The Obama Craze
Look out Beatles…your rock star, girls fainting, autograph asking legendary status may be trumped by a politician…all aboard the Obama train. Finally, it’s cool to be a politician, and I’m dumbfounded.
Not that Obama is a bad man, or a blight on the political process, he’s just a total newbie. The Democratic party right now is looking at the cool guy in the mailroom, and saying the political equivalant of:
“You know what, this guy has nice hair, and speaks well, let’s make him CEO.” Are the Democrats really that devoid of qualified politicians that they’re willing to jump headfirst into the bed of the first halfway decent person that walk through their door? I think so. |
What’s his record? Where does he stand on the difficult issues? We don’t know yet, because he hasn’t even been in Congress for 2 years. It’s amazing actually when you think about it. Democrats are picking a clean slate. Could there be a reason for this? Maybe it’s possible that the thing that causes Democrats to lose election is their voting record, and if they can find the one with the shortest list, then the political sex appeal is there…
How does he deal with pressure? How does he deal with lobbyists? How well or not well does he work with the opposition party? The answers to any of these questions are convoluted at best, because there is no proof that allows one to ascertain the affirmative or the negative on a multitude of issues.
As Thomas Sowell recently stated:
He is a bright, personable and articulate young man but what has he ever actually accomplished that would qualify him for the highest office in the nation and the leadership of the free world?
This is no criticism of Senator Obama. He has been in the Senate only a couple of years. Maybe a decade from now he will have crafted enough important legislation, or distinguished himself in some other way, as to be someone worth considering for President. But today, just because he is fluent, smooth and black?
One of the most interesting spins on the Obama story is by the great Krauthammer, who seems a bit eager himself to see Obama soar politically, if not for just the raised level of discourse that he may offer.
When just a week ago Barack Obama showed a bit of ankle and declared the mere possibility of his running for the presidency, the chattering classes swooned. Now that every columnist in the country has given him advice, here’s mine: He should run in ‘08. He will lose in ‘08. And the loss will put him irrevocably on a path to the presidency.
Really, click through and read the entire article, it’s interesting to see Mr. Krauthammer play so far into the future, and the truth is, he’s probably right. Barak Obama appeals heavily to the Gen Xers who for the most part have stayed out of politics. As Ruben Navarette says:
It’s one reason that Liu thinks Obama is uniquely positioned to do more than simply run a campaign — that he can help start a movement.
“I look at someone like Barack Obama,” Liu said, “and I think here is a person who can tell a story about the original purposes of American politics that will make people stop and think and hear it again for the first time.”
I don’t know about you, but that’s one story I can’t wait to hear.
Neither can I…I still want Republicans to win because ultimately I’m a conservative, aw hell…Stout Republican (hyuck hyuck) through and through, but if Obama gets a bit more experience under his belt, the Democrats might be able do something they’ve never done before…stand for something, instead of just against it.
Honestly, I can see the appeal of Obama to the general public. He is a great speaker and a nice guy. After catching B. Clinton dribble absurdities while pictures of babies flashed across the screen in a political commercial last night, I came to realize the huge weight that is placed upon a politician’s speaking abilities alone. Unfortunately, in order to be successful in our culture, all you have to do is have a seemingly kind demeanor and killer communication skills. Clinton has them, and he pulled off a lot of crap during his presidency and still stayed in the White House for 8 years; not to mention the fact that he still makes serious money off of those communication skills (and cute smile).
Shrillary, on the other hand, can communicate farely well, but her demeanor isn’t as appealing (there still are people that can see though that dreadful mask). We’ve known for a while that she really wants to run and I’m sure she’s not all too happy about the Obama buzz.
The problem with all of this is that if we are voting merely on appearances and not substance/experience, we will be falsely confident in our future as a nation. Give Obama a little time to build a resume…
I can’t disagree with much of your post, but I must say that you’re feigning interest in him, asking questions about his stance on certain issues, and yet you haven’t even tried to look for the answers. He’s written two books, Stout. The latest of which tells us his views on many vital subjects in the Great Political Debate.
Yes, no one, not even me, a great Obama supporter, can argue his lack of substantial experience. But I’m compelled to point out that Kennedy and Lincoln had no more experience than he’ll have by the time ‘08 comes around.
It wouldn’t be unprecedented for him to run and win despite his greenery.
I understand that he has written two books, but that’s actually quite common for politicians…I will read the book to guage his opinions and views, but we have no idea how real or stong those views are until he has a record.
Also if you read his book, you’ll see the thought process behind how he votes. If you were to define him based on his votes and nothing else, you’d be too misinformed for your basis to hold any water.
I strongly suggest reading it so you have less assumptions in your opinion on him. Sure I could explain with examples what I’m talking about, but I trust your word that you’ll read it, and so shan’t waste my typing time due to currently watching the Da Vinci Code on dvd.
The only thing you can define a politician on is his votes…books don’t make policy. He may talk the talk, but we have yet to see how he strides (avoiding rest of phrase because I’m crazy like that).
Stout and PR you can check his voting record
Obama’s voting record
Thanks New Hope.
But my point Stout is that without knowing his mindset on why he votes a certain way, you will rely on your presumptions, based solely on a black and white picture the media will advertise on any given bill being voted upon, and therefore have a false judgment on your definition of him. You can say he will talk the talk, but before implying what you think it means to “talk the talk,” know what he’s talking about.
I haven’t been able to read his entire record, but that doesn’t concern me at the moment. Take a look at Nancy Pelosi’s. It’s a little intimidating.
Nancy,Nancy,Nancy
P.S Sorry to draw attention elsewhere. I should have made a new post I know.
“…it’s interesting to see Mr. Krauthammer play so far into the future, and the TRUTH is, he’s probably right.”
Ha, that’s hilarious. I don’t know exactly why I find this sentence so amusing, but I really, really do.
Well said. Barack Obama is probably the single greatest weapon in the Democrats’ pathetic arsenal right now. And although I’m conservative through and through, I find myself almost hypnotically fascinated with this guy.
It’s weird isn’t it…
Man, I hate to say it. But I think it’d be smart to buy at least ten copies of the first edition of Barack’s new book because he’s just the type that’ll get assassinated if he doesn’t acknowledge his own such potential with hyper security.
Get them signed as soon as possible…
No offense to anyone, but my hispanic grandfather will NEVER vote for an African American. I don’t even think he will vote for a hispanic politician for president. He is part of a generation (the third rail) that will most likely not vote for Obama, either. Unless he really gets their walkers moving. I doubt he will muster up the “gen now” vote. You see, they pretend to care then forget when voting day is. I am all for a change in the oval office (black, hispanic or woman) but I don’t think it will happen any time soon. My brother-in-law spouts musicians politics, but does not go out to vote because he does not see how only he can change anything. That is how all his friends think and their friends and their friends…
Obama has a lot ahead of him and if he can change my rascist grandfather’s mind, then hey, I give him mad props. He might be a force to be reckoned with but he needs some time to develope his force.
In response to Abby: I’m not sure why the “gen now” people show up in drab numbers on voting day. I know you were half-joking on the fact that they forget which day election days are, but something tells me that another reason is that usually they have candidates such as Kerry vs. Bush to vote for. And I can’t understand why anyone would be passionate about either of those two choices. And that’s just what they need – Passion. Or, to put it another way, they need a “Rock Star”, as Stout and so many others classify Obama as.
Maybe he is the answer, but I know atleast two generations he needs to campaign towards heavily: “third rail” and the skeptical “anarchist” types (ie my BIL)