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 4 of 15)
46. How do you explain the nonselection of Richardson who is more than politically equipped, Edwards, and others? There were some other good choices besides Obama running.
Jane at 9:20PM on Feb 26th 2008
47. ボッタス-くん
私は、オバマ が私たちを救うことを望みます。
Uzumaki Nakamura at 3:18PM on Feb 26th 2008
48. 私は彼が我々を救い出すかどうか、わかりません、しかし、彼は過去と異なる何かです。
Botts at 3:25PM on Feb 26th 2008
49. Uzumaki Nakamura says, "ボッタス-くん
私は、オバマ が私たちを救うことを望みます。"
Wuh-huh-huh-huh-ell... and that's all I have to say about that.
not-pboyfloyd at 3:29PM on Feb 26th 2008
50. #45
"I LIKE the idea of the rich rich paying more tax, which they deserve."
Linda , please tell me what your definition of rich is ?
Not being sarcastic, just curious.
M2D5 at 3:46PM on Feb 26th 2008
51. Rich rich = those making more than $200,000 per year.
Compare that to the median income of $42,000 per year
Linda at 3:49PM on Feb 26th 2008
52. WE DONT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST A PERSON WHO IS MUSLIM. THAT IS ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL. ANYONE OF ANY RELIGION IS FREE TO PRACTICE WHAT THEY WANT. IF I SAID "IT SADDENS ME THAT A JEW IS RUNNING" WOULD THAT BE ANY DIFFERENT? NO IT WOULD NOT BE. BUT!!!!
WHAT ABOUT THE STORY THAT OBAMA HAD SEX WITH A GUY WHILE SNORTING COCAINE???? WHY IS THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA COVERING THAT UP BUT ENTERTAINING THAT MCCAIN HAD AN AFFAIR???
SO ONLY OLDER WHITE MEN ARE FORCED TO HAVE THEIR DIRTY LAUNDRY AND RUMORS AIRED??? BUT BLACK CANDIDATES ARE COVERED UP FOR???
MCCAIN'S GOT MY VOTE. WE DONT NEED MEDIA DARLINGS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS COVERING UP STORIES ABOUT OBAMA.
JOHN at 3:56PM on Feb 26th 2008
53. Linda... my question is why should the rich rich pay more.. what is the rationale?
Shannie at 3:57PM on Feb 26th 2008
54. @ Shannie...
Anti-guillotine tax!
not-pboyfloyd at 4:09PM on Feb 26th 2008
55. JOHN,
I googled "obama cocaine" and got plenty of websites about his admitted cocaine and pot use... in highschool. All from reliable, unbiased news sources too.
I am 99.99% certain that the gay rumor is and was spread by Republicans. Frankly, I don't care if he had gay sex. Ted Haggard did it smoking meth, and then went on to preach to his congregation about the evils of homosexuality. Plenty of Republican congressmen and state officials have been ousted as gay or enjoying gay sex, and sometimes solicitating for gay sex in public. I can only assume they figured a 'gay rumor' would destroy him, but I for one don't give a rats ass. Bill Clinton got a BJ and America still came out on top... (pun!)
K at 4:10PM on Feb 26th 2008
56. 50. Rich rich = those making more than $200,000 per year.
Is that per individual or combined for a couple
Also, how did you arrive at that specific amount?
M2D5 at 4:17PM on Feb 26th 2008
57. K said, "Ted Haggard did it smoking meth, and then went on to preach to his congregation about the evils of homosexuality."
It is way worse than that! Haggard had gay sex while doing meth at the SAME TIME as preaching against it!
The worst part of the whole sordid episode is that D'Souza et al feel sorry that Haggard was CAUGHT, not that he was doing it while preaching against it!
not-pboyfloyd at 4:15PM on Feb 26th 2008
58. If we all have to pay taxes, then I feel that if the rich (or anyone) make MORE money than I do, they should have to pay MORE taxes than I do. I think that's fair, don't you?
K at 4:20PM on Feb 26th 2008
59. (PS. I have the feeling I will get reamed for the above statement. That's cool, just be gentle. :P If I don't respond, that's because I probably won't have a chance to get back on tonight. Seacrest, out!)
K at 4:23PM on Feb 26th 2008
60. The personal attacks are becoming more like forum-flaming by the day.
OSAMA IS TEH GAY! ROFL LOL! MCCAIN IS TEH L337!
Mokele-Mobembe at 4:28PM on Feb 26th 2008