Sleight of hand in the Obama campaign
Bookworm on Jul 16 2008 at 9:35 am | Filed under: Barack Obama
Obama campaign is clearly a masterful example of the illusionist’s art. As you may recall, he managed to get the press to tout one of his rallies as one of the largest political rallies ever, although it subsequently emerged that it was mostly a big rock band event. He’s also barred women in Islamic veils from standing too close to him. It’s likely that he has professional fainters on hand to enhance his aura, too.
And now he’s done it again. The lastest example of Obama’s image manipulation occurred when he made a big speech about the War to an invitation only event, a speech that was intended to establish his bona fides to lead the American military. One might think that he’d actually make this speech to members of the military whose trust he needs to earn. Instead, he packed the event with an extreme anti-War veterans group. The press reported that he spoke to veterans but, of course, neglected to mention that these are vets who have taken a far Left stance at odds with the average service person’s political views. I suspect that, when all is said and done, Obama will have run the most dishonest campaign in American history.
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I was writing this as a response to another post, but I think it fits here as well.
Ho, hum. Revelation of another flip-flop by Barack. But what if this is not another cynical attempt to pander to patrons of his rhetoric. What if this belies a deeper, more fundamental problem in the character of the wonder boy. What if Barack just can’t help himself.
The nature and frequency of his never-ending emergency evasion procedures are well documented.
Iraq war
Iran
FISA
public financing
Immigration
Israel
…the list goes on
But are we really seeing an attempt at triangulation so massive, so grand in its scheme that it makes the machinations of Bill Clinton pale in comparison?
Is Barack the shrewd Chicago politician he’s made out to be?
Abandoned by his father, rejected by his mother, raised by doting liberal grandparents, it would not be surprising to find a Barack with a deep seated need for approval. Possibly Barack just can’t tell the hard truth that might result in rejection. Are we beginning to recognize a pattern of a psychological shortcoming and should it raise a ‘tsk, tsk’ or is it something with more ominous implications.
As a former perfectionist– I was never able to finish a project. My life is strewn with projects near-completed, but never finalized since completing a task would be to admit its imperfections. It was a compulsion only recognized as I matured. Such it is with Barack. His need for acceptance, for approval requires him to speak in messiah-like terms, regardless of the resulting furor when this statement is weighed against a previous statement.
This would explain his lack of self-depricating humor, his glittering generalities, his petulance when flaws are revealed by others. Are these chinks in the armor or spotlights revealing THIS emperor is campaigning in boxers.
Are the titles of his books are further clues to the underlying implications of candidate Barack? “Dreams from my Father”– a father he never knew; “The Audacity of Hope”– homilies of a journey toward acceptance.
A recent Jonah Goldberg calls into question Barack’s plan to give his nomination acceptance speech in a 70,000 seat sports stadium instead of the ‘humble’ confines of a 20,000 seat convention center. You see, Barack believes his speeches. His sincerity is what makes his empty phrasings so compelling. But he believes whatever he is saying at the time.
Even his liberal supporters are noticing that something is amiss.
– Independent Florida Alligator editorial
I would suggest watching “A Face in the Crowd”– a powerful statement about manipulation and compulsion. While Lonesome Rhodes’ meglomania had different roots, its similarities are erie.
Wow. If the editorial staff of the Independent Florida Alligator, a student newspaper, is already turning against Obama, what chance does he have?
McCain simply has to maneuver Obama into forums in which he has to face legitimate questions and respond without benefit of teleprompter. I have to believe that the American Voter is prescient enough to be as frightened.
Whoa, not so fast, folks.
I want Obama to self destruct (as he inevitably will) AFTER the convention, not before. There is still time for Hillary to step into the breach should he implode prematurely, after all.
Alright, it is only a student newspaper– but these are the true believers.
The left is demanding that Barack stay true to the message of the primaries.
We and they are assuming that he is running to the center as a political ploy- the maneuver that the Florida students castigate.
But we are viewing this through the lens of traditional politics.
Is Barack really a marxist, as is suggested by his associations of 20 years? Did he seek them out, or did he merely fall into their sphere? Are his principals no deeper than the people he is standing next to at the time?
I think he is more chameleon than machiavellian based on this deep-seated need to be liked. And that same character flaw would allow him to ignore his rather ruthless rise to power.
People with more knowledge of his character than I may debunk this. It just seems odd.
Obama called in his editorial for a thorough and robust debate on Iraq. Yet he gives his speech before an anti-war crowd, he has refused to engage McCain in any real debates where the questioners are not already in the tank MSM folk or where the opportunity to have multiple follow-up questions actually exists, and he is AWOL from a town hall arranged by Vets to debate with McCain. His call for a thorough debate on Iraq is hypocrisy writ large.
From Finian’s Rainbow
Oh my heart is beating wildly
And it’s all because you’re here.
When I’m not near the girl I love,
I love the girl I’m near.
Ev’ry femme that flutters by me
Is a flame that must be fanned.
When I can’t fondle the hand I’m fond of,
I fondle the hand at hand.
My heart’s in a pickle,
It’s constantly fickle
And not too partickle, I fear.
When I’m not near the girl I love,
I love the girl I’m near.
I’m confessing a confession
And I hope I’m not verbose
When I’m not close to the kiss that I cling to,
I cling to the kiss that’s close
As I’m more and more a mortal
I am more and more a case.
When I’m not facing the face that I fancy.
I fancy the face I face.
For Sharon I’m carin’,
But Susan I’m choosin’
I’m faithful to whos’n is here.
When I’m not near the girl I love,
I love the girl I’m near.
Judyrose, that was one of the class plays we did when I was in the high school band. I’d forgotten about it, but you’re right — it precisely describes Obama’s approach to the electorate. If your only principle is to win (just as the Leprechaun’s only desire was a woman), proximity is all that matters.
BW, I knew you’d be familiar with that lyric.