The Hope of Obama
Monday, November 3rd, 2008
Whenever I talk to Obama supporters, with little exception, they seem to impart their hopes and wishes upon the the vision of the candidate with little or no regard for what he has said or done. But then, he has made promises in his speeches that cover nearly every possible scenario. Whether it be NAFTA, health care, taxation, energy, the war in Iraq, his associations with shady characters, anti-American pastors, unrepentant terrorists or the bailout bill, he has constantly changed his story to cater to the feedback of the polls; move over Bill Clinton, there is a new master of chamillion politics. (more…)
Barack Obama warned us on Wednesday that his Republican opponent, Senator John McCain, will try to scare us saying Obama “doesn’t look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills.” Anyone who rides a bus in a major metropolitan area from time to time is quite aware of, and comfortable with, the ethnic diversity we encounter. None of us would deny the trepidation we experience with the occasional presence of gang bangers, skinheads or mischievous teens we encounter regardless of our own ethnic composition. But I doubt our elected representatives have been inclined to take advantage of the experience in the districts or states they represent. Nor has the press that covers them. 
Barack Obama launched a vigorous ad campaign coupled with stops across the country presenting an image contrary to stands he has taken in the past on a variety of issues including campaign finance, gun control, free trade, welfare reform, FISA legislation, faith based initiatives and Iraq, supported by a series of statements that are contrary to reality. Denying his own image, the new Barack Obama may be a better representation of a third term for George Bush than John McCain. The “Change” Obama constantly preaches appears to be about changing his position on issues to mirror public opinion and altering the facts to support them betting that most of his supporters never paid much attention to them in the first place. 
Barack Obama’s call for change has inspired millions across America, particularly the young, but has never included much substance about where this change would take us or where his notion of change was born. Now with the outbursts of his minister of 20 years, those of his wife, the depth of his relationship with a Chicago operative recently indicted for corruption, his association with an unrepentant terrorist and his elitist statements recorded at a gathering with San Francisco progressives, an unflattering picture has emerged of the candidate. While his campaign has still managed to advance absent any real details of his agenda, we are learning more than many cared to know about his lack of judgment if not his character. 
Barack Obama lured legions of young voters along with starry eyed liberals through 11 successive primary victories gaining a tide of momentum that seamed insurmountable in his bid to become the Democratic Party’s nominee for president. Supported by an endearing liberal media it is incredibly ironic that this hitherto untarnished vision of hope would be exposed by skits on the youth oriented NBC property of Saturday Night Live [ 
Tuesday nights Democratic Presidential Debate in Ohio began with MSNBC’s Brian Williams confronting Senator Hillary Clinton about her change in tone from being “honored” to be sharing the stage with Obama in their last debate to her statement “shame on you Barack Obama” within the following 48 hours. Hillary replied that the change was brought on by Obama’s misrepresentation regarding her health care proposals and position on the North American Free Trade Agreeement [NAFTA]. These tactics are not unlike those perpetrated by Senator John McCain and Governor Mike Huckabee against Governor Mitt Romney. Obama would point out the same had been committed by the Clinton camp against him. But, while there is very little difference in nearly all their positions, Clinton continually points to the fact Obama’s universal health care policy would leave out millions of people who can’t afford it. Obama reiterated his question as to what penalties Hillary would impose and how she would enforce mandatory coverage. It’s never asked if this is what the American people really want. They never talk about how to reduce medical costs only how to finance it. 
Mitt Romney took his leave from the Republican presidential race following disappointing results from Super Tuesday. The event was preceded by a series of seemingly coordinated political attacks from Senator John McCain and Governor Mike Huckabee. There was little doubt of the conspiracy to derail Romney’s efforts in light of what occurred with the West Virginia delegates as recounted in this 
Hillary Clinton once again called for a 90 day moratorium for mortgage foreclosures on owner occupied homes and a 5 year freeze on interest rates on sub-prime mortgages at the star studded political event at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. The idea does not receive the same applause on Wall Street as it did on Hollywood Boulevard last night. Speaking from the floor of NASDAQ last December Hillary called on the investment community to find an alternative to their legal redress being careful to note this wasn’t a quick fix for the industry: 
Hillary Clinton couldn’t get out of South Carolina fast enough after a resounding political defeat at the hands of Barack Obama supporters who garnered 55% of the vote for the Illinois Senator compared to her 27% in Saturday’s Democratic Primary. She ignored the typical conciliatory speech which usually includes expressing gratitude for supporters in favor of heading off to Tennessee to generate a facade of success that will prove to be hollow by the time voters there place their vote amongst the multitude of other primaries slated to take place on “Supper Tuesday,” February 5th. She’ll have more to cry about when she finds her public has seen through her divisive campaign and rejected it’s viscous tactics. 
Politics garnered most of the front page of last Sunday’s Los Angeles Times as might be expected in this Presidential Primary season. The major story was titled