Some 11th-Hour Advice to the Harvard Power Couple (Victor Davis Hanson on the Obamas)

The Corner at NRO ^ | 19 February 2008 | Victor Davis Hanson

[SE Mom]

Re: Michelle Obama's astounding admission that she hitherto had no reason to feel pride in the U.S., and Obama's supposed Biden-like lifting of a campaign refrain from someone else.

The problem is deeper than occasional slips. For most of the last 25 years the Obamas' contacts have been largely confined to universities (Occidental, Columbia, Princeton, Harvard, Chicago) as both students and employees, or to government-sponsored social agencies, or to the incestuous world of Chicago minority politics. These landscapes have proven liberal, sympathetic, and non-confrontational. I doubt very seriously in those environments that the Obamas have had any of their sometimes bewildering statements seriously cross-examined or questioned.

Michelle Obama, true, recites a litany of slights and grievances, but more likely she encountered highly educated white liberal audiences that were not about to cross her or challenge her assertions-a world away from steelworkers in Ohio, the Nascar crowd, the Mexican Americans in LA, the hungry wolves of the D.C. press corps for whom controversy trumps even shared liberal ideology — or Clinton, Inc. for whom power, status, and adulation outweigh everything, including liberal head-nodding, white guilt, and identity politics.

The result is that finally out on the campaign trail both are beginning to enter an arena where most of America does not faint at an Obama rally, but resents deeply a candidate's spouse suggesting that she previously had no pride in her own country, and would think that generous college admission practices, scholarships, and loans were cause more for gratitude rather than resentment.

Some old cynical campaign veteran, cigar in mouth-a Tip O'Neill-type, with the more scars the better-should sit the two kids down, explain the no-holds-barred rules of the arena outside the university and liberal government agency, remind them that African Americans and elite white liberals probably make up about at most a fourth of the electorate, and emphasize to them that by the public's own standard of living, the Obamas have been very privileged and done quite well-and that Michelle and Barack should start to say something uplifting other than the current mantra that the U.S. is a depressing and unfair place and has only one chance of 'hope" and "change" and "redemption" by allowing Barack and Michelle to lead us out of our collective ignorance.

02/19 08:59 PM

[Molly T.]

At least we know what to expect from Hillary...and I've been a loud and outspoken critic of Bill and Hillary from the beginning...4 years of her(and him, tagging along)would be annoying and frustrating, but Hussein scares the heck out of me...I don't know if our nation could recover from 4 years of a Marxist, Commie, dyed in the wool Islamist calling the shots from the Oval Office.... ...what those emotional twits that fall all over themselves at his rallies are thinking is beyond me.

[Irene Adler]

I am beginning to think that Obama cannot sustain this hero-worship till the election. Before all the press, and leftwing-lemming democratic adulation started, his delivery was described as dull, rather pedantic and professorial. And now, he is starting to get longwinded. If his crowds continue to behave as off-the-wall as they have recently, and he starts to "believe his own press notices" both he and the lovely Michelle may begin to falter in various ways.

I am beginning to think he is actually quitee beatable, that he will peak out, and after that, some people will be scared by him and his raucous crowds (I think this may really be a substantial factor influlencing average voters), and others will simply tire of his "pie in the sky". But, of course, we shall see.

McCain and his advisors will have their work cut out for them, but they will NOT be bereft of possibilities for scoring heavily against the power-couple, IMHO. I think Obama has many negatives that are only just now barely beginning to appear, and that he is beatable after all. We have quite a long road to travel before the election in November. An awful lot can happen, and will.

[Mygirlsmom]

Medved asked him if he wanted to pay for his neighbor’s health care

Wrong question. In order to really make libs crazy, just ask them if they're prepared to pay higher taxes to pay for RUSH LIMBAUGH'S healthcare!!!!

[originalbuckeye]

Not just long winded but messianic. As he speaks he lifts his hands just like a preacher. The crowds swoon and he’s all right with the left. I suspect his bubble will burst before the general but we are going to have to hold the pin. We must get the information about his voting record out and say it loud and long. He IS the most Liberal Senator and he was the same in the Illinois State House. The crowds need to know what they are buying, not just the Sinatra effect he has on them.

[originalbuckeye]

Good one! Not only Rush but Hannity, O’Reilly (perceived as conservative but is not really) etc. How about Dr. Laura? A wealth of names to drive them crazy.

[Mygirlsmom]

Not sure about the others, but I know for a fact that Rush is one of the “millions who are uninsured” (in his case it is by choice). All of the universal plans on the table right now force compliance, which would mean that Rush would be forced to have insurance, and ultimately, taxes will be collected to pay for it.

[originalbuckeye]

Oooh. You’re right. I forgot that Rush is uninsured. As for the others, we will all be paying for everybody else, so they will be included. Socialized Medicine is a disaster. I worked in that setting when I lived in Britain. I wouldn;t wish it on us here. No choice of Doctor, no appointment times (just go and wait like a walk-in clinic), no recourse if mistakes are made. Americans are waaaay too spoiled by good treatment. Everyone will get mediocre treatment and those that can afford extra private insurance will buy it so they can actually be treated in a timely manner.

[Tex Pete]

[arthurus]

Actually the one issue of Amnesty, the adding of 12-40 millions of new Democrats soon and many more millions later as they surge North, trumps all the rest of them. All of the likely candidates, Obama, the Clintons, and McCain favor that. I have not been able to understand how Bush and McCain and other Republicans could be so ardent to put the Republican Party out of business. I will vote for McCain in the election. It might put off lawmaking-by-treaty for 3 or 4 more years.

[NurdlyPeon]

The election of either fallen away Muslim or a woman will infuriate our Islamist enemies

McCain should replay that clip over and over and over again, while contrasting it with his six years of POW, motivated by love of country. (PS, I hate McCain).

[ashtanga]

The French Revolution was a change, and so were the incremental steps to the gas chambers. Exciting changes, too. People swooned at the prospect, some of them....

[guitarist]

Why would Hanson give them good advice? He should be quiet and let them make ridiculous mistakes like this again!

[From many - one.]

You posted:
“From your lips to God’s ears...
WE think he should get slaughtered...but let’s look at a demographic we’re not thinking about here.
For YEARS “we” have talked about the youth vote, the college kids, if “we” (Dems and Reps) could just get them to come out and vote...but- after each cycle..we sit back and say- maybe next time. They simply do not show up on election day (in significant numbers)...let alone for primaries.
Obama has mobilized thousands upon thousands of YOUNG, first-time voters to actually register and get out on primary day.”

Thanks for saying it. I’ve been saying this on the “Vote for Obama in the primaries” threads and keep getting bashed by the Hillary haters. Folks just aren’t aware that he turns out the vote in massive numbers...and she doesn’t.

[dennisw]

Obomber Hussein

[steveyp]

It’s a few generations of public schools minds of mush...

[SE Mom]

THAT is a fact.

[beauxdogs]

Consider Alexander Hamilton in Federalist 1:
“... and of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people, commencing demagogues and ending tyrants ...”

But who reads, much less even understands the wisdom of, The Federalist Papers in school anymore?

[Stentor]

From Wikipedia:

“A cult of personality or personality cult arises when a country’s leader uses mass media to create a heroic public image through unquestioning flattery and praise. Cults of personality are often found in dictatorships but can be found in some democracies as well.

A cult of personality is similar to general hero worship except that it is created specifically for political leaders. However, the term may be applied by analogy to refer to adulation of non-political leaders.”

I’ve posted before that the band Living Colour has the perfect theme song for Obama.

[SE Mom]

Sigh...I know. I’ve recently been reading correspondance and various letters by the founders. One point they made over and over was the necessity of education- stressing civics. They believed without a solid grounding in our history and WHY we have the Declaration and the Constitution- we would lose our liberty.

We are watching the results unfold before our eyes.