But such Obamania should worry us all, for it is based on emotion and, where the Democrat candidate is concerned, the normal faculties of judgment appear to have been suspended.
Important questions about Obama’s judgment, consistency and honesty are not being asked, let alone answered.
He has got away with the fact that for 20 years he belonged to a church which preaches black power racism against white people.
He disavowed his long-time mentor, pastor Jeremiah Wright, only when his extreme views could no longer be ignored — despite the fact that Wright is a supporter of Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the black power Nation of Islam.
The media brush all this aside as ‘personal details’ which are of no interest to voters. But if, say, John McCain’s pastor and mentor had turned out to support the Ku Klux Klan and his church was found to be sympathetic to its philosophy, his candidacy would have been defenestrated and rightly so.
Once again it's important to consider what would happen if the situation were reversed. What if McCain were to have said an Obamaism? What if Obama had said a "Bushism"?
Something like
“Let me be absolutely clear. Israel is a strong friend of Israel’s.”
“You know, it’s always a bad practice to say ‘always’ or ‘never.’”
Why is it an example of Bush being a stupid Texan if he says it?
Or an example of McCain being senile?
But for Obama he's merely tired?
He is not old, frail and nondescript like McCain, but young, vigorous and attractive. He is, in short, everything they want America — and themselves — to be.
His very incoherence over policy, the fact we don’t know what he really believes in, enables people to project onto him their hopes and desires. He is the perfect fantasy politician. He is America’s very own Princess Obama.
But, of course, the belief that a handsome prince can magic away the troubles of the world is infantile. The idea that there is a new kind of sanitised politics by which problems can be solved without having to make hard choices is a dangerous delusion.
There are good reasons to vote for Obama. A deep and personal distaste/distrust for McCain or the Republicans. A view that Obama's policies will be better (such as Obama's policies can be determined).
However, the idea that Obama is some great new leader that will usher in a new age, or some other idealization. That's just begging for abuse and disapointment.
No comments:
Post a Comment