Why are people so ready to worship Obama?
Discussion
With the news today that Obama has probably won the Democrat nomination as presidential candidate - which is not what this thread's about - the media has been full of pro-Obama rhetoric almost to the point of eulogy. I've been travelling a lot today and the radio news was full of it. Now shacked up in a London hotel, and TV news is full of it...in every sense.
Why?
Possibly because:
He has black / mixed race / ethnic minority pc credentials - but this doesn't mean he will be a good leader. Mugabe as the single counter example will do, and no I'm not being facetious. If there is to be no discrimination on the grounds of race colour or creed and rightly so, then there should be nothing of the opposite kind either.
Obama can talk the talk, he is known for slick speeches (some or all probably written by others) but we had that with BLiar and after 11 years of spin over substance leading to a nation suffering from incompetent governance, it's only too evident that smooth talking is no clue at all to being a good national leader. In fact the suspicion is to the contrary.
Obama has said that his selection - and implied that his future presidency - represents a 'planet healing' moment. If he's referring to climate change, he deserves never to be elected to anything in future beyond the tea room supervisor job. Maybe not that either, nor anything involving scissors.
He's younger than his Republican opponent and this is meant to represent momentum for change. There is no evidence to back that up, and no mention of the critical nature of wisdom (as opposed to age or even intelligence), it's so simplistic that surely anyone trading off it cannot be a strong candidate for the USA presidency.
Obama is meant to carry new hopes and dreams, yet his campaign against Clinton was very negative and he has clearly got negative views about his own countryfolk outside the metropolitan self-proclaimed pseudo intellectual non-elite.
The promonent left-leaning elements of the UK media and its hand-wringing hangers on are fawning over him, almost regardless of talent or worth, but it's gone beyond that. So, why? Nothing pro-McCain above, just asking what somebody like Obama has done to get this adulation (my view: nothing, he has no credentials that are worthy of superlatives and if he is to be President of the United States a better case needs to be made.).
Why?
Possibly because:
He has black / mixed race / ethnic minority pc credentials - but this doesn't mean he will be a good leader. Mugabe as the single counter example will do, and no I'm not being facetious. If there is to be no discrimination on the grounds of race colour or creed and rightly so, then there should be nothing of the opposite kind either.
Obama can talk the talk, he is known for slick speeches (some or all probably written by others) but we had that with BLiar and after 11 years of spin over substance leading to a nation suffering from incompetent governance, it's only too evident that smooth talking is no clue at all to being a good national leader. In fact the suspicion is to the contrary.
Obama has said that his selection - and implied that his future presidency - represents a 'planet healing' moment. If he's referring to climate change, he deserves never to be elected to anything in future beyond the tea room supervisor job. Maybe not that either, nor anything involving scissors.
He's younger than his Republican opponent and this is meant to represent momentum for change. There is no evidence to back that up, and no mention of the critical nature of wisdom (as opposed to age or even intelligence), it's so simplistic that surely anyone trading off it cannot be a strong candidate for the USA presidency.
Obama is meant to carry new hopes and dreams, yet his campaign against Clinton was very negative and he has clearly got negative views about his own countryfolk outside the metropolitan self-proclaimed pseudo intellectual non-elite.
The promonent left-leaning elements of the UK media and its hand-wringing hangers on are fawning over him, almost regardless of talent or worth, but it's gone beyond that. So, why? Nothing pro-McCain above, just asking what somebody like Obama has done to get this adulation (my view: nothing, he has no credentials that are worthy of superlatives and if he is to be President of the United States a better case needs to be made.).
Edited by turbobloke on Wednesday 4th June 19:30
I am voting for McCain. There is rumours he might pick Condoleeza Rice for VP to offset Obama, black factor.
That said, Obama is charming. He is waking up the 18-30 year old Americans who don't vote. His speaking style, often magnified by the media, to be so un George Bush like, that gets a lot of the voters. Women find him attractive (yes us dumb Americans =many vote on looks alone-see Bill Clinton).
The media is hailing him as the next Kennedy. THe young generation who in America is rather apathetic is being spoon fed that.
If Obama can rally the troops, and if the Hillary voters really support him, he might have a chance.
If he wins, us in the upper tax bracket will be very hurt. His speech last night about "changing the global atmosphere" was laughable.
He needs to come down to reality.
BTW he isn't as naive as he looks. He comes from down and dirty Chicago politics. If you don't know anything about Chicago politics, google it, and Richard Daly, and stolen elections will ring a bell.
EIther McCain/Obama wins, the average every day American will see no change. THe American people are ignorant, apathetic, and isolationists. They don't care about the world, the environment. As long as they make money, live in their McMansions, and drive their Escalades, they don't give a crap about the rest of the world.
Sad, so many Americans, and many Europeans (at times), don't realize the power shift to India/China that is happening. No global power lasts forever.
November election will be down and dirty. Mud slinging will happen from McCain and Obama, nature of the beast.
That said, Obama is charming. He is waking up the 18-30 year old Americans who don't vote. His speaking style, often magnified by the media, to be so un George Bush like, that gets a lot of the voters. Women find him attractive (yes us dumb Americans =many vote on looks alone-see Bill Clinton).
The media is hailing him as the next Kennedy. THe young generation who in America is rather apathetic is being spoon fed that.
If Obama can rally the troops, and if the Hillary voters really support him, he might have a chance.
If he wins, us in the upper tax bracket will be very hurt. His speech last night about "changing the global atmosphere" was laughable.
He needs to come down to reality.
BTW he isn't as naive as he looks. He comes from down and dirty Chicago politics. If you don't know anything about Chicago politics, google it, and Richard Daly, and stolen elections will ring a bell.
EIther McCain/Obama wins, the average every day American will see no change. THe American people are ignorant, apathetic, and isolationists. They don't care about the world, the environment. As long as they make money, live in their McMansions, and drive their Escalades, they don't give a crap about the rest of the world.
Sad, so many Americans, and many Europeans (at times), don't realize the power shift to India/China that is happening. No global power lasts forever.
November election will be down and dirty. Mud slinging will happen from McCain and Obama, nature of the beast.
Simple answer: he's new. He's a fresh face. He's not a Clinton, or a Bush, or a septuagenarian with nothing interesting to say.
Style over substance? Maybe. A change from the established order? Quite likely, and on both sides of the Atlantic that seems to be what people want right now.
Style over substance? Maybe. A change from the established order? Quite likely, and on both sides of the Atlantic that seems to be what people want right now.
I think the race element is not the most important aspect of his standing. As has been said, he is fresh-faced, calming, diplomatic, and a much better speaker than Bush (not difficult, I know). I think the planet-healing comment is more to do with the heightened sense of fear and tension in the world, no doubt due to the actions of the current US regime. Obama appears to me to be more about diplomacy, and understanding than the 'bomb the bas
ds' attitude of the Bush team. Lets have a little more love and a little less hate - hippy sort of approach, that I think we do need right now.
ds' attitude of the Bush team. Lets have a little more love and a little less hate - hippy sort of approach, that I think we do need right now.pieinmouth said:
Most of the world is hoping for a leader that understand foreign relations.
Good luck finding that person in America. Was getting coffee this morning. THe barista asked me why I hadn't been in a while. Told her I was in Japan for business.She says, "Isn't Japan in the middle east."
- this is a very highly educated area, with a very rich demographic, and cosmopolitan too*
lotusryan said:
pieinmouth said:
Most of the world is hoping for a leader that understand foreign relations.
Good luck finding that person in America. Was getting coffee this morning. THe barista asked me why I hadn't been in a while. Told her I was in Japan for business.She says, "Isn't Japan in the middle east."
- this is a very highly educated area, with a very rich demographic, and cosmopolitan too*
I actually hit my head on the table in disbelief
Political racing in the US is about the ability to get money in the door and Obama is viciously good at this, he's even going to help the Clintons pay their debts. 
Primarily I guess because he has the backing of pretty much every rich african american which has now snowballed.
Mind you, thats money he'll have to payback in favours should he get elected, which will mean more power in what some of America regard as the 'wrong hands' so Mccain will probably win as hes bound to have family that can throw the vote in a backwards state somewhere.
Primarily I guess because he has the backing of pretty much every rich african american which has now snowballed.
Mind you, thats money he'll have to payback in favours should he get elected, which will mean more power in what some of America regard as the 'wrong hands' so Mccain will probably win as hes bound to have family that can throw the vote in a backwards state somewhere.
Plotloss said:
Political racing in the US is about the ability to get money in the door and Obama is viciously good at this, he's even going to help the Clintons pay their debts.
Primarily I guess because he has the backing of pretty much every rich african american which has now snowballed.
Mind you, thats money he'll have to payback in favours should he get elected, which will mean more power in what some of America regard as the 'wrong hands' so Mccain will probably win as hes bound to have family that can throw the vote in a backwards state somewhere.
First of all McCains own family is nothing. He ran on his AZ senate ticket on his father in laws money, disgrace if you ask me. I am only voting for him, because of the party. He thinks he is an integrator, because he has a Bangladeshi adopted child. 99.99% of Americans don't know where Bangladesh is.Primarily I guess because he has the backing of pretty much every rich african american which has now snowballed.
Mind you, thats money he'll have to payback in favours should he get elected, which will mean more power in what some of America regard as the 'wrong hands' so Mccain will probably win as hes bound to have family that can throw the vote in a backwards state somewhere.
Every politician "pays back" the money by doing favors. That is how the world works. I have seen politics in many countries, and it is especially true in the US, with the lobbying and the PACs, and Soft Money.
How do you think Haliburton got all the contracts? Yup, donations to Republican party. Before they could get in trouble, they moved 22, 000 of their workers and head quarters from Houston to Dubai. Oh well, I am not complaining, as the Haliburton stocks has been good to me, but ethical these people ain't.
Obama having "backing from rich Blacks" won't get him elected. America is still a very racist country, and trust me, there isn't enough Black rich people to get somebody to be president, thus that is incorrect.
Obama is getting money from the new rich. The younger internet moguls and the "forward thinking" rich people. The new school of thought.
Most people in the "backward state" don't like McCain, for his colored kid, and second wife. The bible belt isn't McCains friend, if you look at the McCain vs Bush race years ago. But they might vote for him, because they have no choice.
The critical part will be the Vice President choice. Before Al Gore and CHeney, this was a NON OFFice, now its a big deal. If Obama picks Edwards or someone like that, who can win the white rural vote, that will be great for him. Or if he picks Richardson (gov of New Mexico) who is Latin wannabe, when it counts, now with his beard and long hair, that will mean something, the Latin vote is huge.
McCain has to get someone younger and probably of color to get the Obama voters.
It is a chess game after all.
wiggy001 said:
collateral said:
Because he's everything Bush isn't.
hth
Same reason Boris is London Mayor and Cameron will hopefully be next PM here.hth
CMD is holding back in many policy areas because the clueless Labour cabinet will steal the ideas in full or part, but even so there are more differences emerging...yet Obama and McCain are only fairly close on climate change (sadly) unless all the hype I strongy dislike has hidden some more substantial messages.
Edited by turbobloke on Wednesday 4th June 20:11
Plotloss said:
lotusryan said:
Most people in the "backward state" don't like McCain, for his colored kid, and second wife.
Alabama?To be honest, aside from the Coastal cities, most of Amrerica is still backwards.
I have been to every state of the union, and have spent considerable time in 32 of them. So I say it with experience
The ignorance is very sad
Obama will be a lame duck President. Thats my betting.
If he gets in, it'll be because of the black vote, and they will want something in return that he cannot give. Everything he will try and do will be turned on him time and again.
Not sure about Condi being the VP running mate for McCain. I am hoping she will sit this one out, and I'm betting she will because she is Presidential material in her own right in the future and doesn't need to be anyones running mate in the short term to gain power.
If he gets in, it'll be because of the black vote, and they will want something in return that he cannot give. Everything he will try and do will be turned on him time and again.
Not sure about Condi being the VP running mate for McCain. I am hoping she will sit this one out, and I'm betting she will because she is Presidential material in her own right in the future and doesn't need to be anyones running mate in the short term to gain power.
lotusryan said:
Plotloss said:
lotusryan said:
Most people in the "backward state" don't like McCain, for his colored kid, and second wife.
Alabama?To be honest, aside from the Coastal cities, most of Amrerica is still backwards.
I have been to every state of the union, and have spent considerable time in 32 of them. So I say it with experience
The ignorance is very sad
tinman0 said:
Obama will be a lame duck President. Thats my betting.
If he gets in, it'll be because of the black vote, and they will want something in return that he cannot give. Everything he will try and do will be turned on him time and again.
Not sure about Condi being the VP running mate for McCain. I am hoping she will sit this one out, and I'm betting she will because she is Presidential material in her own right in the future and doesn't need to be anyones running mate in the short term to gain power.
Not sure where you guys get this stuff. Not enough black vote to "get someone in" in the white house, neither enough black money to do the same. Black people aren't that substantial of the population.If he gets in, it'll be because of the black vote, and they will want something in return that he cannot give. Everything he will try and do will be turned on him time and again.
Not sure about Condi being the VP running mate for McCain. I am hoping she will sit this one out, and I'm betting she will because she is Presidential material in her own right in the future and doesn't need to be anyones running mate in the short term to gain power.
Furthermore, black barely ever vote, yes more will vote this election for Obama, but that won't make a difference. Blacks always vote Democratic, and are Clinton people (Bill, not HIllary), and they will vote Obama.
Latinos are the swing vote in the US.
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