How Obama Got His Halo

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Posted Feb 26th 2008 8:38AM by Dinesh D'Souza
Filed under: Elections, Democrats, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama

His middle name is Hussein. His experience in foreign policy is virtually nil, and it shows. Some of his policy statements border on the ridiculous. No man manages to say nothing with such aplomb. And yet, for all his evident weaknesses, Obama has become virtually untouchable. The frustration in Hillary Clinton's camp is palpable as she helplessly concedes front-runner status to the Black Adonis from Illinois.

What's going on here? There are a lot of theories about Obama's success, yet two of the main ones seem to have escaped notice. First, Obama is enjoying African American immunity. This idea that if you are a black person you are above criticism is especially strong among liberal Democrats. These are the people, after all, who invented political correctness. From this point of view, if a black man is reasonably articulate his statements have to be treated as Shakespearean genius. If he seems comparatively decent he must be celebrated as a paragon of humanity. The slightest criticism of such an individual is seen as harsh, carping, unfair. Thus when the Clintons quite reasonably disputed Obama's repeated invocations of Martin Luther King, pointing out that it took presidential action to give policy significance to some of King's ideas, the liberal genuflection camp expressed immediate outrage. How dare Hillary state obvious facts when those facts might tarnish Obama's moral and political halo?

By the way this African American immunity won't completely insulate Obama in the general election. If he gets the nomination the level of scrutiny will certainly increase. Even the lapdogs in the media are going to have to start asking some tough questions. And Republicans aren't terrified of criticizing a political figure just because he happens to be black.

A second factor behind Obama's success is this. A majority of Democratic voters, and even some leading figures in the party, seem to have quietly figured out that Republicans were right all along about the Clintons. For years no Democrat could bring himself to admit this. Democrats were in full partisan mode, defending the Clintons, covering up for their shameful deeds, putting on a straight face while mouthing the Clinton lies in public. But all of this seems to have left an unpalatable taste in the Democratic mouth. Secretly, Democrats know that this is a pair of self-serving opportunists who will do anything, even destroy the Democratic party, in order to have power. David Geffen in his early endorsement of Obama blurted out a widely-held sentiment when he said that while lying may come naturally to politicians, the Clintons have taken prevarication and dissembling to a whole new level.

Disgusted with the Clintons, and fearful of bringing this dysfunctional couple back into the Oval Office, Democrats now have an alternative. Backing Obama not only makes Democrats feel cool, it also makes them feel clean.

As a Republican, I confess I'm enjoying Hillary's political frustration. She can't blame this one on the "vast right wing conspiracy."

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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 15)

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. I don't agree with this guy very much, but he's dead on with this one.

Not being a Republican, but rather an Independent, I don't share the enjoyment of the downfall of the Clintons, and I still don't think they were quite as bad as the Republicans made them out to be.

The first section about Obama and the Democrats is spot-on.

Davidg at 10:01AM on Feb 26th 2008

2. http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com

FORMER ATHEIST at 10:18AM on Feb 26th 2008

3. Obama is either the greatest person to walk the earth since Jesus Christ or he's the Anti-Christ. Well, okay, that's over the top but we sure don't know much about him other than his public persona. He hasn't done enough for us to know anything about his real self. And his speeches sound like collections of Bartlett's Famous Quotes.

don the baptist at 10:23AM on Feb 26th 2008

4. Obama can't be the antichrist......that role has been filled by bush.

So McCain's suit of teflon comes from his war hero status; Obama's because of his race.

What's your point, genius?

America's Most Gangsta at 10:34AM on Feb 26th 2008

5. Right on, right on. You hit it out of the park on this one Dinesh! I can't stand Obama. Nobody, I mean nobody says so little, so well. As for Hillary, I'm enjoying this implosion as much as the next guy, but I hope she stays in the race all the way to the convention. I want the democrat party damaged!!!!

Boner-nosed, beanie wearing jew boy at 10:34AM on Feb 26th 2008

6. By the way, I notice a refreshing absence of book shilling in this blog....so, in the interest of fair and balanced blogging, why not check out MY book, he asked shamelessly.

America's Most Gangsta at 10:35AM on Feb 26th 2008

7. Dinesh, your first sentence set the tone. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Please feel free to criticize Obama, but stop the dirty tricks.

alan at 10:39AM on Feb 26th 2008

8. Keep America beautiful, home of the free... vote McCain

Bridget at 10:44AM on Feb 26th 2008

9. hey gangsta I can sure tell your not a genius of course it doesnt take a genuis to have any concept of situational awareness which you probably have no clue what I be sayin'. But since you are apparently biased towards anything anti-bush even if it means voting for a traitor in disguise to be biyatchin when he takes us past the dead end street Carter took us and on and over the cliff. I probably shouldnt use this type of dialogue you aint smart enough to have aclue what the hell I'm talking about.

toosmartoinsult at 10:54AM on Feb 26th 2008

10. His middle name is Hussein. Is this a reason not to vote for him? Dinesh, you lump that in with real criticism as if it were valid. And for what reason, other than that it just happened to be Saddam's name? Hussein is a very common Muslim name.

AndrewV at 11:02AM on Feb 26th 2008

11. "His middle name is Hussein. His experience in foreign policy is virtually nil, and it shows."

His middle name? Even for D'Souza, this is below the belt! Foreign policy experience? Take a look at the experience of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt (all of whom won wars) Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and George W. Bush. BUSH?? Oh my GOODD!!!

ronelliott2000 at 11:05AM on Feb 26th 2008

12. today's hot steaming cup of stupid.

"His experience in foreign policy is virtually nil, and it shows. Some of his policy statements border on the ridiculous."

Funny how that could easily described 'w' in his run for President. And you just couldn't resist throwing "Hussein" in there, couldn't you, you racist prig?

Hilary's implosion has as much to do with sexism as it does with frustration. You severely over-estimate how much America still loves Bill..after all, 8 years of peace, prosperity and civil rights not being chainsawed seem prtty darn good.

But then, we keep hearing "She is to tough" then if she sheds a tear - "what a woman..." the double standard of thuglicans knows no limits. And I don't put it past Rebuplican plants to have started some of Osama Vs Hilary stories just to manuafcture controversy. Like a certain Idiots that can't help but smugly decalre their glee: "I confess I'm enjoying Hillary's political frustration."

Tim at 11:15AM on Feb 26th 2008

13. I enjoy the fact that you can't actually bring anything of substance against Barack. So what if he lacks experience? What the hell has experience gotten us? Look at where we are. We're on the cusp on a recession. Why? Because our government has spent the past seven years staring so hard at the Middle East that they couldn't be bothered about the problems already starting. We need to get off of our high horse and start focusing on ourselves. How dare we presume to "fix" other countries when we can't even get our own act together. GERMANY is more demnocratic than our system is, i.e. the bipartisan "monarchy".

If we took our CONQUEST budget and gave it to our schools, we'd probably have housing on the moon and a cure for cancer by now.

Clinton REDUCED out national debt. What did BUSH do? Clinton REDUCED our unemployment numbers. What did BUSH do? Take our countries stats from both administrations, line them up, side by side (somebody did that on another newsblog comment). And THEN tell me that how crappy the Clinton administration was.

This kind of smear is no better than that Iraqi prime minister, or whoever that idiot was on TV all the time who would just say blatant lies to everyone.

Useless. Worthless. Tactless. Cowardice. Evil.

Strados at 11:31AM on Feb 26th 2008

14. And Republicans aren't terrified of criticizing a political figure just because he happens to be black.

Yeah....you got that right. Republicans aren't afraid to tear ANYONE down if they don't immediately genuflect and agree with them.

A majority of Democratic voters, and even some leading figures in the party, seem to have quietly figured out that Republicans were right all along about the Clintons...Secretly, Democrats know that this is a pair of self-serving opportunists who will do anything, even destroy the Democratic party, in order to have power.

You are so full of crap. You are not a Democrat, and you have no idea how we think and feel or you would not write such obvious lies. The Clinton administration brought us a surplus in the budget, kept terror at bay and much much more. The only thing he did that you republicans can't stand was get a blowjob. OMG stop the presses.....some woman agreed to suck......welll you know. How much did that cost us taxpayers so that you republicans could show the world how freaking moral you are?

Gee, with a surplus, a good economy and warnings regarding terrorists, the next prez had it good....what did he do with it? Nothing, thats what.

Of course republicans never have sex, we all know that. (Right!) And..they never cheat on their wives either, right? Nor are they lovers of the same sex right? Lol, my how the papers and the news reveals the hypocrites.

Hillary Clinton would make a good president, Obama might also. One thing for sure is a republican president is something ALL democrats do not want and many many independents and republicans too. We all agree on that one tidbit. Chew on it a while.

Lorelei at 11:40AM on Feb 26th 2008

15. Here, I found it:

Democrat 8 years vs Republican 8 years
or 2000 vs 2008
-------------------------------------------------

GDP growth 4.09%, Bush 2.65%
National Debt 5.7 T, Bush 9.2 Trillion
Surplus 431 B, Bush Deficit 734 Billion
Jobs Created 1.76 Million, Bush 369,000
Poverty 31.6 Million, Bush 36.5 Million
Trade Deficit 380 B, Bush 759 Billion
US Dollar 1.07 Euros, Bush 0.68 Euros

Uninsured reduced by 4.5 Million,
Bush Uninsured increased by 8.5 Million

Yearly Health Premium Cost 6,230 Family,
Bush Health Premium Cost 12,106 Family

Median Household Income 49,163,
Bush Household Income 48,023

Change in Income $6,000 increase,
Bush $1,100 decrease

Number of earmarks in 2000: 6,073,
Number of earmarks in 2005: 15,877

Avg days/year Congress was in session: 162,
Avg days for the Republican Congress: 109

And at the highest percentage since the Great Depression,
mortgages exceed the value of the home underwritten.

Strados at 11:42AM on Feb 26th 2008

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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.