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 5 of 15)

Previous 15 Comments | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

61. The personal attacks are becoming more like forum-flaming by the day.
OSAMA IS TEH GAY! ROFL LOL! MCCAIN IS TEH L337! :P Buy V1aGr4! Buy V!@gRa!

The graduated income tax system is cruel. If you work more you can end up making less by falling into higher tax brackets.

Mokele-Mobembe at 4:29PM on Feb 26th 2008

62. Am I crazy or should you pay a portion/percentage of what you make.. the same portion that everyone else does regardless of your income? Doesn't that make sense?

Shannie at 4:41PM on Feb 26th 2008

63. Well Dinesh, just exactly where did you get your Halo? You were born in India, a predominantly Hindu country and wind up in California an educated Roman Catholic. And, you aren't exactly the whitest guy i have ever seen and i wouldn't have even thought to write the previous sentences had you not made your racial slurr. Given Obama's backround, his Muslim father and Catholic mother , I would think you could appreciate the commonality between the two of you. Except that, he is smarter than you are and wealthier than you are.

larry at 4:46PM on Feb 26th 2008

64. Shannie,

It does make sense. It makes perfect sense but the democrat liberal weenies love to redistribute income. It makes their little bleeding hearts ooooze. The only problem is that republicans are just as guilty. Their recipient is big business and they lard taxpayer dollars on them in different ways. It is welfare of a different kind and very possibly more detrimental to our economy.

Monty at 4:58PM on Feb 26th 2008

65. larry,
Wasn't it just LAST WEEK that Dinesh was playing peacemaker with Muslims so he could draft them into his anti-atheist campaign? Now he gives them the slap! I've never respected anyone LESS

Mokele-Mobembe at 4:58PM on Feb 26th 2008

66. Well Monty... the only solution is to not allow redistribution... it seems to get too messy. Everyone always has their hand out for something.. and I have found out that this starts out very young. Ha.

Shannie at 5:03PM on Feb 26th 2008

67. Hilary Clinton gives evey indication that if elected she will persue a policy of " politics as usual" and that just doesn't speak to middle class america. You have to understand that the peole who built this country and fought it's wars are the ones who got the shaft fot the last 7 yrs. and counting. She is a "Republicrat" and guys like like me know it.Obama is heard by the middle class and the nation will hear from us in November when he is elected president and he will be your president too Dinesh. So, get over it.

larry at 5:16PM on Feb 26th 2008

68. hilary clinton is showing herself for what she truly is which is a mean-spirited do anything,say anything,politician who has no more experiance than obama unless you mean she ran around the world spending millions of tax-payer dollars to fund her fun. as she is quoted as saying she"loathes" the military. those in the military who served in the white house while she was there have spoken of her hatefulness. she is truly hilary the hun. i am glad she is getting sacked by barrack hussien i think he will be easier to beat-he has no substance.

brian at 5:34PM on Feb 26th 2008

69. mo,

as with all atheist on this blog you only show respect for those which you agree. does not take much to do that mo, your making no great sacrifice

brian at 5:36PM on Feb 26th 2008

70. "Obama is a very good speaker, but his speaches are just standard boilerplate. In other words his content is far less eloquent than his speaking style." Kent #29

More neo racist dribble from the vast right wing conspiracy. I recently purchased a book of JFK's speeches along with an accompanying CD of the same speeches. JFK was indeed quite eloquent to read and to listen to. However, most of the speeches were policy speeches made after JFK was elected President.

There is a vast difference in context and substance between policy speeches and a routine campaign stump speech. The object of the latter is usually to rally the faithful by making emotional connections.

randy at 5:50PM on Feb 26th 2008

71. k,

"57. 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

why? why do you feel that way, are you communist?

brian at 5:50PM on Feb 26th 2008

72. wwhy should the rich pay more taxes other than those with less are envious and greedy because they themselves have no faired as well. we should all pay the same rich or poor, thats fair. its why i do not like democrats. they want to take from the haves and call themselves generous-go figure

brian at 5:55PM on Feb 26th 2008

73. Shannie the rich rich pay much much less in tax proportionally than do the middle class people.

Linda at 5:58PM on Feb 26th 2008

74. Can someone please tell me why, other than the fact that the rich in this country who don't pay ANY taxes, there is not a flat tax system?

10% local
15% federal

Everyone, every business, every thing that has money coming IN, including churches!

chuckles at 6:01PM on Feb 26th 2008

75. So, you guys think the middle class can disappear and the wealthy amass greater and greater fortune?

Why are you protecting the rich who pay almost no taxes due to all of the tax breaks that the republicanists have enacted?

Linda at 6:02PM 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.