Barack Obama is None Of The Above
(When the Known Quantities numb the mind.)
By Mark Kilmer Posted in Democrats — Comments (5) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
What with John Kerry's reading of the requisite writing on the wall, one of his best fundraisers has gone Obama on him:
One of John F. Kerry's chief fundraisers, Alan D. Solomont, said today he has signed on to help the presidential campaign of Illinois Democrat Barack Obama despite his long-standing ties to another Democratic hopeful, Hillary Clinton of New York.
Solomont, who led a group that raised $35 million in New England alone for Kerry's unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2004, called Senator Clinton "an enormous talent who would be a terrific president" but said Obama, her Senate colleague, is "the sort of person America wants right now in the White House."
(Just as a point of interest, Mother Jones Earth News ran a piece in 2001 linking Solomont's nursing home interests with his political fundraising. It's some mud, if you're curious.)
Like everyone else, Solomont appears to know little about Obama other than the "excitement that his name and candidacy evokes in people who are not necessarily political junkies the way I am."
Solomont been raising New England cash for the Clintons since '92, and he said that Hillary was an "enormous talent who would be a terrific president," but he's taking the leap into the dark with the unknown quantity.
Is Barack Obama the Dems' NOTA ("None Of The Above")? No one, even Obama himself it seems, knows much about him politically, so he might be the choice of those frustrated by looking at the potential roster: Clinton (Hillary), Al Gore, John Kerry, Wes Clark, Bill Richardson, et al. Yes, it seems lame, and Obama, noise unheard, is a blast of excitement. He's smooth, well-spoken, and he has the appearance of a man you'd trust to manage the assets of your elderly and wealthy parents.
Obama-mania is born of a thirst within the Democratic Party for something which cannot be equated with the crust and crud, the deafeningly dull hum, coming from the "everyday Dem wannabes." Obama's a chance to break out and be different, to generate enthusiasm for gawdknowswhat but at least someone's enthused.
Yeah, he's black, which generates its own revolutionary feel. Many people, myself included, would love to see America elect a black President, to prove that we can and would, that we've smashed that barrier. That is a powerful notion, but for me, it is tempered by the fact that the candidate must first prove himself competent and in possession of the proper, conservative vision. For others, its more a wild concept, informed by nothing but skin color.
I think Barack Obama seems an exiting NOTA choice for Dems right now, but as he becomes more a known quantity, the novelty will be replaced by reality and they'll be left with Clinton (Hillary), Al Gore, Wes Clark, Bill Richardson, et al. (John Kerry, as we've heard, will not be "reporting for duty" this time. It's a self-inflicted political-shrapnel wound.)
But NOTA is a nifty dream while it lasts. Have fun, my Democrat friends.
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Barack Obama is None Of The Above 5 Comments (0 topical, 5 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
I find that usually the Democrat Party is interested in surface appeal, they will throw their money at Barack Hussein Obama for the mere fact he looks like he will be great. I suspect once the primaries get down to the nitty gritty he will be left behind when "adults" come to table. Dems are so driven by elitism and superficiality that of course he rises to the top at this juncture but that will change and it won't take a scream to do it.
Peace through superior fire power:)
Besides a decade of public service on record, and an autobiography, Obama is an unkown quantity. Then again, anything to those wearing a blindfold and earplugs is an unknown quantity.
He actually has one of the more informative web sites out there. Issue by issue, his feeling on the issue is listed, and even backed up by a record of him voting on legislaton. Even most of his views are his solution, not just "I hate what Bush is doing on this".
Given all he has out there, Obama isn't all that unknown. The folks at On The Issues seemed to get quite a bit of info on him.
He is no conservative by any stretch of the word. The only comfort conservatives can take in Obama is that he does not support gay marriage, votes for increased law enforcement, and increased defense spending. Things that should worry conservatives is that he supports Bush's amnesty plan, he supports legal abortion, he supports more funding for public education, he supports gun bans, he supports federal funding for alternative energy research, etc.
He is one of the more straightforward candidates when it comes to revealing his views. He is not content criticizing his opposition, but offers his own ideas. That is exactly what makes him such an attractive alternative to other dems. It's what is known, not the unknown that makes him appealing.
It's true, he is different and doesn't fit the conventional politician model. That is strange and unfamiliar, but that is != unknown.
Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams
Obama is the best choice that America has IF
Sure, you can find a lot more, as in boucoup, overwhelming, gigantic proportions, experience in the other Democrat candidates, but is that the experience that America needs? I say No. And again, No.
when he starts in a national campaign. It's a grueling process and a lot of people crack under the pressure, or make mistakes.
Running for President is really not like anything else.
Also, it's my belief, that being a frontrunner this early is not necessarily good. The MSM loves to tear down a frontrunner. In 2000 Bush was being written off as toast until South Carolina, for example, and then there was Clinton in the 92 campaign. Say what you like he did not crack under pressure.
I was thinking the other day about "President Muskie" and how he got whacked in 72. Gary Hart, there have been lots of people taken out by the process.
The Democrats love to eat their own, their primary fights are usually bloodbaths, and this one is just starting.
Personally, I'm guessing they won't nominate Hillary or Obama. Great theater though.
The perennial Dem need for candidates without a record of voting or governing.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill