Cult of Obama Will Turn Off Independents

RealClearPolitics ^ | February 19, 2008 | Froma Harrop

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[snip]

And at that time, the news media were still lavishing love on Obama. That situation is about to end. "He's the fashion plate of the moment," an editorial page editor remarked, "but fashion week is over."

Sophisticated commentary now notes the growing creepiness of the Obama campaign: Its aversion to substantive policy discussions. The sermonizing -- "In the face of despair, we believe there can be hope." And the messianic bit -- "At this moment in the election there is something happening in America." (That would be he.)

Volunteer trainees at Camp Obama are told not to talk issues with voters, but to offer personal testimony about how they "came" to Obama. Makes the skin crawl.

Centrists generally do not find cults of personality entertaining. The mass hypnosis reminds them of the mortgage frenzy -- all these people buying into a dream and not caring about the fine print.

The Republican Party, meanwhile, has given them a choice. This is despite the best efforts of its right wing to pick a candidate against whom any Democrat would be better. And the more the radicals beat up on the Arizona senator, the more he looks like a contender to moderate Democrats.

[awakened]

I don’t believe that they are falling for “BS” as you put it, but rather for something far more enticing, charismatic, and enticing. See post #11.

[okie01]

Obama as the nominee scares the hell out of me, because he's taken a page from Reagan's winning book - optimism.

I agree that he is giving his audience what they want to hear. But I'm not sure it's "optimism".

If it was, why is there so much rhetoric about "pain" and "healing" and "hopelessness"?

The Obama campaign strikes me more as a messianic version of "Ah feel yore pain" than "optimism".

Aside from that, "optimism" generally doesn't appeal to lefties. They're usually more responsive to "misery".

[griswold3]

Obama theme song:
Cult of Personality
Look into my eyes, what do you see?
Cult of personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I’ve been everything you want to be
I’m the cult of personality
Like mussolini and kennedy
I’m the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

Neon lights, a nobel prize
The mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You don’t have to follow me
Only you can set me free
I sell the things you need to be
I’m the smiling face on your t.v.
I’m the cult of personality
I exploit you still you love me

I tell you one and one makes three
I’m the cult of personality
Like joseph stalin and gandi
I’m the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

Neon lights a nobel prize
A leader speaks, that leader dies
You don’t have to follow me
Only you can set you free

You gave me fortune
You gave me fame
You me power in your god’s name
I’m every person you need to be
I’m the cult of personality
Look into my eyes, what do you see?
Cult of personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I’ve been everything you want to be
I’m the cult of personality
Like mussolini and kennedy
I’m the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

Neon lights, a nobel prize
The mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You don’t have to follow me
Only you can set me free
I sell the things you need to be
I’m the smiling face on your t.v.
I’m the cult of personality
I exploit you still you love me

I tell you one and one makes three
I’m the cult of personality
Like joseph stalin and gandi
I’m the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

Neon lights a nobel prize
A leader speaks, that leader dies
You don’t have to follow me
Only you can set you free

You gave me fortune
You gave me fame
You me power in your god’s name
I’m every person you need to be
I’m the cult of personality

[Army Air Corps]

If he is elected, will it be mandatory that all homes have a portrait of Dear Leader? Will huge portraits of him be erected in public squares?

[LiberConservative]

The best way to beat this clown is to vote for McCain. Which is something I thought unthinkable until yesterday when Osama/Obama's wife, Michelle said that for the first time in her life she was "proud to be an American".

I will do everything in my power to make sure this woman gets nowhere near the Whitehouse.

[Army Air Corps]

The difference is that Reagan was optimistic about the individual American. Obama is optimistic about government and “the toiling masses.”

[roses of sharon]

Oprah’s Kid, and his followers on FR trying to claim he is the next RR and an optimist are obviously practicing MSM/DNC propaganda here, lol.

As if.

[KC_Conspirator]

This Obama thing is turning into a revival. I expect them to be handling snakes at one of his rallies soon.

[Army Air Corps]

No joke. Obambi’s speeches are not really optimistic. Just because he tosses “Hope” into his speeches does not make those speeches optimistic. He tells us that everything sucks and that only collective action and “sticking it to them Man” are the solutions. That is not an optimistic message.

Reagan said that the solutions rested in the hands of American men and women and that those solutions would come come from people being freed from the shackles of government.

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He’s a showman who’s surpassed clintoon. that’s saying a lot.

[olivia3boys]

I think he is totally spooky, like Jim Jones!

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The beast will be easier to defeat than obamessiah in the general. I used to think it would be the other way around.

[stockstrader]

I agree.

I am not a McCain fan at all,,,,but her recent anti-American, demeaning and insulting comments about our country--are making even McCain palatable to me.

Keep it up Obama-Momma.

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Says it all, radicals = us right wing conservative loons.

Yep. Dems like Mcpain, I'm shocked./s

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Volunteer trainees at Camp Obama are told not to talk issues with voters, but to offer personal testimony about how they “came” to Obama. Makes the skin crawl.

Apparently it made many peoples. Maybe he viewed old hitler tapes and took some pointers.

[Rum Tum Tugger]

I have found myself wondering how anyone could support Obama. It seemed to me that he's just too inexperienced and unqualified.

So, I decided I should find out more. I bought his two books.

I was impressed that he had written two books. I couldn't recall how many books Dubya has written. ;)

As I've been reading his books, I had to admit that he's an impressive guy and not as unqualified as I thought. He's certainly more qualified than Hillary (and McCain).

He was the first African-American to edit the Harvard Law Review. He was a law professor at the University of Chicago Law School.

If he wasn't such a left-winger, I could go for this guy.

[Rum Tum Tugger]

Oh, I forgot to add. It’s not about a cult at all. Obama’s probably the most qualified candidate the Rats have had in my lifetime. Too bad he’s not a conservative Republican.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“Froma is a committed liberal. And a radical feminist.”

Just the type of person who would say anything that might advance her cause — even, when it suits the purpose, the truth.

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What town was it in during the primaries, I believe, they didn’t want to appear racist so everyone going into vote said they were going to vote for obama, but when they closed the curtain, they voted for the beast instead?

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Here is what will turn off independents - - and nearly everybody else:

She sure ain't gonna help him none.