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."
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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How Obama Got His Halo
Posted Feb 26th 2008 8:38AM by Dinesh D'Souza
Filed under: Elections, Democrats, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama
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Reader Comments ( Page 14 of 15)
196. Lexy, he's a junior. Named after his father.
Linda at 1:54PM on Feb 27th 2008
197. In any case, Barak is a Biblical name, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barak
Since that Barak was a great general, doesn't that prove or, at least, be a prophesy that Barak Obama would be also be a great Commander in Chief:>)?
alan at 11:12AM on Feb 27th 2008
-------------------------------------------
People like this should not be allowed to vote
Observant at 2:27PM on Feb 27th 2008
198. People who don't understand tongue-in-cheek humor should not be allowed to communicate.
Mokele-Mobembe at 2:30PM on Feb 27th 2008
199. I know Obama is getting an easy ride from the press, but I don’t rely on the press to tell me the facts about anyone or anything. As Obama gets more specific and people realize exactly what his idea of “change” actually is, I suspect that the candidate will appear a little less like a knight on a white horse and more like a normal politician. I seem to recall Obama saying "it’s all about the delegates". Now he is spouting that the popular vote is what the super delegates need to vote on. Hmmm which is it? Obama needs less of "yes we can" and more “how he can”. McCain hasn't shown what he's about either. Right now, Hillary has my vote.
Jay at 1:12PM on Mar 4th 2008
200. 195. People who don't understand tongue-in-cheek humor should not be allowed to communicate.
Mokele-Mobembe at 2:30PM on Feb 27th 2008
--------------------------------
Thats what I told your mama ,cone head but she wouldn't shut up either.
Observant at 2:36PM on Feb 27th 2008
201. "How Dinesh D'Souza Got his Horns"
His middle name is Osama. His experience in political analysis is virtually nil, and it shows. Some of his statements border on the ridiculous. No man manages to say nothing with such aplomb. And yet, for all his evident weaknesses, Dinesh has become virtually unreadable. The frustration in the AOL Newsblogger's camp is palpable as we helplessly concede front-runner blog status to the Indian Idiot from Fairbanks Ranch.
What's going on here? There are a lot of theories about Dinesh's success, yet two of the main ones seem to have escaped notice. First, Dinesh is enjoying Indian American immunity. This idea that if you are an Indian person you are above criticism is especially strong among retarded Republicans. These are the people, after all, who invented political correctness. From this point of view, if an Indian man is reasonably inarticulate his statements have to be treated as Ghandian 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 Christians quite reasonably disputed Dinesh's repeated invocations of Martin Luther, pointing out that it took papal action to give significance to some of Luther's ideas, the conservative genuflection camp expressed immediate outrage. How dare anyone state obvious facts when those facts might tarnish Dinesh's moral and political halo?
By the way this Indian American immunity won't completely insulate Dinesh in general. If he gets onto the New York Times best-seller list the level of scrutiny will certainly increase. Even the lapdogs in the media are going to have to start asking some tough questions. And the public isn't terrified of criticizing a political figure just because he happens to be INDIAN.
A second factor behind Dinesh's success is this. A majority of Republican supporters, and even some leading figures in the party, seem to have quietly figured out that Democrats were right all along about D'Souza. For years no Republican could bring himself to admit this. Republicans were in full partisan mode, too busy criticizing the Clintons, making up 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 Dinesh and Ann are a pair of self-serving opportunists who will do anything, even destroy the Republican party, in order to have power. Glenn Beck in his early endorsement of Dinesh blurted out a widely-held sentiment when he said that while lying may come naturally to politicians, D'Souza and Coulter have taken prevarication and dissembling to a whole new level.
Disgusted with D'Souza and Coulter, and fearful of bringing this dysfunctional couple back into the Media Spotlight, Republicans now have an alternative. Backing Dinesh not only makes Republicans feel cold, it also makes them feel dirty.
As a Blogger, I confess I'm enjoying Dinesh's political frustration. He can't blame this one on the "vast left wing conspiracy."
Dinesh D'Loser at 2:42PM on Feb 27th 2008
202. "That's what I told your Mama, cone head"
Really? As I am sure you know this is a very ineffective argument. With grade school banter as the above mentioned are you sure you are old enough to vote?
Gwen at 2:49PM on Feb 27th 2008
203. I'll ask mama.
Observant at 2:52PM on Feb 27th 2008
204. Observant,
Funny!
Mokele-Mobembe at 2:57PM on Feb 27th 2008
205. Observant had his humor surgically removed, so he is humorless.
very sad.
Linda at 3:07PM on Feb 27th 2008
206. Brian says, "," woe to those who call good evil and evil good" this is our culture botts"
Is this the same guy who sits and 'blogs' on his company's dime? Is this the same guy who imagines that brekky, lunch or dinner should be on the govts. tab because, 'hey, everyone does it!'?
The same guy who whines about the meaning of 'tolerance' then tries to use the Christian Bible to make his point!?
This is the same guy who imagines that money collected in taxes is 'his' money that is being misused if it is used to keep money circulating by helping the poor instead of being used to bail out corporations to keep his airfares low, or to keep his stocks and bonds from becoming worthless.
brian, I suppose is imagining that his taxes, which he admits is the least amount that he is 'forced' to pay, is simply a loan to the govt and the few cents on the dollar used to support people in dire straits is a ridiculous imposition on him.
Why don't you just admit that you are one greedy fuck, brian?
not-pboyfloyd at 3:11PM on Feb 27th 2008
207. 201. Observant had his humor surgically removed, so he is humorless.
very sad.
Linda at 3:07PM on Feb 27th 2008
--------------------------------
Since you are a nurse, that must be hospital humor. I almost missed it.
Observant at 3:22PM on Feb 27th 2008
208. John @172:
Please, again by all means, let me know which facts I didn't get right. Remind me again what kind of Congress was in session before the last congessional election? Correct me. My hands eagerly await my butt to be handed to them.
Strados at 3:42PM on Feb 27th 2008
209. Eisenstein.....didn't you post that about ten pages ago?
Strados at 4:16PM on Feb 27th 2008
210. dd, try as you might, but you will never be WHITE. so get over yourself. Uncle Tom.
Totally Ironic at 7:21PM on Feb 27th 2008