'I've lost faith in The Messiah': How EDWARD HEATHCOAT AMORY lost his Obama-mania

dailymail.co.uk ^ | October 14, 2008 | Edward Heathcoat-amory

[Free ThinkerNY]

Four years ago, during one of the dullest and most depressing American presidential election campaigns in living memory, I happened by chance to watch an obscure senator from Illinois deliver a speech to the Democratic National Convention.

It was electrifying. I can still remember the power of his voice, as he said: 'I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.'

Barack Obama was the best political speaker I'd seen in my lifetime. And I wasn't the only one who thought so. He walked off that stage a star, and four years later he is the Democratic candidate for President of the United States.

My enthusiasm that day is now shared by millions, in America and in Europe. He gives hope to those of us in Britain who admire what America stands for but can't abide George Bush, with his cowboy boots, prayer meetings and appalling judgment - over Iraq, in particular.

For us, Barack Obama - who risked his career with a speech in 2002 against the war - seems to be the man who can decontaminate the American brand.

So I've rooted for Obama as he fought first to defeat Hillary Clinton and now John McCain, his admirable but not inspirational opponent. I've followed Obama's speeches on YouTube, and they've gone on getting better.

I've listened to him narrate his own remarkable autobiography - Dreams From My Father - and I've willed him on to victory.

Then a friend recommended a short book entitled The Case Against Barack Obama, by a respected U.S. investigative journalist called David Freddoso,

[Salvation]

Not really another PUMA then?

[RobbyS]

The truth is what is inside of his head, but from his lips we hear only what he thinks will persuade us to support him.