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 6 of 15)
76. I agree, king chuckles
Churches should pay tax just like any other business.
Linda at 6:03PM on Feb 26th 2008
77. Linda, Linda, Linda,
My turn to disagree. (You are the same Linda?)
Im guessing you meant what you said here:
Why are you protecting the rich who pay almost no taxes due to all of the tax breaks that the republicanists have enacted?
What, are you rich? Do you know that they pay "almost no taxes"? Are you sure they dont pay a little more than us because their income is greater?
Think about it, many rich didnt get there easy, they practiced their "sport" and got good at it. Now Hollywood stars may be a little overappreciated, but what do you want, Linda? The rich to pay so many taxes that they become middle class?
Michelle at 6:27PM on Feb 26th 2008
78. What's wrong with being rich? Did your parents raise you to be poor? Why is this country taxing ambition and drive out of existence? We can't all be members of the Democratic core constituency. Our tax system encourages tax evasion and moving money offshore. Did you know that Dr making 250,000 a year has over 400,000 in loans? Oh, but he's rich, let's tax his ass off. Did you know that he works longer and harder than you and that he has a lot more responsibility? Who cares, tax his ass off.
IRONBLUEEYES at 6:31PM on Feb 26th 2008
79. 52. Linda... my question is why should the rich rich pay more.. what is the rationale?
Shannie at 3:57PM on Feb 26th 2008
---------------------
Because they can afford to? I'm serious. It seems logical. If I were making over 200k, I wouldn't mind paying my fair share, and then some, since I'd be rather prosperous by most standards.
Why do you think it's unfair? I mean, especially CEO's and people in the million-plus category... They're swimming in wealth while others starve.
Godless Heathen Brian at 6:32PM on Feb 26th 2008
80. Did you know that Dr making 250,000 a year has over 400,000 in loans? Oh, but he's rich, let's tax his ass off.
------------------
Sounds good. Let's.
Godless Heathen Brian at 6:33PM on Feb 26th 2008
81. THE ABOVE STATEMENT SAYING THAT IF YOU ARE BLACK, YOU ABOVE CRITISM, IS BALONEY. WHO EVER SAID THAT?
IT'S THE FIRST I HAVE EVER HEARD THAT STATEMENT.
Maggie Denson at 6:43PM on Feb 26th 2008
82. 52. Linda... my question is why should the rich rich pay more.. what is the rationale?
Shannie at 3:57PM on Feb 26th 20
xxx
The rationale is rather simple. Those who benefitted most from the system must reprime the system.
The graduated income tax was originally a proposal of the american communist party, but it served to do a couple of things well. It raised enough revenue to run the country even in wartime and along with the SBA, the Sherman and Clayton Acts, it assisted in preventing wild disparities in wealth that occur when capitalism isn't regulated. Under non regulation as may be seen today, all the money winds up in one place. Right now, the wealthiest 300 americans have more money than the poorest 150 MILLION. This is the sort of thing that can happen in an unregulated system as happened before in the late nineteenth century before enactment of anti trust legislation and diligent pursuit of the robber barons by Theodore Roosevelt.
As to what you might expect under a democratic administration, I would expect taxes on the wealthiest americans, those with incomes over 200 K or possibly 300 K will see a reinstitution of the Clinton tax base. It may also be that investment incomes above that amount will also be taxed more in alignment with personal income tax.
I hope you'll also see manufacturing come home. Otherwise we probably won't continue as the united states of america under constitutional government. Neocon/fascist attitude towards law was summed up accurately by bush when he called the constitution 'just a goddamn piece of paper'.
You won't find democrats saying such a thing. They are far too conservative.
Clif Kuplen at 6:42PM on Feb 26th 2008
83. Whites have to be touchy feely about blacks most of the time. Thats just how it is Maggie.
Michelle at 6:45PM on Feb 26th 2008
84. The media never questions anything he does, just gives Senator Clinton hell all the time. I use to think Chris Matthews was fair but he has bad mouthed Hillary to the point its pitful. When I see his face, I turn the channel Dottie
dottie rabon at 6:47PM on Feb 26th 2008
85. IRONBLUEEYES says, "Did you know that Dr making 250,000 a year has over 400,000 in loans? Oh, but he's rich, let's tax his ass off."
"From 2004 census statistics of the US Labor Department and of the American Medical Association, there are approximately 885,000 (884,974) doctors in the US. This represents about .29% of the population or one-third of 1%. There is roughly one doctor to 300 people in the US.
However, not all doctors see all people. Only about 91,000 doctors are general practitioners. This makes up only .03% of the total population, or one-thirtieth of 1%."
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-percent-of-the-us-population-do-doctors-comprise.htm
Fine, IRONBLUEEYES, give doctors a break, include their loan payments on their tax forms.(probably is anyways, we're just not supposed to know that small detail, right?)
@ brian. I understand that you want to pay the same taxes as a hobo but you are expecting police protection from those hobos and not the other way around, yes?
not-pboyfloyd at 7:18PM on Feb 26th 2008
86. "His middle name is Hussein."
And what, pray tell, was the point of this sentence? Are you insinuating Mr. Obama's name should preclude his being elected? Oh, horrors! He was given a nominally Muslim name at birth, named after his father.
You sound like a Daniel Pipes lackey, Mr. D'Souza. Shame on you.
jaxbaq at 7:33PM on Feb 26th 2008
87. Not-pboyfloyd,
Yes ser re, those DANGEROUS hobos... The fear! The anxiety! Pay taxes so the police wont be angry too and they will protect you from the dangerous hobos!
Michelle at 7:40PM on Feb 26th 2008
88. linda,
why do you want to take from those who earn and do well,call yourself generous and tax the holy crap out of the few. i don't think its that they owe the system more i think it people like you who have disdain for those who do well and you want to use the goverment to bring them more to another lower level. fact is the rich do pay MORE than their fair share of taxes,alot more. but do you even work anymore? who is supporting you?
brian at 7:42PM on Feb 26th 2008
89. floyd,
i think i may say with certainty i PAY my share and then some. would you like to share what you paid in taxes last year,floyd?
brian at 7:44PM on Feb 26th 2008
90. best as i can tell the same people from all walks of life enjoy the same services,same roads,same police protection,etc. and the rich in america foot the bill,not the poor. you democrats are exactly why i would never vote for one, your all alike,your greedy and use a facad to mask it
brian at 7:48PM on Feb 26th 2008