Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Obama Redux
Hernando Today ^ | 4/12/2008 | JOHN REINIERS

Posted on 04/12/2008 7:13:00 PM PDT by markomalley

Sen. Barack Obama, as a political force, is truly remarkable. It speaks volumes about the American Democrat electorate, and nothing about the candidate, other than his significant rhetorical skills.

He has no credentials as a senator, a national politician, businessman, military expert or a professional anything. Yet he is an American celebrity being touted as an agent of change by the media and the majority of Democrats.

Two salient factors are in play: He doesn't have to reinvent himself politically because he was nothing before, and, thus, he can pit himself against anyone with a track record. (Think Sen. Hillary Clinton.) And he is seen as pristine; virginal. He represents purity and hope. He carries no years of political baggage that he has to explain away. Inspiring fairytales have no negative prefaces.

Obama was just another of the gazillion lawyers in American politics, having served in the Illinois Senate from 1997-2004, primarily because he lost his first run for Congress in 2000 in a Democratic primary. Ironically, had he won, he would have not been elected to the U.S. Senate, which gave him national recognition and a critical invitation to be the keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, which prompted his presidential run. (Recall that just 10 years before, Gov. Mario Cuomo also delivered a rhetorically dynamic keynote address that vaulted him into presidential consideration.)

It is fair to say Obama is an "empty suit," because he is better known for what he hasn't done. Even as a state senator he had a history of voting "present" on important legislation. It takes a "yes" vote to pass a bill in Illinois. A "present" vote is tantamount to a "no" vote, but gives a legislator political cover, rather than demonstrating leadership on critical issues.

Republican Wendell Willkie (1940) was perhaps the only other presidential candidate with as thin a record. Willkie, was an unlikely candidate, because he had no political experience, unlike Obama, and had been a Democrat until just before the convention.

But Willkie did have extensive experience as president of the largest utility holding company in the U.S. So while he was a "political" empty suit, he otherwise filled out his clothes nicely. Fittingly, (pun intended) Obama's supporters ballyhoo his incredible leadership skills in running a better campaign than the Clinton camp. (Clearly he has.) They see this as a clear indication Obama will be an effective president. (Really? Isn't there more to being president?)

Similarly, they predict he will have great leadership skills in foreign relations because he traveled to Kenya, and had been a student in Indonesia in his younger years. Sure. But many college students have backpacked to more places than that and are hardly qualify to be president of the United States.

In fact, Obama has made some naïve foreign policy pronouncements, such as agreeing to meet with the leaders of Iran, Venezuela, Syria and North Korea without any preconditions or diplomatic preparation. Even Hillary Clinton thought that was irresponsible and would create a propaganda coup for these rogue nations.

While on a campaign stop, Sen. John McCain was asked about the U.S. possible staying in Iraq for 50 years. McCain said, "Make it a hundred," pointing out we've been in Japan and South Korea for more than 50 years. His point was that maybe our presence would provide regional stability, as it is now in Kuwait since 1991.

Even though McCain made it clear that it would be "fine" with him "as long as Americans aren't being injured or harmed...," Obama said that "We are bogged down in a war that McCain now suggests might go on for another 100 years." Even when reporters explained to him what McCain really said, he will not retract his criticism, and repeats it whenever he can. One of Obama's advisers reportedly said, "It's seldom you get such a clean shot." (The subtext is that you can never underestimate the intelligence of the average American voter.)

This from a man who will bring about "change," bridge the divide in American politics, and "heal America and repair the world" with his superior judgment and leadership skills. What else can he say? He hasn't accomplished anything. So he engages in rhetorical chicanery.

Years of sick and relentless anti-Bush haranguing by the traditional media and Democrats have finally taken its toll. Democrats are willing to vote for anybody but a Republican. O.K., I can understand this, but they prefer an "empty suit" to a Mrs. Clinton. Why? Because it all has to do with beating a Republican, and a recent NBC poll has Obama with a net-positive rating of 49-32 over Mrs. Clinton.

Democrats would nominate Osama Bin Laden if they thought he had a better chance of beating a Republican than Barack Hussein Obama in the general election. It has nothing to do with what is best for our country - but everything to do with who will win and give the Democrats back the presidency.


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: blueturban
Democrats would nominate Osama Bin Laden if they thought he had a better chance of beating a Republican than Barack Hussein Obama in the general election.

Quote of the day...

1 posted on 04/12/2008 7:13:00 PM PDT by markomalley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: markomalley
And if Obama loses, all hell will break lose on the Left...

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

2 posted on 04/12/2008 7:16:08 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
"It is fair to say Obama is an "empty suit," because he is better known for what he hasn't done. "

I prefer to paraphrase Stephen King; he's an empty shadow standing where a man should be.

3 posted on 04/12/2008 7:21:35 PM PDT by OKSooner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
He doesn't have to reinvent himself politically because he was nothing before, and, thus, he can pit himself against anyone with a track record. (Think Sen. Hillary Clinton.) And he is seen as pristine; virginal.

With those qualifications, in 8 to 10 weeks, he will make a good fryer.


4 posted on 04/12/2008 7:21:59 PM PDT by Polybius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
Photobucket
5 posted on 04/12/2008 7:22:37 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

Not so much on the left but in the ghettos of America.


6 posted on 04/12/2008 7:24:14 PM PDT by Boblo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

So he would be known as President Empty-Suit????


7 posted on 04/12/2008 7:29:28 PM PDT by ErieGeno
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
["He has no credentials as a senator, a national politician, businessman, military expert or a professional anything. Yet he is an American celebrity being touted as an agent of change by the media and the majority of Democrats....Obama's supporters ballyhoo his incredible leadership skills in running a better campaign than the Clinton camp....They see this as a clear indication Obama will be an effective president."]

And yet, Obama gets a pass from the same MSM who cried about GW's "lack of qualifications" in 2000. These people shouldn't be trusted to run a Kool Aide Stand. More proof that Liberalism is a mental disorder.

8 posted on 04/12/2008 7:44:05 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham ("The land of the Free...Because of the Brave")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Obama = Racist, Marxist, Muslim, Anti-American, Black Radical....enough said....


9 posted on 04/12/2008 8:06:05 PM PDT by homeguard ((Charlie Don't Surf!))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
if Obama loses, all hell will break lose on the Left...

Certainly led by The New Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam.

10 posted on 04/12/2008 8:06:37 PM PDT by BARLF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Polybius

Or a good roooooooost chicken.


11 posted on 04/12/2008 8:21:32 PM PDT by OeOeO (maybe I didn't come over on the Mayflower, but I got here as soon as I could" Anton Cermak)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: BARLF
Certainly led by The New Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam

And people need to wake up to this reality - These are his 'family'

12 posted on 04/12/2008 8:34:15 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time" LINCOLN)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: maine-iac7

Exactly.


13 posted on 04/12/2008 9:05:13 PM PDT by BARLF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
He has no credentials as a senator, a national politician, businessman, military expert or a professional anything.

He's a successful author with two major works of fiction to his name.

14 posted on 04/12/2008 9:06:26 PM PDT by freespirited
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freespirited
He's a successful author with two major works of fiction to his name

Obama is a fiction of a person

15 posted on 04/12/2008 9:14:09 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time" LINCOLN)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson