John Nichols: Obama Tears Down the Wall

[marmar]

from The Nation:



Obama Tears Down the Wall
posted by John Nichols on 07/24/2008 @ 5:36pm





Barack Obama had several responsibilities when he embarked on the global tour that John McCain dared him to make.

The young senator from Illinois needed to establish himself as a credible world leader by going to Iraq and Afghanistan evidencing both his recognition of George Bush's manifest mistakes and his willingness and ability to wage a functional fight against legitimate terrorist threats. Check!

He needed to establish himself as respected commander-in-chief by not just appearing for photo-opportunities with troops in the field but by connecting with soldiers so that that all Americans who recognize their confidence in the man who seeks the authority to send these young men and women into life-and-death battles. Check!

He needed to establish himself as a diplomat capable of finessing the demands of Israelis and Palestinians in a manner that might suggest that, unlike Bill Clinton or George Bush, he is committed to advancing a difficult Middle East peace process from Day 1 of his presidency. Check!

And, of course, he needed to confirm his status as the greatest political orator of the era by delivering far more than just a stump speech in Berlin. Check!

How impressive did Obama's speech have to be to the citizens of Berlin, who greeted the Democrat who would be president with chants of the candidate's "Yes We Can" slogan? ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters/338893

[ulysses]

1. thanks for this.

:thumbsup:

[Butch350]

2. It's Great About the Wall and All But...

If Barack wants to win the election it's now time to bring the road show home and start to make
rounds of the states he's gonna need to win here at home. He is not running for the presidency of Europe - it's time to
start his, " it's the economy stupid " tour! It's fine that he is admired overseas, but it's time to court the voters
here at home, in Michigan, Ohio, maybeeeee Florida. Hello, let's get busy here at home!

[Inuca]

3. And of course that's exactly what he will do n/t

[CTyankee]

4. Have patience. This is part of his plan. First, take care of foreign policy "concerns"

about him, then come backhome and hit hard on economic issues. I am expecting that he'll unveil some economic plans in more detail and have expertly paced campaigning in key states. So far his campaign has been brilliantly planned and executed. We can expect more of the same brilliance once he gets home. I'd buy this stock any day...

[gblady]

5. Immediately after securing the nomination....

starting on June 9th...Barack has been talking about the economy...
he started his first economic tour in N. C. speaking on health care with John and Elizabeth Edwards in attendance
June 10th: at a hospital in St. Louis, speaking on affordable health care
June 11th: roundtable discussion in Chicago on credit card scandals
June 12th: town hall meeting in Wis. discussing financial hardships of families
June 13th: meeting in retirement community in OH re: elder financial troubles...

...and on and on throughout the past 6 weeks...

I think the problem could be lack of substantive coverage of what he has been doing...
because he has been doing it. I don't watch MSM, but this probably only gets a sound bite,
then back to the "horserace".