Why Obama isn't the man for the White House

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 10/30/8 | Debra J. Saunders

[SmithL]

Barack Obama has waged a brilliant, disciplined campaign for the White House. To the extent that Obama's campaign demonstrates his strategic and organizational abilities, the junior Illinois senator has the potential to be a great leader. The son of a Kenyan father who came to Hawaii for a university education, Obama can claim a personal story that makes him, as former Secretary of State Colin Powell put it, "a transformational figure" in American politics.

Having opposed the war in Iraq before it began, Obama never had to gin up phony excuses for voting to authorize the use of military force in Iraq - as did four of his Democratic primary election opponents, including his running mate Joe Biden. He had the cleanest slate of all the Democratic presidential hopefuls, and thus appeared as the candidate most consistent with his party's values.

Yes, he is impressive, but here are my problems with Barack Obama:

Taxes. During the last presidential debate with GOP opponent John McCain, Obama repeatedly claimed that under his plan, the rich would pay "a little more"...

A little more? Obama has proposed increasing the top tax rate to 39.6 percent from 35 percent. He also has talked about extending Social Security taxes on those with incomes above $250,000. The Tax Policy Center noted that if Obama carried through on the idea, which is not included in his official plan, "the proposal could raise effective tax rates on labor income for high earners above 52 percent (and more than 55 percent for residents of states with high income taxes such as California)."

The Tax Policy Center also estimates that, under Plan Obama, 49 percent of Americans will not pay federal income taxes. So when Obama talks up his plan to send a $500 to $1,000 "rebate" to American taxpayers, he is talking welfare.

[IrishMike]

“Every infomercial lays out common problems, whether it’s a flabby belly or acne, and then it gives a solution. In this case the problem is Obama.”

[ryan71]

Debra J. Saunders is a stupid, racist, redneck, big oil, right wing hack.

And I'm sure the left can come up with many more names...

[massgopguy]

Barack is not a “man”. He’s a punk.

[vietvet67]

Obama

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Notice to All Employees

As of November 5, 2008, when President Obama is officially elected into office,
our company will instill a few new policies which are in keeping with his new,
inspiring issues of change and fairness:

1. All salespeople will be pooling their sales commissions into a common pool
that will be divided equally between all of you. This will serve to give those
of you who are underachieving a *fair shake.*

2. All hourly employees will be pooling their wages, including overtime, into a
common pool, dividing it equally amongst yourselves.
This will help those who are *too busy for overtime* to reap the rewards from
those who have more spare time and can work extra hours.

3. All top management will now be referred to as *the government.* We will not
participate in this *pooling* experience because the law doesn’t apply to us.

4. The *government* will give eloquent speeches to all employees every week,
encouraging its workers to continue to work hard *for the good of all.*

5. The employees will be thrilled with these new policies because it’s *good to
spread the wealth.* Those of you who have underachieved will finally get an
opportunity; those of you who have worked hard and had success will feel more
*patriotic.*

6. The last few people who were hired should clean out their desks.
Don’t feel bad though, because President Obama will give you free healthcare,
free handouts, free oil for heating your home, free food stamps, and he’ll let
you stay in your home for as long as you want even if you can’t pay your
mortgage. If you appeal directly to our democratic congress, you might even get
a free flat screen TV and a coupon for free haircuts (shouldn’t all Americans be
entitled to nice looking hair?) !!!

If for any reason you are not happy with the new policies, you may want to
rethink your vote on November 4th.

[Tenacious 1]

I heard they took down the effigy of Sarah Palin. The left is probably hunting Debra down to replace it.

I am surprised this gem got into print in SF.

I am ashamed that I had not made the 50% taxes connection. When all things are considered Americans pay almost 50% in taxes already (state, federal, sales, property, county, city, etc.).

Then there is the welfare of sending money to “every American” when 40% of those do not pay taxes at all. Good point. This goes straight to the argument about those who pay the most in taxes, dollar for dollar, get the largest dollar for dollar relief when the % rate of taxes are reduced. In order to get $5,000 dollars worth of a tax cut, you first had to pay about $30,000 in taxes. If you only paid $5,000 in taxes under the same tax cut plan, you only get $850 worth of a cut. But liberals cry foul. That's not fair. So they argue that everyone should get $1,000 regardless of what you paid in taxes. And to press the point, they insist the money be sent out to everyone in the form of a check.

[TNPatriot]

[onlylewis]

Why Obama isn't the man for the White House???????

We know he is not the man/woman for the white house. The real question is why obamaboy isn't the man to clean my grandfathers OUT-HOUSE.

[adorno]

To the extent that Obama's campaign demonstrates his strategic and organizational abilities, the junior Illinois senator has the potential to be a great leader.

Even there, why is the "effectiveness" of the campaign being attributed to Obama's abilities? He's got people, many of which were party operatives from past elections, running the campaign for him. So, why is Obama getting the credit for an organization which would've performed the same, no matter who the candidate had been, whether Obama or Hillary or anyone else?

Then, one has to consider the real effectiveness of the campaign if, with a budget which may have been up to 3/4 of a billion dollars, all that they have to show for it is a presidential race which is very close at the end? Compared to McCain's budget, the Obama campaign had probably 4 times as much money to spend. So, somewhere along the way, the Obama campaign wasn't as effective as being proposed by the Chronicle. To have spent so much money and still end up with a very close race doesn't demonstrate leadership or skills at all.

The biggest problem for Obama and his campaign was not organizing or having money to spend. The biggest problem for Obama was his set of messages. So, in the end, when one considers that he's been able to sell his crappy messages to the people, then, it has been somewhat successful. But, it's more a reflection on the money spent than on the leadership or organizational skills of Obama.

[happygrl]

Excellent analysis, one I had not read before.