mainstream political rant #35 - The Cult of Barack Obama

[tyrannosaurus vex]

again - you probably aren't the target audience, but this is all i can seem to write lately. fucking election years.

From the mouths of "conservative" radio pundits and talks show hosts, and increasingly from supporters of Hillary Clinton, there is a constant stream of dismissals of the movement championing Barack Obama for President as simply a "personality cult" that cannot see beyond the "empty rhetoric" of a smooth-talking politician. He lacks substance, they say, he offers nothing but flowery speeches and an uncommon command of rhetorical devices and suggestive political maneuvers. He is unqualified to actually carry out the job of President; he is too easily swayed by opinion polls; his supporters are not a campaign but a "movement."

These criticisms, while I certainly understand why they exist, belie the way Barack Obama's critics completely miss the point of Obama's candidacy, and worse, vastly underestimate his supporters. Barack Obama, of course, does have sound policy plans and has been more to-the-point and more specific on just about every issue he is faced with than any of his competitors, facts that the pundits ignore because they are inconvenient. But even that isn't what makes them so terribly wrong on this "personality cult" business.

Barack Obama speaks the language of a growing number of people who are tired of PowerPoint presentations and sick of hearing their elected officials pander to the lowest common denominator in theory while worshiping at the feet of the already-too-powerful in practice. Faced with a government bent on self-interest and deafeningly silent on the will of the People; opposed in many regards by the very people they have elected to represent their best interests; jobless and homeless because corrupt corporations are "good for the economy;" dying of curable ailments because no politician is willing to risk donations in order to reform our health care sistem; millions of Americans already know what is wrong with the system: it doesn't work, and it hasn't worked for a long time.

To these problems, what can be submitted as a solution but Change? When people everywhere are desperate — not for more partisan bickering and deadlock, but for progress — what can they be offered but Hope? Must every conversation on public policy and the state of our Union devolve into point-by-point soundbites to be bickered about endlessly? Must the American people forever be insulted with the language of simple minds while those who do all the talking do nothing else?

Barack Obama does a lot of talking, that's true. He does a lot of talking to people instead of at them or about them. He talks a lot about problems nobody wants to admit they have, but who can't afford to ignore them anymore. He is making a lot of promises to a lot of people. He is putting himself forward as the answer to America's problems. But then, all the candidates are doing that.

But as one of Obama's supporters, I must say that I take offense to the suggestion that I have been enchanted somehow by his speeches, which, to be honest, are good but not the most moving speeches I've ever heard. Even as a person who defends Barack Obama to my friends and to people I've never met against the ridiculous accusations he has faced, I can honestly say that I don't feel like owe the man any particular allegiance or loyalty except as a person who shares my views about America and the world, and the one person who is most likely to be put into a position where those views can find a voice in actual policy.

I am an Obama supporter, but more than that, I am part of a groundswell of dissent from the common wisdom that the answer to a Republican is a Democrat. I cannot speak for everyone who supports Barack Obama, but I can say that most of the ones I have met who do express a similar opinion.

We are not fighting for Barack Obama the man as much as we are fighting for the People who have found him standing for them. We are not loyal to Barack Obama, we are giving him the benefit of the doubt that he can deliver on the promises he has made — not because he sold us on those promises but because those promises are the expression of our demands. Our support is based not on his charisma, but on his standing as an outsider in Washington and his record of achieving meaningful and effective compromise and cooperation with people any simple Democrat might write off as insignificant (and thereby achieve nothing at all).

Barack Obama cannot be America's savior, but he alone among the contenders for the White House is willing to give the American people the chance to save America themselves. He is not perfect, but he is tuned in to the voice of the one entity that is as close to perfect as any political body can be — the voice of the People, tempered with the fair judgment of Reason.

We are not a cult of personality, we are a generation of Americans who refuse to settle for mediocre and ineffective government. We are not sheep being led by a deceptive shepherd, we are a growing band of disaffected, disenchanted citizens who are declaring independence from the status quo. We are a movement, and we are marching to recover the ground lost by failures on both sides of the isle. In Barack Obama, we have found a chink in the armor of the power mongers who have betrayed our trust. And we intend to exploit it.

Let the pundits dismiss us out of hand as invalid and inconsequential. Let small minds be concerned with small things like the difference between a "Conservative" and a "Liberal." We are the People, and we do not need the blessing of small minds and small agendas to act in the best interests of our self-government. And if Barack Obama is ultimately defeated in his quest for the Presidency, let them wonder why the Cult of Barack Obama continues to wage war against incompetent and self-destructive government, even without its "savior."

[The Good Reverend Roger]

My opinion is, the jury is still out on Obama.

If he votes against the Homegrown Terrorist Act, I will vote for him.

If he votes for it, then fuck him in his ear.

[tyrannosaurus vex]

just to piss you off, roger, he's going to vote "present"

[The Good Reverend Roger]

just to piss you off, roger, he's going to vote "present"

Well, that's the same as voting for it.

Just saying.

TGRR,
Will vote for Richard fucking Nixon.  See if I don't.

[Requia ☣]

I doubt he'll vote against it.  The bll is far too innocent looking on the surface.

[Cain]

I don't know....he caught the trick on the Iraq War pretty well, and his policy advice team actually don't seem to be entirely insane.  Can't primary legislation have secondary acts ammending its scope or purpose?  I can imagine some of his academic advisors (one of whom was instrumental in writing the Army's latest counterinsurgency manual, or at least the section pertaining  to human rights and warfare) would like the money for the research, but may not be so thrilled with what the committee recommends.  Especially a committee that is likely to be stacked with Orthodox theorists of terrorism, who've already had their 7 years in the sun and should STFU now.

As to the wider point....I do find the subtle difference in rhetoric interesting.  McCain and Clinton seemed focussed on using fear to get their way.  Vote for me, or else the terrorists will attack again.  Vote for me or else a Muslim Black Sepratist will be in the White House.  Vote for me or everything you hold dear will be destroyed.  Obama's team, on the other hand, seem to be saying "this doesn't seem to be working, lets try something else".  Which is often normally a good idea.

[Payne]

You mean Obama isn't Osama, hiding behind a 'B'?!

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

TGRR,
Will vote for Richard fucking Nixon.  See if I don't.

Totally hoping he wins.

[Roo]

  Obama's team, on the other hand, seem to be saying "this doesn't seem to be working, lets try something else".  Which is often normally a good idea.

Except when no one seems to know what that "something else" would be. I hear the word Change loud and clear. But I don't really hear what that Change would be. I do agree that he's probably the best hope...but we've been running on Hope for a long time. Hope ain't cuttin' it. And Change, for the sake of change, isn't either.

We do need change. We do need something different. But we need to stop and think about what really needs to change.  We need to listen to each other more than the politicians. We need to rethink politics, as a whole. We may need to rethink government, as a whole.

Let the pundits dismiss us out of hand as invalid and inconsequential. Let small minds be concerned with small things like the difference between a "Conservative" and a "Liberal." We are the People, and we do not need the blessing of small minds and small agendas to act in the best interests of our self-government. And if Barack Obama is ultimately defeated in his quest for the Presidency, let them wonder why the Cult of Barack Obama continues to wage war against incompetent and self-destructive government, even without its "savior."

This is exactly, word for word, what Ron Paul's supporters say, btw.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I doubt he'll vote against it.  The bll is far too innocent looking on the surface.

He's not stupid, and he's not paid to be naive.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Except when no one seems to know what that "something else" would be.

Well, yeah, if you forgo listening to his speeches in favor of listening to Sean Hannity's analysis.

This is exactly, word for word, what Ron Paul's supporters say, btw.

Fuck Ron Paul in his ear.  And fuck his supporters, too.

TGRR,
Has no love for the Jackass from Texas.

[Roo]

Well, yeah, if you forgo listening to his speeches in favor of listening to Sean Hannity's analysis.

I have no idea what Hannity has to say. Don't care, either.

I will admit, though, that I haven't listened to all that many of Obama's speeches. Guess I might have tuned him out after one too many promises of change...that sounded almost exactly like what Bush sounded like 8 years ago. 

Fuck Ron Paul in his ear.  And fuck his supporters, too.

TGRR,
Has no love for the Jackass from Texas.

Not too fond of the man, myself. Just have a boyfriend who's bought it all, hook, line and sinker.


When it comes to the current crop of candidates, I don't want any of them as my president. But like I said, Obama is probably the lesser of evils.

Roo,
Wants to start her own country.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Not too fond of the man, myself. Just have a boyfriend who's bought it all, hook, line and sinker.

Ask him why Ron Paul takes hom $400,000,000 in pork per year.

Or why he hates article I, sec 2; article II, sec 8, and amendments XVI and XIV of the US constitution.

TGRR,
Knows Ron Paul is anything but a "constitutionalist".

[Requia ☣]

I thought Ron Paul wanted a flat tax?  That seems in line with ammendment 16.  (Of course, I don't remember the ammendment very well).

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I thought Ron Paul wanted a flat tax?  That seems in line with ammendment 16.  (Of course, I don't remember the ammendment very well).

No, that is another matter entirely.

Now, kiddies, for a shiny new dime, name one modern society that has survived with a flat tax.