Nat Hentoff: Disillusioned about Barack Obama

[stimbox]

Nat Hentoff: Disillusioned about Barack Obama
By Nat Hentoff -
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, July 17, 2008

During my more than 60 years of covering national politics, I have never seen a candidate's principles and character so effectively tarnished — after so extraordinarily inspiring a start — as Barack Obama's. He has come to resemble another mellifluous orator I came to know in Boston during my first time reporting on a campaign — James Michael Curley, the skilful prestidigitator whom Spencer Tracy masterfully played in the movie "The Last Hurrah." Obama's deflation has not been due to ruthless opposition research by John McCain's team but by the "change" candidate himself. Like millions of Americans, I, for a time, was buoyed by not only the real-time prospect of our first black president but much more by the likelihood that Obama would pierce the dense hypocrisy and insatiable power-grabbing of current American politics.

Also, as a former teacher of constitutional law, Obama gave me "hope I could believe in" that he would rescue the Constitution's separation of powers, resuscitate the Bill of Rights and begin to restore our reputation around the world as a truly law-abiding nation. Savoring the high expectations he had secured among so many Americans, Obama has decided he can also come closer to securing the Oval Office by softening his starlight enough to change some of his principles toward the calming center of our stormy political waters.

In a defense by Dan Gerstein, a New York political consultant — echoing what you'll be hearing more of from Obama's campaign operatives — the gossamer script goes: "He is trying to broaden his appeal to a larger electorate and to be true to this postpartisan, unifying message that he's been campaigning on." But instead of the ennobling clarion trombones of CHANGE we have been promised, this "adjusting" of one's principles has long been the common juggling of our common politicians.

Accordingly, as his presidential campaign gathered such momentum, Obama, with justifiable pride, pointed to the resounding fact that most of the bountiful funds he was raising came from small donors, "the people," not the sort of supporters who move above us in private jet planes.

http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/1087993.html

[Hydra]

1. I've said that a turtle in a suit could beat McCain or any other Repub right now

But apparently squandering a tactical and moral advantage is a special talent of our leaders.

[bemildred]

2. Hentoff reminds me of Nader some times, the sanctimoniousness, the self-approval.

Obama's first job is to get elected, then we will see. You won't find Mother Theresa in the US Senate.

[babylonsister]

3. Nice source; supported 2003 Iraq invasion, critical of ACLU, opposes abortion...

he's a libertarian. Not much of a surprise he doesn't like Obama. I'm sure he wishes Ron Paul was in this position.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_Hentoff

Personal politics

Hentoff is known as a civil libertarian, free speech activist, and anti-death penalty advocate, but he is often critical of the ideological left. He also supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In recent years, Nat Hentoff has become a vocal critic of the American Civil Liberties Union (an organization he once supported) for its advocacy of government-enforced campus and workplace speech codes. He now serves on the board of advisors for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, another civil liberties group. Hentoff's book, Free Speech for Me — But Not for Thee, outlines his views on free speech and excoriates those who he feels favor censorship in any form.

Hentoff is critical of Bush Administration policies such as the Patriot Act and other civil liberties implications of the recent push for "homeland security." He was also strongly critical of Clinton Administration policies such as the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.

In February 2003, Hentoff signed a letter circulated by Social Democrats, USA advocating the removal of Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq on human rights grounds, citing reports detailing Hussein's disregard for fundamental liberties. In March and April of that year Hussein was deposed by a US-led invasion, launching the ongoing Iraq war. In summer 2003, Hentoff wrote a column for the Washington Times in which he supported Tony Blair's humanitarian justifications for the war. He also criticized the Democratic Party for casting doubt on President Bush's pre-war assertions about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction in an election year.

Despite what are generally considered liberal views on domestic policy and civil liberties, Hentoff developed views opposed to abortion, voluntary euthanasia and the selective medical treatment of severely disabled infants in the 1980s.<2> Hentoff declared that his views had nothing to do with his Jewish faith (He has described himself as a 'Jewish atheist'). Hentoff said that shortly after he "came out" as an opponent of abortion, several of his colleagues at The Village Voice stopped speaking to him. In October 2005, Hentoff was honored by the Human Life Foundation at their third annual Great Defender of Life dinner.

[stimbox]

4. He's a civil libertarian, not a Libertarian. n/t

[babylonsister]

5. My apologies; yes, still doesn't negate his other stands. nt

[stimbox]

7. That doesn't mean everything he writes is suspect. I don't agree with everything he writes. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

10. yeah, Hentoff is printed locally here every week

and his analyses are usually shit

[DinahMoeHum]

6. (Yawn!) another case of the Nothing But The Best For The Oppressed

syndrome befalling another pundit.

Me, I'm not looking for a messiah or a savior - I just want someone with smarts who is halfway competent and compassionate and will inspire us to our best rather than pander to the worst in us. Obama fits that bill. He's not perfect, but he's the best we've got - and right now I will settle for that.

:kick:

[MadMaddie]

8. Yawn....

[struggle4progress]

9. Hentoff's been writing for the Moonies -- who never willingly promote clear thinking

[elkston]

11. Hmmm.. I prefer Hentoff the Jazz critic. n/t

[Joe Bacon]

12. I've ignored this fool ever since he advocated Clinton's impeachment.

He's just a self centered gasbag. I still remember hearing him on KPFK going livid when Clinton wasn't removed from office. He went on a wild rant calling for Clinton's indictment. He's an idiot.