Is it 1976 all over again? Is Obama the new Jimmy Carter?
I get this idea from, of all people, Democratic strategist Bob Beckel. Beckel was on TV the other day saying that Obama was looking a bit like Jimmy Carter in 1976. Beckel intended this as a compliment. After all, Carter came out of nowhere to steal the Democratic nomination and then went on to win the election. Obama too has vanquished a woman who was thought to be invincible for the Democratic nomination.
I think Beckel has a point with his Carter analogy, although Beckel does not seem to have thought it through deeply enough. Actually it goes even further than he imagines. Obama, like Carter, has had no preparation for the high office he seeks. Carter's background was in peanut farming; Obama's is in community activism. Yes, Carter was governor of Georgia and Obama has served briefly in the Senate. But no one can seriously argue that either brings to Washington anything like the experience necessary to run the United States of America.
Second, Obama, like Carter, tries to be all things to all people. Carter campaigned largely on vacuities like "change" and "cleaning out Washington." Sound familiar? Of course Americans after Watergate wanted Washington cleaned up and they wanted change. And of course Carter gave it to them, although it wasn't exactly the change they sought: stagflation, economic recession, runaway interest rates, U.S. hostages in Iran, a Soviet bear on the prowl, and what Carter himself called a national "malaise."
Obama is hoping that once again Americans will fall for his content-free campaign. And so far he seems to have the white liberal intelligentsia completely fooled. A classic example is my former debate opponent Alan Wolfe, who has endorsed Obama on the sole grounds that it's about time America let a black man into the Oval Office. Wolfe is not the brightest light in the academic firmament--I think of him as white America's answer to Cornel West--but he is one of the biggest opportunists this side of the Nile. Consequently his support of Obama shows which way this academic weatherman thinks the wind is blowing.
I don't know if Obama, like Carter, will make it to the White House in November. But the best thing about Carter was that, by being a complete disaster, he helped Reagan get elected in 1980. Even so, America paid a high price for Carter's foolishness--several countries fell into the Soviet orbit, and Iran fell into the clutches of the radical mullahs. Who knows how costly an Obama presidency could be? I for one hope it's not 1976 all over again.
Reader Comments ( Page 7 of 25)
91. "Liberal economic policies and programs have systematically undermined marriage and morals."
I wouldn't call the last 8 years "liberal." Or the last 16 years, actually.
In fact, Clinton was the one whut did in the welfare system as we knew it.
brandon at 2:57PM on Jun 18th 2008
92. Jerry Brown
The Great Society began with Johnson, a Democrat!
janesophie1 at 2:58PM on Jun 18th 2008
93. JS, a little hint. Telling me to not talk about sex anymore is the ONE sure way to get me to continue. Just as anyone here that has been here long enough to now me.
I'll be nice, just this once, since you seem a little bit clueless about my sense of humor. Fair warning.
;-)
(Bet you want it, though. Deny it to yourself as much as you like. It's the ones that deny it that really turn into animals once you turn their switch...)
(Sorry. See? I just can't help myself! Pray for me...)
Godless Heathen Brian at 3:01PM on Jun 18th 2008
94. Great post, ex-christian! Well said, and oh so true. And yet, she can't see it.
That book is quite a mindbender. Or more accurately, a mind-stealer.
Godless Heathen Brian at 3:03PM on Jun 18th 2008
95. My K key is sticking, so you'll often see words like "lie" when I mean "like" and "as" when I mean "ask." and "now" when I mean "know." I do know how to spell.
Godless Heathen Brian at 3:06PM on Jun 18th 2008
96. So GHB, if you see k, should we tell her you miss her?
T.Brough at 3:11PM on Jun 18th 2008
97. Keith J. Mohrhoff
Having a hard time getting my mind around the idea of currency backed by labor. Sounds like a revolutionary idea, and would like more detail on it if you would say more about it. Are you involved in Obama's campaign? They have asked me twice for any ideas I might have, perhaps you need to flush out that idea, and send it to OBama. Who knows what might happen.
Jerry Brown at 3:15PM on Jun 18th 2008
98. "Wolfe is not the brightest light in the academic firmament --
but he is one of the biggest opportunists this side of the Nile."
:> You should know DD
"America paid a high price for Carter's foolishness-"
:> We've paid an even higher price with Bush's greed and ignorance.
"Well, I am tired of paying for every Marxist pet project of liberals." - janesophie1
:> You haven't been alive long enough to even quantify this. What the frack are you talking about? The only person you've ever experienced in office is Bush. And if you are even talking about Clinton - you are a mistaken. Clinton lowered the debt, while Bush and Chaney's pet project is getting soldiers killed to this day.
You sound like you are repeating what my Old Uncle Mike likes to talk about - he's senile and a foolish catholic to boot.
TJ at 3:17PM on Jun 18th 2008
99. TJ
I am old enough to remember Ford!
janesophie1 at 3:20PM on Jun 18th 2008
100. Back to the D'Souza article please! It is a scary thought to think of another Jimmy Carter in the Presidency. Barack is at best a Class A high school quarterback on Friday saying that on Sunday he wants to play in the Super Bowl! While in the Illinois Leg. he voted 129 times "present" because - - he couldn't make up his mind? Didn't know what to do? If elected, WHO WILL tell him what to do? George Soros, MoveON. org., Media Matters, or Nancy Pelosi?? His ideas are right out of Jimmy Carter's play book-eeeeekkkkk!!!! I really believe that John McCain has a better approach with the terrorists. He will be strong on national defense and that's THE most important issue facing our country's future. If we loose this war, nothing else matters!
Mary Jean at 3:27PM on Jun 18th 2008
101. The Great Society began with Johnson, a Democrat!
janesophie1 at 2:58PM on Jun 18th 2008
I am well aware of that. However you are evading my question. If republicans have won elections to the white house in 7 of the last 10 elections are you blaming them for the demise of the family, and the liberal ideas you blame? If you are, why are you not holding their feet to the fire for what they are doing? I am getting a sense that you are evading my question because the truth is more than what you want to deal with. Are you going to show yourself to be little more than an upholder of an republican idea with the results being abandonment of the truth by you?
Jerry Brown at 3:27PM on Jun 18th 2008
102. 94. So GHB, if you see k, should we tell her you miss her?
T.Brough at 3:11PM on Jun 18th 2008
------------
Yes, than you very much. You now, you're oay.
I have to like hammer it to get it to work. So I miss a lot of them.
Godless Heathen Brian at 3:47PM on Jun 18th 2008
103. Dear Mr D'Souza,
Could you direct us to the central clearing house from where all of this sound byte rhetoric that you parrot originates? It would be most helpful. It would save people from having to read your blog, listen to Limbaugh, or watch Hannity or Rove to catch the same repetitive drone and political misdirection. It is amazing how often the exact same words come out of each of your mouths or off of your pens. Many of us wish your handlers were as good at leading the country and structuring the debate as they are at coming up with catchy phrases.
At one time, conservative leaders in this country were able to create cogent and respectful arguments that warranted careful debate. Now that is all replaced by marionettes who spread disinformation. One of the great ironies of this information age is that we have ever-expanding access to 'information' and less to truth.
Steve at 3:52PM on Jun 18th 2008
104. to even speak the 2 names together is a sin. first it was kennedy. for god sake give him the office an spare us 5 months of this bs . or first afermative action pres . cant be againt him cause hes cluse less its a black thing quilt votes. not me. ross perot hehe anyone
cathy rohrscheib at 3:55PM on Jun 18th 2008
105. Jerry Brown
Let me restate what I said. Liberal social policies have undermined the family by penalizing responsible behavior and rewarding irresponsible behavior. Yes, you are right some economic policies have hurt the family. A perfect example is NAFTA. I blame Republicans and Democrats for allowing jobs to be shipped abroad. We have Republican and Democratic representatives whose interests do not reflect their constituents. I am actually an independent. I vote Republican because I oppose most positions in the Democratic platform. When I speak of liberal social policies I am not accusing Democrats, but the elite group of people that control our universities, media, etc. that have systematically undermined traditional Judeo-Christian values which I believe hurt marriage and family.
janesophie1 at 3:55PM on Jun 18th 2008