Do You Believe in Magic? (Barack Obama's meteoric political rise)

American Thinker ^ | January 10, 2008 | Kyle-Anne Shiver

[neverdem]

Do you believe in magic?  I don't either, but there are few among us who wouldn't agree that Barack Obama's meteoric political rise this year has seemed downright magical. 

For a few months, I almost started believing in Obama's magic myself. 

I yearn to believe in him; I yearn to vote for him.

I feel that with one punch of my ballot I could give myself a sort of sanctified absolution for generations of my own family's racial guilt. 

And I feel this keenly.

I am a white lady, and a mere two generations removed from a plantation in Mississippi.  I grew up during the 50s and 60s hearing the stories of grandparents who were raised there, and who spoke as if General Sherman were still burning houses somewhere close by, and the War Between the States had been fought only a few years back.  One of the reasons that I'm a Republican today is that I grew up among genuine white racists -- all strident Democrats to their graves.

But I could not vote for a socialist in sheep's clothing no matter how black or white he is, no matter how great he sounds or how absolved it might make me feel about my ancestral guilt.

Magic or no magic.

And Barack Obama's fortuitous climb has really not been quite as magical as it has appeared in the media's glow.

After wading through hundreds of pages this week, looking into the unlikely tale of how a not-even-through-his-first-term U.S. Senator romped his way through Iowa and barely took a stumble in New Hampshire on his quest for the United States Presidency, I don't see even a tiny shred of magic.

Political Ju-Jitsu

I see perfect Alinsky-style jujitsu, turning the opponent's force against him and causing the opponent so much pain that the match is quickly over. That, and a smattering of luck and very shrewd political maneuvering. But certainly no magic.

First, there was the rather cold-blooded elimination of Chicago's genuine civil-rights icon, Alice Palmer, which led to Obama's walk-over victory for the Illinois state senate seat in 1996.

Perfect jujitsu; Palmer tapped out before she even made it to the mat.

Joining the Illinois state senate as the man known "for knocking off Alice Palmer," won Obama the instant attention and alliance of the long-time Illinois President of the Senate, Emil Jones, a distinguished African American of long-standing connections within the Democrat Party.

Merely the result of Obama's jujitsu; nothing magical about that

In 2004, when Republican Senator Peter Fitzgerald decided not to run for reelection, Obama spied his next political opportunity, one that would catapult him from a mere 7-year stint in the Illinois state senate to national prominence.

First, Obama was the fortunate beneficiary of a bitter primary fight between the two leaders, Blair Hull and Dan Hynes.  Hull financed a lavish campaign, but  Hull's ugly divorce and alleged spousal abuse were raised in the press and torpedoed him, while Obama played quiet as a mouse and strolled to an easy victory in the aftermath. 

Political shrewdness, yes; luck, yes; but no magic.

Enter George Soros Stage Left

Early in the summer of 2004, following Obama's fortuitous primary victory, he got noticed by a mighty hefty Democrat donor, George Soros.

An article, written by Robert Bluey, of CNSNews.com, entitled:  "Unlike Kerry, Obama Covets George Soros' Support,"  included this:

"Shortly after Soros equated the abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Obama joined him for a New York fund-raiser June 7.

"The event, held at Soros' home, boosted Obama's campaign at a time he was still facing a challenge from Republican Jack Ryan."

So, while Hillary Clinton was lying a bit low herself, and temporarily out of the prime spotlight (John Kerry was in it.), Obama met with one of Team Clinton's staunchest supporters and allies in everything from 527 largesse to Hillary's think tank, the Center for American Progress (and seemingly every other Clinton project under the sun).

Not only did Obama meet with Mr. Soros, but according to his spokesman, Michael Vachon, there's this:

"Vachon said Obama is the only candidate this election cycle Soros has met personally, with the first powwow in March."

Shortly after these intimate meetings with George Soros, Obama faced a potential derailment of his national ambitions.  In his Senate run he faced multi-millionaire Republican candidate Jack Ryan.

Once again, an operative in another rival's campaign, leaked rumors to the Chicago press that there was an unseemly sex scandal in Ryan's divorce decree from Jeri Ryan.  Ryan steadfastly refused to release the records, due, he said, to a desire to protect his nine year-old child. 

Ryan's protests were to no avail, however, as suit was brought by the Chicago Tribune and other media to force the records' disclosure.  And shortly thereafter, an appointed judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles, Robert Schnider, ruled in plaintiff's favor and opened the sealed records.  Ryan dropped out, leaving the Republicans high and dry, left to run a move-in candidate with a ghost's chance.

And Barack Obama waltzed into his United States Senate Seat, promising to stay put for a while, but now running for President before the completion of a single term.

Lots of eerie luck, lots of shrewdness, some political jujitsu, yes.

Magic?  No.

The Real Magic

Obama's supreme de facto political jujitsu, however, may be one of our own foolish acquiescence if not manufacture: the race card. 

Obama keeps this card tucked inside his suit wherever he goes, whatever he does. He can't even take it out and discard it.  We know it's there; he knows it's there.  His community agitator forces and his religious-body forces know it, too. 

I feel it every time I put my fingers to my keyboard to write about Obama.  And you can bet that every other media person in this Country feels its presence just as strongly.

We have, ourselves, created a national atmosphere so guarded against the slightest charge of racism that we are forced to go to the mat nearly every day and tap out like a wrestler giving up, rather than be assailed by an Al Sharpton or a Jesse Jackson or an Oprah Winfrey or a Jeremiah Wright or a Louis Farrakhan with charges that we are a bunch of white, imperialistic, disgustingly heathen racists. 

A similar line is espoused in Barack Obama's Afro-centric church, Trinity United Church of Christ.  Is this what Barack Obama thinks of white Americans?

In fear of these kinds of gross accusations, we hold our own throats in a chokehold, and tap out.

Saul Alinsky never even dreamed of such an accomplishment.  And we have let it happen to ourselves on our own watch.

Now that Hillary Clinton has demonstrated the power of turning victim status into empathy and enhanced voter turnout, that race card has to weigh heavily on the minds of potential critics of Obama.

What else can one call it but perfect jujitsu?

My thanks to Liam Ford, staff writer for the Chicago Tribune and David Mendell, Chicago Tribune writer and author of Obama:  From Promise to Power, for generously sharing their insights. I alone remain responsible for any and all errors and misinterpretations.

Kyle-Anne Shiver is a frequent contributor to American Thinker.  She welcomes your comments at kyleanneshiver@yahoo.com.

[absolootezer0]

i thought magic was stumping for hillbilly?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1941258/posts

[Candor7]

Obamas mesmerizing crowd magic is all the more dangerous because he is a born, bred Islamofascist, with his politics based firmly in the Islamofascist camp. His style is that of all the great Islamofascist polticians we have seen on the world stage. Its just that he is the first to stump in America. Its not magic, its a curse on true thought and freedom. He has not produced one itellectually cogent plan for America, just illusions to Utopian ( and thus fascist) change.

Many do not yet understand Obama, and continue to deal with smoke and mirrors and the swooning effect he has on audiences, especially females. I call it the Mandingo Effect. But its all dedicated to an Idi Amin like goal for America. And he needs outing before its too late to get to hem behind his MSM castles.

If you can stand the true facts they are here for anyone to see:

Obama and his Islamofascist Kenyan Biological Cousin, Odinga, Attempt to force Sharia Law onto Kenya, the Dose

[dead]

[C210N]

Yes, Soros has at least TWO horses in the ‘Rat’s race. Hil and Obambi are mere foot soldiers - the weaker one will have to sacrifice their campaign to make way for the stronger one. But they are both based, now more than ever, on a party based on platitudes with a voter base that only requires trite and banal oral “reasoning” from their leaders.

[beethovenfan]

It’s dat ol’ black magic....

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Good post. Having watched or at least been aware of Obama all these years, I’d say this pretty much sums it up.

As Illinois’ 2004 disaster now threatens to swamp the whole country with its wake, I can at least find some satisfaction in saying — “Don’t blame me. I voted for Alan Keyes.”

[DBCJR]

Please read:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1951576/posts

We might be the ones creating the magic, not Obama.

[ought-six]

It’s not magic. It’s simply that the MSM created this empty suit out of whole cloth and has built him up and marketed him in the best tradition of Madison Avenue. He is first, foremost, and always a media creation.

[Badeye]

Sure I do!

LOL!

[Miss Didi]

Media Mantra: Obama "Movement"

[G.Mason]

" ... I feel that with one punch of my ballot I could give myself a sort of sanctified absolution for generations of my own family's racial guilt. "

Racial guilt my butt!

Talk about brainwashed stooges.

May the black socialist and the white socialists running against him (from both sides) all begin to cry together.

[EternalVigilance]

:-)

[Califreak]

Since day one, I believed he was a media creation designed to enhance Clinton’s chances.

Looks like it backfired though. : )

[AmericanMade1776]

Media’s Obamagasm... repulsive repetitive idiocy.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the links.

[gitmogrunt]

The empty suit jabbering phenomenon appeals to empty heads.

[sheik yerbouty]

i believe that with a brisk wind, Obama could fly!

[Candor7]

Its been hard work , I have been posting this link for days, one 30 hour stretch. Its had an effect. Fred Nerks sent this info, compiled by Beckwith to Danial Pipes. Pipes will likley use it in his next article.

Please, for the benefit of our country, spread this far and wide. It needs to become an election issue.

[ApplegateRanch]

Do you believe in magic?

No, but I do believe in demons.

I fact I know several people who have graduate degrees in the subject.

Doctor of Demonology.

Some of them also have a degree in "magic": Thaumaturgical Doctor.