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February 01, 2008
Election 2008 - the supremacy of feelings
As Karl at PW points out, Republicans are having as many problems with reality as Democrats where it concerns what they feel is their candidate's positions and what those positions actually are. The willfull suspension of disbelief in what McCain's historical behavior towards conservatives even after his crude and dishonest performance at the last debate at the Reagan library is jaw dropping.
On the other side, the Democrat debate at the Kodac Theater overshadowed an earlier appearance by Obama in East Los Angeles, where this Paragon of Post-Racialist campaigning gave a speech that fairly reeked of race-baiting in timehonored, old-school Demagogueryocrat stumping.
“They feel like the education system isn’t designed for people like us, and the job market isn’t designed for people like us. And trying to get a mortgage isn’t designed for people like us. And health care is not designed for people like us,” Obama shouted.“Well let me tell you something, this is our country. America should be designed for people like us." [...]“We have to stop letting those in power turn us against each other. No place do I see this more than in our immigration debate. I am tired of people of people using this as a political football,” Obama said. “We need to solve this problem.”
He said that he worked on comprehensive immigration reform with both Ted Kennedy and John McCain.
"My father when he came here, he didn’t look like you know - he didn’t look like he stepped off the Mayflower."
I'm still trying to locate audio clips of what I heard last night, or at least a transcript. Even without directly quoting Obama, the LATimes wrote of Barry:
landing in diverse Los Angeles just five days before Tuesday's primary, he expanded on his story, painting it in racial tones.
Obama never once used the word "illegal" but only spoke of immigrants and feigned surprise that anyone should worry about immigrants from that place on our border when we aren't equally worrying about Irish or Polish immigrants that overstay their visas.
Obviously, Mr. Barry Obama hasn't spent much time in Southern California emergency rooms, public schools or police stations.
For all the feelings that Obama is the "new generation of leadership today", he's campaigning like it's 1959
Posted by Darleen at February 1, 2008 07:31 AM
Comments
I know Miz Darleen, but the voters seem to like Obama. The voters seem to dislike the GOP in general. In fact so much so, that 2008 could be a remake of 1964.
***
McCain has his problems, but you don't hear him yakking about the flat tax, 'private accounts' and 'cutting back on Medicare'-- that nonsense Newt Gingrich used to talk about back in the 90s. He also doesn't wear his religious beliefs on his sleeve or go around telling people how to live their private lives.
McCain is a realist in a way most politicians now running for office are not. He's had several baptisms of fire in his life. First as a combat pilot, then has an onboard fire-storm survivor (1967) and thirdly as a POW.
Those experiences have combined to concentrate his mind wonderfully.
He isn't the world's best debator, but he clearly can win elections.
Posted by: Carl W. Goss at February 1, 2008 09:43 AM
That wasn't race-baiting. The "they" he was talking about were minorities and immigrants. He was pointing out that there is a feeling amongst some people that they are not full participants in mainstream society, and that needs to change.
Here's the part you dowdified:
"'That’s why I am running for president of the United States of America, for all people, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight all people,' said Obama."
Pretty much the opposite of race-baiting and divisiveness.
Posted by: Josh at February 1, 2008 09:53 AM
They ALL have only one postion, P-A-R-T-Y - for THEM.
Stay on groovin' safari,
Tor
Posted by: Tor Hershman at February 1, 2008 11:39 AM