Saturday, February 09, 2008

Obama and the Cult of Change

"Y'know I'm so glad I voted for Obama...he stands for change and all that." From a conversation I overheard while grocery shopping in Niles, Illinos.

Change and all that...

Exactly what kind of change? Exactly what of, of well, anything?

And it's not just Republicans who are wondering. From Buck Naked Politcs:

As far as I can see, Obama's campaign so far is all based on his image. I asked some of his supporters in my town, "What's he actually done that makes you think he'd be a great president?" They couldn't name a single thing. Even though they support him they have no idea of his actual achievements (other than the achievement of not being Hillary Clinton.) I know more about his achievements than they do, and I'm a Hillary supporter.

The fact is, they don't know their candidate. They wouldn't dream of questioning him. He's not a political candidate; he's a mythical hero. He appeared out of nowhere, as far as they're concerned: pure, unstained, valorous, and full of the will to win.

"What's the worst thing you know about him?" I asked these same supporters. They didn't know any worst thing. They didn't believe there is a worst thing.

And this is what worries me, as a Democrat, more than anything else about him. I don't know the worst thing either. Part of the reason that I don't is because the Obama campaign and many Dems simply won't allow anyone to raise issues that might show grounds why he is NOT the right candidate for the times.

I know more about his achievements than they do, and I'm a McCain supporter.

Obama has gotten exactly one bill, co-sponsored by a Republican, enacted into law in his two years as a US Senator. (Since he's been running for president full-time for the last year, I'm not counting that last 12 months.) He did better as a State Senator--which is a part time job in Illinois, but there was only one bill of his that a governor signed, one that required videotaping police interrogation in potential death penalty cases, that can be called groundreaking.

The political philosophy of Obama consists of nothing more than warmed-over New Left dogma. Except the New Left came out of the 1960s, so it's not even that new. On only one issue that I know of does the junior senator from my state venture away from the liberal dogma--not only does he support merit pay for teachers, but he thinks math and science teachers should earn more than other teachers.

That's one change I can believe in. But I'm certain that 90 percent of the people who voted for Obama didn't know that about their hero.

But they know the story...no, make that the epic tale...of the man who came out of nowhere, as if from another planet, to find himself on the threshold of the world's most powerful office.

An inspiring story, but so is one about a big-eared dog who defies expectations to win the Westminster Dog Show.

Folks, we're electing a president here...

But Obama "stands for change and all that."

Barack Obama: The Cult of Change.

Related posts:

The Obama Brand: It's not for breakfast anymore

Why Rezko is an issue for Obama

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