Obama's Vague Promise Of Change

National Review Online: Democrat Is Inspiring, But How He Would Govern Remains Unknown

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Victor Davis Hanson.

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In these uncertain times, the relatively new Sen. Barack Obama has become America’s “change” candidate. But how different in real terms is the Obama candidacy?

Obama’s father was from Kenya, and he grew up for a time in Indonesia. But, otherwise, Obama was raised by his white mother and grandparents in a middle-class suburb in Hawaii - a unique upbringing in the 1970s but hardly so in today’s multiracial and itinerant America.

At private school, he was sometimes known as Barry. Perhaps had he taken the name of his maternal family who raised him - Dunham - a Sen. Barry Dunham of mixed ancestry from Illinois would now not be causing quite the same sensation.

Indeed, a Sen. Dunham may have been viewed as a minority candidate to the same limited degree that a similar staid-sounding Gov. Bill Richardson resonated as a Mexican American.

True, many blacks may have voted for Obama because he’s a gifted charismatic role model and in belief that his agenda will offer welcome change. But he apparently has far less appeal to other minority groups as a grassroots alternative. Both Hispanics and Asians have voted against him in large numbers.

Take away the exotic name and Sen. Obama’s early background is not all that different from millions in an increasingly racially mixed and diverse America, in which a woman, a Latino, an Italian-American, a Mormon, a popular TV actor, and a 71-year-old all ran for president this year. Three of these candidates also survived cancer.

Obama’s later Ivy-League education and political career resemble those of many elites in both parties. While Sen. and Mrs. Obama lecture, in populist fashion, about the burdens of school loans, they are really talking about paying off their two Harvard Law School tuitions, degrees that are not typical of struggling students, but instead government-guaranteed investments in the good life - as their 2006 joint income of nearly a million dollars attests.

Of course, from the little we know about his vague proposals, Obama certainly seems to offer a different choice from the current administration: quick withdrawal from Iraq, formal talks with Iran, and essentially a worldwide conference with the Muslim world to iron out our differences.

At home, Obama sometimes advocates repealing the Bush tax cuts and raising some revenue through higher taxes - all to pay for vague Great Society government programs for the middle class, students, and the poor. But few could list many key differences between Obama’s platform and Hillary Clinton’s views.

Where did we get the notion that Obama is the avatar of change? The answer is again not just that he is part black. (A Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton, for example, would go nowhere.) Or that he has new policies or ideas. In fact, to the extent Obama has laid out any details of a program, they aren’t any more novel than those of his rivals.

Instead, he is the change candidate for two simple reasons. First, Obama is fresh, without the albatross of a long political career around his neck. We know little about him - and too much about the others. The more he sticks with generalities, the less he offends particular constituents - without having to make tough choices that day after day might keep offending 49 percent of the electorate.

Second, Obama is a stylish, inspirational speaker - a sort of elegant Adlai Stevenson of the 1950s and the hip, young Gary Hart of the 1980s all in one. He is wonderful in repartee, smart, full of good grace - and without the shrillness of Clinton, or the occasional temper of John McCain.

If anything, Obama resembles the handsome, well-spoken Robert Redford character Bill McKay, of the 1972 movie The Candidate, but updated for the new millennium: brighter, more charismatic, and multicultural.

In these divisive times of war and economic anxiety, a tired public apparently wants someone hip, upbeat, reassuring in talk, and fresh in spirit, but not too specific in prescribing any painful remedies for our various maladies.

As it turns out, there are not all that many handsome, young natural speakers, with a hint of mystery and the promise of racial harmony - at least none who speak inspirationally, respond to criticism with humor, and are genuinely nice guys.

At least in that cosmetic sense, Obama really is a rarity - a pleasant change in other words from what we’re used to seeing and hearing, past and present.

If Obama can translate all that into true leadership and effective policy that would be real change. If not, we’ll be asking the same question posed by Robert Redford’s character Bill McKay to end The Candidate: “What do we do now?”

[knyghtwolf]

Bush: Keep Abstinence in AIDS Program. This is his answer to improving his image, more American tax dollars on foreign aid, while our health care here suffers beyond reproach.

[it_oldtimer]

The GOP is the party of failure, ideologically and politically bankrupt. They won''t regain the White House, the Senate or the House for a long time.

The Dems have a choice between a skilled, experienced political infighter (Hillary), and a somewhat new and idealistic visionary (Obama).

I think Hillary is too contentious to break away from "partisan politics as usual". She''s not a unifying personality.

Obama is a charismatic natural leader. He paints ideas with a broad brush, and then energizes people to believe in them, and work hard to achieve them.

Obama reminds me of JFK, who''s "Ask not..." style bridged partisan boundaries, and whose accomplishments were not heralded as Democratic victories, but as national accomplishments that all Americans could take great pride in.

Obama has that same innate motivational skill, and the vision to give it meaningful direction. This is a natural gift; it can''t be taught. You''re either born with it, or you''re not, and he''s got it.

We don''t need a skilled infighter right now, we need an inspired visionary to unite us in a common purpose and lead us out of this Dark Age of Divisiveness.

I don''t want the most "experienced" candidate; that just leads to continuing gridlock. I want one who''s not afraid to think big, and to think "outside the box". One who dares to have great ideals, and who trusts in the greatness of the American people to recognize his vision and make it a reality that we can all be proud of.

[user168-2009]

The TRUTH is, we must teach our children to LOVE.

When Bill Clinton trash his presidency with scandal, putting self-gratification ahead of family, society, country, and the world, he was preaching self-love, narcissism, and self-seeking. That is setting the worst example any leader could to harm a world of youths and their tomorrows.

Does Bill care about anyone?

When Hillary dismissed the scandal as if it were no big deal, She was protecting HER candidacy and both of their images. Were she to be concern about today''s youth and their (moral) education, she would have dismissed Bill instead.

Where is her (Hillary) sincerity?

Bill and Hillary, if only you would hold children close to your hearts, you should have no room for lies, wrongdoing, and self-gratification. And only then would you see wisdom, compassion, and courage!

Bill and Hillary, you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Our nation''s youth is smarter than you think. By voting WISDOM, COMPASSION, and COURAGE in OBAMA, they have thus dismissed the self-seeking-dead-end-street of such cheap, narcissistic, and calculating Clintons.

So be it that the nation''s youth sees HOPE and UNIVERSAL TRUTH in OBAMA:

"Love each other or perish."

"From caring comes courage."

"LIVE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD."

[user168-2009]

The TRUTH is, we must teach our children to LOVE.

When Bill Clinton trash his presidency with scandal, putting self-gratification ahead of family, society, country, and the world, he was preaching self-love, narcissism, and self-seeking. That is setting the worst example any leader could to harm a world of youths and their tomorrows.

Does Bill care about anyone?

When Hillary dismissed the scandal as if it were no big deal, She was protecting HER candidacy and both of their images. Were she to be concern about today''s youth and their (moral) education, she would have dismissed Bill instead.

Where is her (Hillary) sincerity?

Bill and Hillary, if only you would hold children close to your hearts, you should have no room for lies, wrongdoing, and self-gratification. And only then would you see wisdom, compassion, and courage!

Bill and Hillary, you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Our nation''s youth is smarter than you think. By voting WISDOM, COMPASSION, and COURAGE in OBAMA, they have thus dismissed the self-seeking-dead-end-street of such cheap, narcissistic, and calculating Clintons.

So be it that the nation''s youth sees HOPE and UNIVERSAL TRUTH in OBAMA:

"Love each other or perish."

"From caring comes courage."

"LIVE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD."

[user168-2009]

"There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, and lovers of gain."

Obama: lover of wisdom
McCain: lover of honor
Clinton: lover of gain

Obama appears to have greater appeal to highly educated Americans. WHY?

Highly educated people are those who have acquired imparting of knowledge, positive judgment and well-developed WISDOM - consisting of ideals and principles that govern all actions and decisions to maximize the LONG-TERM COMMON GOOD, and so are the highly educated Americans.

It is for LONG-TERM COMMON GOOD we EDUCATE our YOUTH, and so be it that the highly educated seek PURPOSE in LONG-TERM COMMON GOOD. This is called COMMON SENSE.

So be it that the highly educated seek WISDOM and its TRUTH in their choice of a president!

If you seek not WISDOM in a leader, what then, do you seek? If you hold not TRUTH, FAITHFULNESS, and SINCERITY as your first principles, what then, do you hold?

If you are A PARENT, AN EDUCATOR, OR A COMMUNITY LEADER, and if you seek not such LONG-TERM COMMON GOOD, you care not about the children, family, community, society, country, or THE COMMON WORLD.

How can we let our CHILDREN follow such self-gratifying Clintons??


"LIVE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD."

This is what the highly educated are going for.

[tibu987]

Will you forget for a minute that Obama is black, and for the women out there, a male.
I see Obama, as having the audacity to hope, the audacity to mention the things that are wrong and what needs to be done in order to reunite this country. To bring back the esteem this nation used to have and to lift it to the heights it deserves. To try to mediate the destructive partisan politics that only divides and harms our country.
Sounds good to me.

[tibu987]

Reality check.
All the candidates make promises that they may sincerely want to make but which, when the reality of taking office happens, may not be as easy to implement as first promised, but that does not diminish the hope for favorable changes. Like any other president in history, one of the very first things they do is surround themselves with capable, select advisers and cabinet members (except Bush) who most match their beliefs and hopes for the future.
Certainly, it would be naive to think that a president walks into the White House, waves a magic wand, and thus makes all his wishes come true.
It will be the same for whomever becomes president, Democrat or Republican.

[fredcs25]

Universal health care is not universal access to health care...there exist a huge difference.Check the European countries and Canada before you wreck private insurance companies.Both Billaries and Obama''s plan is deeply flawed in reality and the next question is who is going to pay for a 300 billion dollar health care plan?You are in raised taxes.

[runningralph]

Mcvet,
You''ve got a real smart dog there. Is her name Sparky? She doesn''t believe in balancing the budget, eh? Is she speaking to you right now?

[rowdytexan2]

"The more he sticks with generalities, the less he offends particular constituents - without having to make tough choices that day after day might keep offending 49 percent of the electorate."

That''s right! This is his modus operandi. He NEVER takes a stance. He doesn''t have a stance! He just wants to be the first black in the White House! That''s all he''s got. When it comes to moving and shaking the legislative process for the good of the people he is clueless!

Keep up the good work Hillary! Fight like a tiger! We need competence in the White House.

[erichsh]

skyk, you say we can''t cut spending. So what''s your solution? What do you think Obama''s solution is? Tax the rich and those greedy corporations?

The cost of the Iraq war is but a a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of all the expanded social programs you would like to see. There wasn''t universal healthcare before the war, there were still poor people before the war, etc., so don''t blame Iraq for what you perceive as a lack of sufficient government programs.

There simply are not enough rich people to pay the bills for all these welfare-state programs. And those greedy corporations are the ones providing tax-paying jobs - not the government. For everyone who only grouses about how evil Bush is, how the poor are getting screwed etc., but never propose economically viable solutions, I can only suspect you secretly hate capitalism itself and would prefer to see it replaced with a socialist or communist government.

[bluestardad]

OBVIOUSLY OBAMA HAS NOT SOLD OUT TO THE STAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOR EVER CROWD!

THIS PRO ISRAELI RAG HATES HIM!

AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!

[skyk-2009]

I don''t know who will come out on top for the Democrats. It is truly, after all I''ve seen in my lifetime, exciting to see a woman and a black fighting for the right to become the President of this nation. One thing though is perfectly clear we MUST make the change NOW. Waiting and HOPING that somehow the insanity of "Trickle Down" will work is only making the job more difficult. We hear the same tired old things out of the Republican''s... we''ll cut your taxes, cut spending and balance the budget. WHO in their right mind, at this stage, actually BELIEVES that? Cut WHERE? With the cost of the NEEDLESS War in Iraq, the way our roads and necessary services are falling apart, a failed and worthless Health Care System, the boomers going into Social Security, and the loss of ALL the good jobs in this nation exactly what are they planning on cutting? What spending can they cut that can even come close to making up that kind of gap? When a Party takes a Balanced Budget and a Surplus and rolls the dice on MORE "Trickle Down" just to have the dice turn up snake eyes, there is no "Stay the Course" possible. There''s no one left for Republican''s to blame. There''s no excuse left. They have not just failed, they have completely and totally failed in every aspect PERIOD!

[quatrops]

Hillary supporters, you just don''t get it !

As she is all too willing to point out, she has been part of the Democratic "experienced establishment" in Washington far longer than Obama.

Now, look at the "approval ratings" of the Democratic-controlled congress (since 2006). Those ratings are MULTIPLE PERCENTAGE POINTS BELOW the historically low ratings of Bush!

American voters aren''t stupid. They KNOW that congress has had a difficult time because of actual or threatened vetoes by Bush. But they still answer "NO" on approval.

So here it is for you, ladies and gents, in full caps: THE AMERICAN VOTERS WANT A PRESIDENT WITH THE LEAST WASHINGTON ESTABLISHMENT EXPERIENCE!

Get it?

[karen362]

I just read some of the opinions here and just what i am afraid of is what is happening. By the time November rolls around if Obama is the front guy, most people would simply vote for McCain because the glaze would have worn off by then and the reality that he is a black young, inexperienced guy will set it. Don''t get it wrong, I am young and black too but female. I am not saying Clinton is better because she is a woman, she has earned her keep and has years of experience during the other Clinton era. Did we do that poorly when Clinton was in power, of course not. Americans need to pay attention, we are being sucked in again by the great campaign strategies of the other side. Just the same we were driven by fear during the last election so we could vote once again for the Republicans, they used the threat of terrorist to keep the people under their thumb. Not only am i afraid of a Bush re-run with McCain, I think he is more of a war monger than Bush is. He has been a prisoner of war, he has a chip on is shoulder just the same Bush had a score to settle for his dad and look where we are today, stuck in Iraq. AMERICA....wake up!!!

[karen362]

What''s wrong with America? Are we paying attention? McCain means more time in war for the soldiers. I am a soldier and i sure do not want more of the same and more wars. Obama is too inexperienced for leadership of this country. If we put Obama out there in the front, between now and the elections the other side is going to swing the people''s opinions and before you know it we have another Republican in the white house. What are we doing? Hillary is the best choice out there. The media is poisoning the country against her. We are setting ourselves up for failure if we don''t start paying attention. Is anyone concerned about the slipping of the U.S. dollar? I live in Europe and Americans look like fools in the eyes of the Europeans. What''s going on?

[user168-2009]

"I would simply be uncomfortable being in a campaign that would be inevitably attacking Barack Obama," said McCain adviser Mark McKinnon in an interview with NPR''s "All Things Considered." "I think it would be uncomfortable for me, and I think it would be bad for the McCain campaign."

That said.

OBAMA WILL BEAT CLINTON AND McCAIN BECAUSE NO EDUCATED PERSON WANTS TO ATTACK HIM.

"Only once in a very long time does politics become more than politics, that is something more than partisan struggle, vote bartering, or arena of ambition...

... on rare occasion, old arrangements and conventional wisdom come unstuck. This happens in periods of rapid if not revolutionary change. We find ourselves now in one of those periods. The forces of globalization, information, eroding sovereignties, and transformation of war ensure that traditional leaders and conventional politics can only muddle through at best and fail badly at worst."

"Therefore, the good of man must be the end of the science of politics."

"There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands."

So let it be that our YOUTH sees HOPE in UNIVERSAL TRUTH:

"Love, or we shall perish."

"LIVE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD."

GO! OBAMA!

[jamurphy4]

This was copied from the CNN website .. By Roland S. Martin .. CNN Contributor
(CNN) -- NAACP Chairman Julian Bond''s decision to weigh in on the Democratic Party''s conundrum when it comes to seating delegates from Michigan and Florida has created a firestorm of discussion on blogs and talk shows, and frankly, I''m still unclear as to what his intent was.

Gee Roland, I think his intent is to see that all the people of the USA have their votes counted.. Just because your a very vocal supporter of Obama, doesn''t mean that all Black''s have to follow your lead.. Some have supported Hillary Clinton all along, and will help put her in the White House.. The DNC must seat both States, or pay to hold another Election.

[sophielhu]

For many of us, Obama has those qualifications. And, for many of us, you KNOW where you can put those "experienced" Washington insiders. And if not there, they can go sit in a retired Cheney''''s den with him . . . cigar in hand, counting his Halliburton millions, and with his usual smirk, laughing about what fools he made of the American people.
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[irliberal]

McCain is just a Bush rerun. Obama isn''t ready to be President. Perhaps vice. GO HILLARY 2008! You are the only one with the guts, stamina, know-how and drive to be our President, and Obama could help you, if you want to let him. GO HILLARY 2008! WOOHOO!