Nat Hentoff: Disillusioned about Barack Obama

Sacramento Bee ^ | 7/17/8 | Nat Hentoff

[SmithL]

During my more than 60 years of covering national politics, I have never seen a candidate's principles and character so effectively tarnished — after so extraordinarily inspiring a start — as Barack Obama's. He has come to resemble another mellifluous orator I came to know in Boston during my first time reporting on a campaign — James Michael Curley, the skilful prestidigitator whom Spencer Tracy masterfully played in the movie "The Last Hurrah." Obama's deflation has not been due to ruthless opposition research by John McCain's team but by the "change" candidate himself. Like millions of Americans, I, for a time, was buoyed by not only the real-time prospect of our first black president but much more by the likelihood that Obama would pierce the dense hypocrisy and insatiable power-grabbing of current American politics.

Also, as a former teacher of constitutional law, Obama gave me "hope I could believe in" that he would rescue the Constitution's separation of powers, resuscitate the Bill of Rights and begin to restore our reputation around the world as a truly law-abiding nation.

Savoring the high expectations he had secured among so many Americans, Obama has decided he can also come closer to securing the Oval Office by softening his starlight enough to change some of his principles toward the calming center of our stormy political waters.

In a defense by Dan Gerstein, a New York political consultant — echoing what you'll be hearing more of from Obama's campaign operatives — the gossamer script goes: "He is trying to broaden his appeal to a larger electorate and to be true to this postpartisan, unifying message that he's been campaigning on." But instead of the ennobling clarion trombones of CHANGE we have been promised, this "adjusting" of one's principles has long been the common juggling...

[SmithL]

About the writer:

• Nat Hentoff is a nationally renowned authority on the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights and author of many books, including "The War on the Bill of Rights and the Gathering Resistance" (Seven Stories Press, 2004).

[GOPJ]

Obama gave me "hope I could believe in" that he would rescue the Constitution's separation of powers, resuscitate the Bill of Rights and begin to restore our reputation around the world as a truly law-abiding nation.

If Obama could do the above, I'd vote for him too. Sadly, the stuff of dreams turns out to be just a dream. Vapor-ware. He's not the one people have been waiting for...

[jrp]

This gent thought a hard left-wing socialist would revive the Constituion? Must not be very bright.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I second your assessment

[Hemorrhage]

It is encouraging that Obama disillusionment is setting in this early. I’m even hearing attacks on him on Amy Goodman’s seditious radio show.

H

[PGalt]

...but I can no longer believe in this messenger of such tidings.

What shallow thinking brought you to "believe" in this "messenger" in the first place Nat, given the swamp of Chicago politics that he arose from? C'mon!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Old liberal whore Hentoff is disillusioned ?
And he wans't after eight years of the Clintons ?

[Mr. Mojo]

Like millions of Americans, I, for a time, was buoyed by ...the likelihood that Obama would pierce the dense hypocrisy and insatiable power-grabbing of current American politics.

Come on, Nat. You've been around far too long to fall for that BS. You also should know that the "dense hypocrisy and insatiable power-grabbing" isn't exclusive to current American politics. Been around forever.

Stick to reviewing jazz albums.

[Elpasser]

Just believe, damnit.

[spacejunkie]

is he black?

[wideawake]

Hentoff doesn't deserve that kind of dismissal.

Hentoff disliked Clinton from the get-go.

Hentoff is also pro-life.

And he's one of the best jazz critics America has left.

He is a big civil libertarian and always very suspicious of law enforcement and the military. It's his big thing.

[wideawake]

Nope. He is an old-school Brooklyn Jew. Very nice guy in person.

[Mr. Mojo]

Nope

[TNCMAXQ]

I always thought Hentoff was not a bad guy, especially since he is pro life. But I am surprised he ever thought a big government loving lefty like Obama could restore individual rights and freedoms. Just having him as a candidate squelches some free speech as many are afraid to attack him verbally, or poke fun at him.

[SMcGilicutty]

The shine is starting to wear off The Messiah!

[EyeGuy]

“.....after so extraordinarily inspiring a start.....”

Sorry I missed the part regarding anything “inspiring”, at ANY juncture concerning Obama and his empty rhetoric.

Hentoff ought to know better.

[roses of sharon]

Oh good grief, please retire Nat....and make room for someone with better judgment.

These pundits who have been around for decades have overstayed their welcomes, and have proven to have ZERO influence on the public.

They only write for each other.

[Sigurdrifta]

Hentoff has a right to be suspicious of the military if he wishes, but their approval (71%) compared to Congress (9%) would suggest that his suspicions are misplaced.

[ottbmare]

The bloom is starting to fall from the rose.

Now if only McCain would take the gloves off, roll up his sleeves, stop apologizing, and start his campaign, things would be fine.

[roses of sharon]

He doesn’t know better because like all “journalists” he panders and coddles black people.

[HawaiianGecko]

A far left kook being disillusioned doesn't buoy my heart very much.  It's not like he's going to vote for a Republican come November, and he won't stay home on election day.  He knows that after the election either Obama will due a hard left turn or the far left will have a better chance of socialism under Obama than McCain.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

$10 says he voted for Clinton twice.

[A_Former_Democrat]

” rescue the Constitution’s separation of powers”

He must mean like keeping the courts in line (e.g. death penalty, homosexual “marriage” etc.)

Certainly NObomba wouldn’t nominate judges who would legislate from the bench, now would he?

[imintrouble]

Well isn’t that special - Nat gets to write his opinion?

Take a number Nat - there are millions disappointed in the Obama drama.

[laweeks]

“Nat Hentoff is a nationally RENOWNED authority on the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights”

He might be renowned by lefties, but certainly not anyone who cares about our Constitution. Hussein Obama’s assault on the Right to Life and his inherent racism should have set this guy off immediately. Sounds like just another lib with a famous name.

[OKIEDOC]

due to ruthless opposition research by John McCain's team

COMMENT:

Nat, Nat, Nat heres the skinny on McCain's campaign straight from Mr. Ed's mouth..

Err...Nat ole buddy....many of us supporters believe that John McCain's ruthless cracked team of opposition researchers consists of nothing more than Maxwell Smart, Barney Fife and Mr. Bean hold up with an abacus, an old set of Funk and Wagnels and a well used Heathkit GENIAC in a Motel Six somewhere in Bug Tussle Oklahoma.

[G.Mason]

"During my more than 60 years of covering national politics, I have never seen a candidate's principles and character so effectively tarnished — after so extraordinarily inspiring a start — as Barack Obama's ... "

Inspiring start?

For crying out loud ... Anyone with a modicum of sense knew that the Democrat Party is, and has been for many years, a haven for the mentally defective, America hating, anti-capitalist, morally vacuous, and the despiser's of the Constitution.

Obama fits the bill to a "T".

It's too bad ignorance isn't painful.

[gridlock]

I haven't seen such a surge since Obama's first chorus, but I can no longer believe in this messenger of such tidings.

What are the chances Hentoff is not going to be supporting Obama on Election Day? Pretty slim, I would wager...

[EyeGuy]

“He doesn’t know better because like all “journalists” he panders and coddles black people.”

The truth that dare not be spoken.

Kudos.

[Beowulf9]

The old sayings have a lot of wisdom, ‘an empty barrel makes the most noise’.

[Interesting Times]

Hentoff is that rarest of creatures, a principled writer on the Left. His reservations about Obama lack the intensity of those held by conservatives, but he is far more likely than most of the pundits we follow to reach and influence wobbly liberals.

[rhombus]

The flimflam candidate had assured his faithful enthusiasts that he would filibuster this bill (which will immunize the telecommunications companies that enabled the president to break the law in his once-secret warrantless wiretapping) that turned our privacy rights upside down and out....I remember the surge of hope for a national change as a child, during the Great Depression, when, while my mother would walk blocks to save a few cents on food, there came Franklin Delano Roosevelt!

Nat, you disappoint me. Have you started the investigations on how FDR broke the law during WWII yet?

[Fundamentally Fair]

Nat Hentoff is a nationally renowned authority on the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights and author of many books, including "The War on the Bill of Rights and the Gathering Resistance" (Seven Stories Press, 2004).

Bill of Rights being the 1st Amendment and parts of the 3rd through 10th.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

My local news rag carries Hentoff’s columns, which never fail to underscore the abject stupidity of this country’s left wing as well as Hentoff himself.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

No. He's Jewish.

[tarheelswamprat]

Bill of Rights being the 1st Amendment and parts of the 3rd through 10th.

I seriously doubt he gives any more respect to Amendments 9 and 10 than he does to the Second...

[Cyber Liberty]

Obambi re-illusioned him.

[jmaroneps37]

Like so many others, Nat has become ILLUSIONED because he was DISILLUSIONED when he first considered barack mcgovern. Now he gets it. Before he did not.

[domeika]

"I, for a time, was buoyed by not only the real-time prospect of our first black president..."
This is racist at it's core, as all liberals are, even if they don't realize it. First black this, black that....I don't think anyone with self-respect would appreciate the moniker of "first" anything unless they truly are the first human being to accomplish it and not the first of a race. This is like someone saying to me Good job!.....for a Lithuanian.. If the obamaphiles were paying attention to his politics instead of his skin and scrutinized his lack of accomplishments they would have seen long ago that he's not only an empty suit, he's not too bright either. When truly competent blacks run for office the left shows their support by calling him an "uncle tom" and throwing oreo cookies at him (like they did to Steele)

[wideawake]

(1) The blogger of The Sciolist credits Nat Hentoff with awakening his interest in his Second Amendment Rights.

(2) nat Hentoff has always been a strong advocate of local government and subsidiarity (9th and 10th issues).

(3) Hentoff is a staunch opponent of abortion and euthanasia.

(4) Hentoff agreed with the invasion of Iraq and the war against islamic terrorism in general. He has problems with the domestic tactics employed, not the global strategy.

(5) Hentoff is, in other words, a member of that dying breed known as the honest and patriotic liberal.

[Salvation]

[okie01]

And [Hentoff] wans't after eight years of the Clintons ?

My recollection is that Hentoff was never a rabid Clinton supporter. Instead, his initial support was tepid. And he became a fierce opponent even before impeachment.

Hentoff might be a liberal, but he is also one of the few who recognizes the difference between right and wrong.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"The flimflam candidate had assured his faithful enthusiasts that he would filibuster this bill (which will immunize the telecommunications companies that enabled the president to break the law in his once-secret warrantless wiretapping) that turned our privacy rights upside down and out."

I can respect Nat Hentoff's liberalism because he is usually principled. I can understand someone like him being against the death penalty because he is pro-life. He feels all life deserves the protection of our government. I can respect that, but don't agree with it on Constitutional grounds. I won't get into why now, it's not the point of my post. He is suspicious of the U.N. because they do not protect poor countries civil rights. I find it curious that he is so silent on the 2nd Amendment. I don't believe I have ever heard his opinion on it. Not even after the Heller decision.

The above statement by him is pretty disingenius on his part. He knows darn well that this "illegal wiretapping" is only illegal because at the time that the FISA bill was passed, this problem never came up. This problem came up because one terrorist was talking to another terrorist, they are both overseas and the call has to get wired through the U.S. There was never any warrantless wiretapping of Americans (or even terrorists) in this country!!

[okie01]

(5) Hentoff is, in other words, a member of that dying breed known as the honest and patriotic liberal.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Let's see. There's Nat Hentoff. And Joe Lieberman. O.K., Jerry Zeifman belongs on this endangered species list, too.

Anybody else you can think of?

[johnnycap]

Give him credit. Maybe he was seduced but at least he didn’t marry the guy...this all reminds me of the 1970’s film, “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman”. Remember in the movie when Ms. Jane was in her 80’s and people kept bringing their little black babies to her and asked, “Ms. Jane, Ms. Jane, Is he the ONE?”

Well, this year, we are bringing Obama to Ms. Jane and asking her if HE is the one. In my 2008 version of the movie, Ms. Jane picks up the baby, rocks it a few times, coos at it, they both laugh. She hugs it then all of a sudden holds it out with two straight arms as if to say, “Get this thing away from me.”...then she states,

“HELL NO, NOT EVEN CLOSE, THAT AIN’T EVEN A REAL BABY!!!”

[Fundamentally Fair]

Hentoff is, in other words, a member of that dying breed known as the honest and patriotic liberal.

Thanks for the clarification...please excuse my knee jerk post!

[wideawake]

David Mamet has made a number of interesting statements lately.

[Huck]

Also, as a former teacher of constitutional law, Obama gave me "hope I could believe in" that he would rescue the Constitution's separation of powers, resuscitate the Bill of Rights

Hentoff is a fool and a dunce.

[Godwin1]

Hentoff has been the only pro-life liberal in America. How could he have even considered supporting Obama, perhaps the most extreme pro-abortion advocate in American public life?

[tarheelswamprat]

re: points (1) through (5)

These are interesting points I need to research. Thanks for bringing them to my attention.