Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Speaking of Obama

By

Has anyone read the article on Barack Obama in the September Harper’s?  It kinda disses him as sort of DLC corporate creation.  (This is a oversimplification).  Harper’s portrays him as calculating in a Hillary Clinton sort of way.

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0

Comments

  1. He gets points by attacking his own party.

    <

    p>
    His greatest single achievement was his speech at the DNC.  Sad that Senator Obama’s greatest moment came before his election.

  2. David Sirota had an article a few months back on Obama in The Nation.  The article is at

    <

    p>
    http://www.thenation…

    <

    p>
    I think the key insight is:

    [Obama] seems like everything to everybody, which is not necessarily his fault. Much of the media coverage of Obama has been personality focused, as the story of the son of a Kenyan and a Kansan, the third African-American senator since Reconstruction. Because the media have not looked as closely at his political positions, Obama has taken on the quality of a blank screen on which people can project whatever they like. But he hasn’t discouraged this. A masterful politician, Obama has a Bill Clinton-esque talent for maximizing that screen and appearing comfortable in almost any setting. And, like Clinton, Obama has an impressive control of the issues and a mesmerizing ability to connect with people.

    <

    p>
    Sirota traces his stance on Iraq: it is better than Senator Clinton’s but it has been similarly cautious.  Not until Murtha came out against a continuation of Bush’s policy did he take a strong stand.  This guy does not go out on a limb as Dean or Feingold have.

    <

    p>
    Atrios and various DailyKos commentators have also noted Obama’s tendency to make “process” statements.  He often sounds the theme “Democrats should have more respect religious people.”  But what is he saying?  Are there disrespectful Democrats somewhere?  Surely not elected, prominent Democrats.  And instead of whining about other people not connecting with religious constituents, it would be more constructive to take the lead, to show the way, to just do it, and not make a big deal about others not doing it.  That kind of whining just feeds red meat to the Rethugs.  (“Even Obama says…”)

Archives