For Obama, Time To Go Back To What Works

The New Republic: The Democratic Frontrunner Should Return To Themes Of National Unity And Reconciliation

(The New Republic)  This column was written by The Editors.

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For the past month, Barack Obama has been determined to sap the charisma from his campaign. In his quest for the elusive white working class, he has steered away from the type of oratory that once made middle-aged men act like "American Idol" fans. By remaking his stage presence -- lots of nerdy detail, lots of combative rhetoric -- he finally managed to bring Hillary Clinton's impressive electoral machinery to a screeching halt.

But, in the course of assuming this new political persona, he ditched one of his most potent themes. It was a theme that coursed through his best speeches, like the one he gave after winning the Iowa caucus, and it prompted genuinely stirring moments. A few minutes into his victory speech, he had just finished a refrain about people "choosing hope over fear ... choosing unity over division" when, out of the crowd, there suddenly arose a chant. It was a chant that, while familiar to hockey fans and Republicans, was not one typically associated with Democrats. Obama's supporters were chanting "USA! USA!"

This patriotism was at the very core of Obama's original appeal -- the undercurrent of his "one nation" speech at the 2004 convention and his "only in America" autobiographical narrative. And you can understand why it has produced such raw displays of national pride: At a time when Newsweek publishes covers about American decline and polling shows mass despair about the trajectory of the country, Obama's story captures the best about the dynamism and fluidity of our society. It's a shot of idealism when the conversations about our foreign policy and economy have slipped into a despairing realism.

And it's exactly the theme to which he should now return as he turns his campaign toward a Republican foe. The political calculations behind such a pivot are straightforward. The Republicans have already revealed how they will try to portray Obama. Any attacks that smack of race-baiting have the potential to backfire -- which is presumably why John McCain has been so reluctant to criticize Obama for the words of his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. So Republicans will strike a more xenophobic tone. They won't necessarily argue that Obama is actually from another country -- although there will no doubt be some subterranean efforts to do so -- but they will try to paint him as a cultural foreigner. That, of course, is what McCain is trying to do when he attacks Obama for his association with the former Weather Underground member Bill Ayers or for his "endorsement" from Hamas, as if it makes Obama a terrorist himself. It's not just sleaze but Obama's own negligence that has allowed his greatest political strength to become a liability.

How can Obama counter these attacks? He doesn't have a record of military service to fall back on (although, as the Frenchman John Kerry learned in 2004, sometimes not even that is enough). He's also demonstrated an admirable refusal to engage in the silly symbolism that passes for patriotism. But he does have a simple message that insulates him from any charge that he -- and his values -- are foreign. As he famously told the 2004 Democratic convention: "We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America." The criticism launched against him by Clinton and McCain presumes America is irrevocably divided by race and culture. His campaign's central theme is opposition to that prognosis.

Conservatives, too, once appreciated Obama's message. It's a commonplace now among some liberals that the enthusiasm many conservatives displayed for Obama late last year was nothing but political posturing -- an effort to diminish Clinton, who they then assumed would be the Democratic nominee. And there's no doubt that some conservatives were being disingenuous in their early Obamamania. But, at the same time, it's not difficult to see in Obama qualities that conservatives could find appealing. Although some now complain that his post-partisan rhetoric has not been matched by a post-partisan voting record, Obama has taken some notable departures from Democratic orthodoxy. On education, for instance, as Josh Patashnik outlined in these pages ("Reform School," March 26), Obama has supported test-based accountability and performance pay for teachers--two things that are anathema to the teachers' unions and that, for the sake of political expediency, Obama therefore sought to downplay in the Democratic primaries.

But, more than any policy positions, it's Obama's state of mind and unorthodox nature that has the potential to appeal to conservatives. As Douglas Kmiec, a conservative legal scholar who's an "Obamacan," wrote in endorsing the Illinois senator, "Obama and I may disagree on aspects of ... important fundamentals [such as abortion and traditional marriage], but I am convinced, based upon his public pronouncements and his personal writing, that on each of these questions he is not closed to understanding opposing points of view and, as best as it is humanly possible, he will respect and accommodate them."

It's his ability to respect and accommodate that Obama should be able to use to great effect against McCain this November. Although McCain himself was once considered an unorthodox politician, he's largely abandoned his heterodox streak. Indeed, the facts are on Obama's side when he argues that a McCain presidency will be, in essence, a third term for the policies of George W. Bush -- from Iraq to health care to, perhaps most importantly, the economy. The last issue is Obama's most obvious opening. It's not just the fact that we're headed into a recession and McCain has admitted to having a limited knowledge of economics; it's that he has shifted his position on taxation in wildly divergent directions in a relatively concentrated period of time.

This provides ample ground for attack and contrast. And Obama's opposition to the gas-tax holiday was a return to the unconventional Obama. The controversy over the gas tax shows that the press (and even the public) will reward him for standing on principle in the face of potential political damage. But it was merely a first step. And, now that Obama has apparently dispatched with Hillary Clinton, it's time for him to go back to being the candidate he was when he started his campaign -- a candidate of national unity and reconciliation -- because that's the candidate who can win a general election.

[irliberal]

GO OBAMA! WOOHOO!

[debmood]

Senator Obama has won 33 of the 50 states and Hillary has won only 15 (not counting Michigan and Florida)and he has the most pledged delegates. If this was the case for Senator Clinton, and not Senator Obama, the Democratic party''s so called superdelegates would have rallied around her by now. I left the Democratic Party once because they were too weak to stand up for what is right. There is no reason for those superdelegates to let this thing go on and on other than they fear Hillary and Bill Clinton.
With all of the money that Hillary is spending on her campaign, and going into millions of dollars in debt, should be a signal to the Democratic Superdelegates that Hillary cannot stabilize our economy. Who want a President who cannot run an effective campaign? If she cannot control her heavy handed spending, how is she going to control our nation''s debt?
This would not be a waiting game if the Democratic delegates would have the guts to cast their vote for the one with the most pledged delegates and the one who has won 33 states! If the Superdelegates go against the will of the people, I will again leave the Democratic Party. What Hillary and the media are failing to report is that Obama supporters are behind him just as Hillary supporters are behind her. Her supporters are very threatening. Obama supporters prefer not to threaten but to show you how it''s done in November!

[chibing]

WOW.You people are either stupid or spineless. And I''m absolutely amazed at how many of you there are out there.Either too stupid to see who this guy really is,what he really stands for,and how much you''re giving away by not only making him your candidate for the Presidency, but also by groveling at his feet.Or,too spineless to break away from the party line. You see Obama for who he is.But hey,he gives a pretty good speech,he has a nice smile and he uses words that make you "feel good" like HOPE and CHANGE. Yeah, he should be president. Especially at a time like this.By the way, which one of the 57 states are you all registered in.It''ll be interesting to see how he spins that one.Or, maybe the comment that Americans EAT TOO MUCH FOOD and that the rest of the world isn''t okay with that.These are his words folks.
Just because we don''t have any GREAT CANDIDATES in the race this year,or in any recent time for that matter,doesn''t mean you should settle for this. Obama is a joke and a bad one at that.Any real examination of the man reveals him for what he is... a shady, inexperienced, poor politician with deep felt leanings and sympathies to some of the most extreme and outright evil characters of our day.But please vote for him.That''s what stupid, spineless people do.You''ve got plenty of company this year.
After all, it''s really just about getting a DEM in the White House,right.Nice job my fellow Americans.

[chibing]

WOW.You people are either stupid or spineless. And I''m absolutely amazed at how many of you there are out there.Either too stupid to see who this guy really is,what he really stands for,and how much you''re giving away by not only making him your candidate for the Presidency, but also by groveling at his feet.Or,too spineless to break away from the party line. You see Obama for who he is.But hey,he gives a pretty good speech,he has a nice smile and he uses words that make you "feel good" like HOPE and CHANGE. Yeah, he should be president. Especially at a time like this.By the way, which one of the 57 states are you all registered in.It''ll be interesting to see how he spins that one.Or, maybe the comment that Americans EAT TOO MUCH FOOD and that the rest of the world isn''t okay with that.These are his words folks.
Just because we don''t have any GREAT CANDIDATES in the race this year,or in any recent time for that matter,doesn''t mean you should settle for this. Obama is a joke and a bad one at that.Any real examination of the man reveals him for what he is... a shady, inexperienced, poor politician with deep felt leanings and sympathies to some of the most extreme and outright evil characters of our day.But please vote for him.That''s what stupid, spineless people do.You''ve got plenty of company this year.
After all, it''s really just about getting a DEM in the White House,right.Nice job my fellow Americans.

[kingnebo]

Hilory Clinton is cerainly to be noted for her skillful use of hyperbole to get peoples attention, however when searching for solid detailed evidence that would support her claims to significant achievments, the picture becomes murky, confusing,
suggesting total unreliability.

[hsama99]

Wow, kingnebo, what''s up with all of the name calling and false accusations? You sound really angry and hateful. I hope things get better for you.

[bjer2]

You know... Obama is a smart guy. He was head of Harvard Law School''s law review. He has years of experience as a community organizer and as lawyer. Sure, he only has one term, but one term senators can become great presidents (see Abraham Lincoln). So, before you accuse me of being spineless multiple times please recognize that his experience is not that of a traditional politician, but keep in mind traditional politicians now how have approval ratings in the 16-30% range for the house and senate. Bush also has a very low approval rating, and most Americans believe we are headed in the right direction. We need someone with a different perspective and that''s exactly what Obama brings.
I''m not spineless nor are any of his supporters simply for believing that he has the ability to enact a different paradime in this country. i would ask that you and others who flame him take a moment to go to his website and watch his speeches and see if you can''t actually get inspired by his words. You might as well start getting used to how he talks as you''ll likely be hearing a lot more from him over the next 8 years.

[old300d]

Nightline did a piece on Clinton''s math.

What they did not relate it to was Rev. Wright.

Obama presented himself like he was a new kind.

His Rev. Wright connection proved this wrong.

Ever since people found out about his connection to the T.U.C.C. his vote getting skills have dropped off big time ! ! !

I was for Obama until I found out he was a member of a groug that praises the nation of islam and its leader. He still is a member of that group and they still praise L.F.

I have studied the nation of islam for years and know what they are about.

When they gave him that award I really started checking out Obama and his church.

Bad news ! ! ! The press really let us down on this ! ! ! Just like they did with W.M.D.

I have never voted for a Rep. for president but I would never vote for a person that says the nation of islam helps people ! ! !

Obama said that ! ! ! The people of Ken. and W.V. get it ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

[old300d]

Obama is either blind to the truth about the nation of islam or he is not free to speak the truth about the nation of islam. Either way he is not fit to be president of the U.S.A.

[tawpdawg11]

We need a nationwide work and travel stoppage.

Someone please start a website to co-ordinate it. Post it everywhere. E-mail it everywhere.

Do it NOW!

Pick a date. Start with a week or so....see if that has an effect. Independence Day would certainly be appropriate.

Higher oil prices are causing RUNAWAY inflation. It is actually killing people in countries who can no longer pay for food and it is a portense of things to come............here.

We are in deep doo.

Who has the know-how to start the ball rolling? You would be a true patriot and a hero now, legend later.

Do it TODAY!

Posted by TawpDawg11 at 11:54 AM : May 22, 2008

[truthyness]

In a recent picture of Obama, he''s walking with a book in his left hand with his finger in between two pages as if to mark the page. The book is by Fareed Zakaria, entitled The Post-American World.....Post-American?? Post????
The idea here seems to be that as America''s power diminishes, we should set back and do nothing in the hopes that the rest of the world will like us so much that they''ll still let us be a world leader....a pretty wild liberal dream. This seems to go along with a lot of Obama''s ideas...like destroying our Nuclear Arms and them asking the rest of the world to destroy theirs as he said in the last debate he had with Hillary. No wonder he doesn''t want to debate Hillary any more. Open mouth and insert foot disease is not unknown to him. Perhaps the title of his next book.

Obama''s liberalism will lose him and the Democrates the White House.

America wants nothing to do with a POST American candidate.

Vote for America!! Vote for Hillary!!

(if not Hillary, then McCain!!)

[endpcnow]

Why does Obama refer to himself as "black" if he is half white also? Hmmmmmmm.

[chad55555]

He has done his job well and fooled most of the people,even the most educated are under his thumb,his money comes from the Muslim world and blacks in this country that want to see the end of America. I think the bible speaks of a person like this in the end days. ALL WILL BE FOOLED INTO THINKING HE IS A GREAT MAN.

[it_oldtimer]

Quote: Truthyness: "Vote for America!! Vote for Hillary!! (if not Hillary, then McCain!!)"

Here we have an absolutely sterling example of all that''s gone wrong with American youth, in this current day and age - ROTFLMAO!

What an absolutely HOPELESS dweeb...

[it_oldtimer]

And right behind truthyness we have to usual collection of right-wing religious nuts and red-neck racists...gee...what a surprise...