Thursday, May 08, 2008

It's the Ideas, Stupid

I am struck by how blind the left is to Obama's weakness as a candidate. They have their usual rationalizations for every criticism from the right.

Obama's father was a communist? McCarthyism!

Obama is not electable? Electability is a code word used by racists!

Obama has terrorist friends? Ayers is a distinguished academic. So what if he had a radical youth -- who didn't?

Obama's preacher is an anti-American conspiracy theorist? White America cannot understand black rage!

It seems that Obama himself does not understand the criticism against him.

Obama denounced what he called the Republican campaign plan: "Yes, we know what's coming. ... We've already seen it, the same names and labels they always pin on everyone who doesn't agree with all their ideas."

The attacks are just name calling? This is the kind of self-serving delusion that keeps the left from realistically assessing the American electorate. Voters are smarter than the Democrats think they are; they understand that there are ideas behind the names and the labels.

If Obama is surrounded by far-left anti-Americans, is it not logical to wonder if maybe Obama agrees with them? Is he trying to BS his way to the presidency without revealing what he really thinks?

His wife raises even more suspicions in the minds of voters who are of the far left. She has some sense of humor:

"Asked how she feels about Bill Clinton's use of the phrase "fairytale" to describe her husband's characterization of his position on the Iraq war, (Michelle Obama) first responded: "No."

But, after a few seconds of contemplation, and gesturing with her fingernails, she told the reporter: "I want to rip his eyes out!"

Noticing an aide giving her a nervous look, she added: "Kidding! See, this is what gets me into trouble."

This unpleasantness comes on top of her anti-American statements and her altruist-statist-collectivist vision of widespread sacrifice:

...Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your division. That you come out of your isolation. That you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual; uninvolved, uninformed.

There are profound ideas involved here, and questioning them is not name-calling or McCarthyism. People are justified in wondering just how Barack Obama intends to make them work.

It looks to me like we are in for a dreary autumn season of the left demonizing anyone who criticizes Obama as they strive to shift the focus from his ideas -- anything but an honest examination of what he really believes -- to the evil character of those who would oppose him. The left is projecting its own postmodern contempt of reason onto its enemies. This is the road to defeat for Obama, as I must not believe the American people are yet so dumbed down and corrupted that they cannot see beyond names and labels to the abstract ideas that words denote.

8 comments:

Monica said...

Government is not the enemy, Myrhaf. In fact, it is the solution to all our problems. Don't you know that? Also, Obama is black, has nice white teeth, and his voice puts my mindless head in a trance. blah blah unity. blah blah consensus. blah blah division. blah blah sacrifice. It just makes me all sort of woozy.

Seriously... His recent statements on the gas tax alone display not only complete speculation based on his anti-industry attitude, but gross ignorance of economics. Oh, wait -- I forgot -- all the socialists you describe basically are in the same boat, too. And many conservatives, for that matter.

I am not as optimistic as you are. But we'll see.

Anonymous said...

Given that the alternative to whoever wins the Democratic nomination is John McCain, I honestly don't know what outcome an optimist is hoping for in this election. All the choices are hopeless.

Myrhaf said...

I agree with Kyle. I'm not optimistic. I could even see me voting for Obama if it looks like he will be less effective than McCain in expanding the state. I'll decide after Labor Day.

Anonymous said...

This is why McCain is trying so hard to play the "friendly old grandpa" role; he hopes to be elected by default of Obama's supporters.

principled perspectives said...

The "dreary autumn season" you foresee may be a gross understatement. I'm expecting the ugliest presidential campaign in my lifetime. Any principled opposition will be shouted down by the Obama forces as "racist" and "divisive". This is not going to be fun.

Kyle Haight said...

If you think the campaign is going to be ugly, just wait until you see the resulting administration.

Myrhaf said...

Mike, you might be right.

Jim, I think McCain would be wise to take the high road -- let the blogosphere and talk radio to the negative work while McCain acts like he's above all that. This will appeal greatly to independents, who hate bickering partisan politics.

Kyle, I think you would agree that it will be ugly regardless of who wins. My greatest fear is that the next President will create some sort of national service program for young people. It would be an altruist-collectivist-statist program in which every American must sacrifice two dismal years of his life doing statist make-work. It would be a complete repudiation of the Declaration of Independence -- a Declaration of Interdependence, if some collectivist hasn't already come up with that term.

Anonymous said...

"It would be a complete repudiation of the Declaration of Independence -- a Declaration of Interdependence, if some collectivist hasn't already come up with that term."

Alas.