolled in an adult ed. course. One thing led to another, and at 32, he entered Oxford as an undergrad!

David’s Cause

David currently works as an educational motivator for Kids Company, a charity founded by Camila Batmanghelidjh in 1996. Kids company provides emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children and young people primarily in London.

David is, no doubt, a fantastic role model for inner-city kids. From what James tells me, he is very inspiring, really a “man on a mission”. So, I am signing myself up to the facebook group…

Marketing Gustave

A quick Google search shows that several political new-comers are being touted as “the next Obama”.  Gustave and his supporters will need to move fast if they want to brand him as the next Obama in the minds of everyday Brits.  The Facebook group is a great idea and has already led to press coverage.  Indeed, by using social media/web 2.0 tools to get the Gustave grassroots movement started, James and co. are already thinking ahead.

David has a big challenge ahead if he wants to make it to the Obama level. But then again, did anyone think he would actually make it to (and through) Oxford? And did anyone think Obama would beat Clinton?

Stranger things have happened…