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 15 of 15)
211. I am a Republican but do not necessarily agree with this article at all. What does his race have to do with it? I am not crazy about Obama but I would much prefer him over Billary Hillary Dock! I will probably vote for McCain, but do not count out Obama for a minute. I would be OK if he got elected (and it definitely could happen!). But...to put the race card to it...and if his middle name is Hussein...so what??
I agree with you on many levels but this article gets a big "thumbs down" from me! Sorry!
linda at 1:22AM on Feb 28th 2008
212. bump
brandon at 11:54AM on Feb 28th 2008
213. http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/patoliphant;_ylt=AojXbY9vmTlmFaebBXeBZDAJ_b4F
Have fun.
That is why Obama got his halo!
aniekan thomas at 2:45PM on Feb 28th 2008
214. whatever happened to americans pulling together for the good of their country and fellowman, is it not time to put personal likes and dislikes aside and get in there and really try to pick the best man for the job of bringing our country back to former greatness, I personally dont like anyone we have to pick from but lets try our best to pick the best from a bunch of losers if he dont do the job right then at least have the guts to impeach him and get someone with enough brains and finesse to do the job right, if you dont do your job right then you get fired and the president is only a man hired by the americans to do the job and if he is more interested in the job he can get done under his desk or seeing how many illegals he can cram down our throats then get rid of his butt and get someone who doesnt care about the rest of the world and will really do the best job he can do for all of the americans who put him in that position in the first place, he is not there to suck up to the rest of the world and if he dont do the job right then trash him and get someone else no matter how many idiots we have to go thru there has to be one good man left in this country somewhere who will put his ducks in the right row and enough smart americans to find him even if it does take some time and putting our head and hearts in the right place, we have good men and boys in iraq counting on us to bring them home alive. its time to bend that knee and ask God for help, he never fails and will help if we ask him, he always answers prayers and knows what we dont, please please lets put the right man in our oval office this time and with our asking for Gods help we will get it and he never fails, and I dont care what your religion is or what name you call him just ask for his help and he will be there to give it and we damn sure need it for our country and our children and I believe we are smart enough and our hearts are in the right place to put pride aside and take back control of our country and OUR white house for the good of our people and our brave soldiers and our children
norma at 3:48AM on Feb 29th 2008
215. That was one hell of a run-on sentence. I can't even read it.
Strados at 11:37AM on Feb 29th 2008
216. Sorry, but I have to disagree with you. I am not, as you would suggest, a bleeding heart liberal, but a staunch McCain supporter. But I digress....
Obama's "halo" comes from his ability to dazzle the people of all races, but clearly from a specific socio-economic background. Let's face it; he's as exciting as a concert. He knows how to connect to the younger voters to get them out en masse to the polls. What other candidate can do that? Stiffy McCain? Deadpan Hillary? Bowflex Huckabee? Come on guys! The country is not just baby boomers and rich old croanies! They want the younger generations to pay for your social security, then they'd better start making nice with them.
Obama is the absolute wrong man for the job, but the best person to get young folks excited about politics. The other candidates, who have real messages and definite plans, should take some lessons on how to appear "human." For far too long the mainstream candidates have been overlooking the younger generations, and I say bravo to Obama for finally recognizing (and appealing to) their value.
Julia at 8:20PM on Feb 29th 2008
217. The only thing more annoying to me than endless run-on sentences, is the idea that Barrack Obama can be as vague and vacuous as he wants to be while campaigning for the highest elected office in the land.
The man effortlessly spins off wonderfully flowery speeches about "change" and "hope" without really enumerating on exactly what kind of change it is that he's hoping for.
And I guess anyone who has the "audacity" to point that out, is somehow a closet klansman. Yet, is it not reasonable to ask just where Obama is planning on taking us as a nation? I know asking that question makes me some sort of hateful, neo-Neanderthal bigot, in the eyes of some, but I guess I'll have to live with that.
Dave at 11:05PM on Feb 29th 2008
218. How did this pompous idiot every get a public forum...Oh wait, public forums are full of pompous white male idiots these days.
My friend you don't have a clue. Bush has done more for the democratic party than anyone else ever has. He's almost destroyed this country. And the press, like lapdog these days, just sat back and allowed it while they crucified Clinton for a minor sex scandal.
Sen. Hillary Clinton would make an excellent president. Liberals do walk on egg shells where racism is concerned. Most of the liberals proudly and ignorantly displaying their contempt for Sen. Clinton (because she is a woman) are while males. How is it that demeaning women and denying women their rights doesn't matter anymore.
How is racism worse than sexism?
Imagine the uproar if these media pundits (there's a reason for the term stupid white men) treated Obama the way they have Sen. Clinton.
She has endured this outrageous bias with grace, dignity and strength.
There's no logical explanation for this except the white boys -- liberal or radical as they might be --want women in their place because it suits them and are still like terrified little boys when it comes to females in power. It makes these white boys (and I use that term on purpose because they are behaving little peevish little boys) look small indeed. So small you can still see how afraid they are of their mommies.
Those days are limited. Women have had enough. And you never see if coming.
And, of yes, we see that the Republicans are willing to do anything to get their way without any visible remorse or guilt. Isn't that the definition of a sociopath.
Skylar at 12:22AM on Mar 1st 2008
219. The main reason there have not been more terrorists attacks in the US is that the liberals and anti americans are winning the war for the terrorists right here.Another 9/11 will change public opinion and even vindicate George Bush.Once the present circumstances no longuer exist,terrorism will be back,worse than never before
ADRIAN at 11:21AM on Mar 2nd 2008
220. No Dineesh, it isn't about democrats covertly admitting to their disdain of the Clintons but more over the disdain for the status quo of the establishment in Washington who bow to the big donors and lobbyists who finance their elections and then dictate policy to them. It is time to clean up that filth in our democracy and isn't it wonderful that Mr. Obamas' black and WHITE genes will do it. So what "race" is this man? You tell me and I think it is time for AOL to clean up this blog starting with YOU.
JOHN R HABIB, M.D. at 3:02PM on Mar 3rd 2008
221. JUst look at how much hair on Obama to see how much experience he has. Obama is no Osama. But once a Muslim name smell like a Muslim. Please go HILLARYCLINTON.COM TO DONATE TIME AND MONEY TO GET THIS COUNTRY BACK.
osama hussein-obama at 6:04PM on Mar 5th 2008
222. Obama is a Republican plant...He can't win against McCain. He is just there to steal votes of non-thinkers.
Don't be fooled by a Fool...Obama is the biggest bag of hot air since Bush!
Next headline..."Obama votes for Clinton"
Jack at 9:14AM on Mar 4th 2008
223. Hey Dinesh,
As a "Christian" do you enjoy other people's suffering? Big into Schadenfreude? Or just as a Republican?
As for the Republicans being "right" about the Clintons being "self-serving opportunists," I don't buy it for one second.
First, show me a politician who isn't, to some degree, self-serving.
Second, other than unproven conspiracy theories(despite loads of money and political power and focus taken AWAY from national security and Al-Qaeda by Ken Starr et al), there's nothing.
And lastly, please explain to me why being ambitious is bad (especially to Republicans). Oh I forgot, it's bad in Democrats and women.
What REALLY enraged the right wing about Bill Clinton was that he was so popular, as beloved as, or more so than, Reagan (the original faux religionist), that he had genuinely compassionate proclivities, and and that he was and IS a Christian.
They couldn't get him no matter how hard they tried (other than on Swaggert-type sins that nearly the entire House and Senate have engaged in) so they went after Hillary with every misogynistic slur they could think of. It was easy to make those seem valid, since it still lies so deep and heavy in the collective unconscious to fear women and to disdain those women who dare to seek more, or even just other, than traditional roles.
I cannot and would not attempt to explain or excuse the cynical use of SOME Democrats of these same tactics to further their fave candidate.
L at 11:27PM on Mar 6th 2008
224. Will somebody tell me what special interests are giving Obama the incredible amount of money that has allowed him to support his campaign? Whoever they may be, they are so sure that Obama will deliver for them, they are willing to put up any amount to get him elected. He has spent close to twice what Hillery has spent and she has had to use her own personal funds. Seems to me we, as Americans, should know just what it is they expect from him.
Teri McQueen at 8:17PM on Mar 26th 2008