Barack Obama Is the Almighty - Bow Down To Him Now (by David Sirota)

[oberliner]

There was an intense discussion at the Huffington Post and DailyKos about my post on Illinois Sen. Barack Obama - sorry, I mean, the Lord of all living beings. The threads of attack are pretty predictable, falling into two camps: 1) Barack Obama was a great state legislator in Illinois even if he hasn't done much OR EVEN TRIED TO DO MUCH in the Senate, and therefore he is the second coming of the Almighty or 2) Barack Obama is just really incredibly awesome for no actual substantive reason, and therefore he is the second coming of the Almighty.

My favorite is this excerpt, on Politicalwire:

"The difference between Obama and other possible 2008 contenders is stark, and not limited to Iraq policy positions. He continues to speak on a more grand scale...Obama's grandiose vision of America to many, he is not an empty-suited young politician, as his challengers will say. He is a figure that directs the soul of the nation."

I'm not sure how to really argue with any of these absurd cliches because they are so fact-free, so without any regard for any actual substance, that it approaches a religious fervor. He is a "grand" deity with a "grandiose vision" who "directs the soul of a nation." He is Abe Lincoln and George Washington combined. He is all the Founding Fathers, the Greek philosophers, Mother Theresa, the Pope and every biblical prophet rolled into one man who can personally connect with every living organism in the universe at the very same moment. His mere touch can heal the sick and bring food to the hungry. As one commenter said, if you apply Obama topically, he cures cancer. He can walk on water and split oceans to lead the people to their freedom...I mean, really - does it ever end?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/barack-obama-is-the-almig_b_35415.html

[Jcrowley]

1. Cult of personality

all too common in consumer culture. For many years, election campaigns here have been run by the public relations industry and each time it’s with increasing sophistication. Quite naturally the industry uses the same technique to sell candidates that it uses to sell toothpaste or lifestyle drugs. The point is to undermine markets by projecting imagery to delude and suppressing information—and similarly, to undermine democracy by the same method.

[wisteria]

2. I agree with Sirota.

The man is not ready to become President of the United States. A personality and some nice words are not all that is required to get the job done.

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. The Dali Lama Obama

The spin that he's gotten is really pretty amazing.

He may very well eventually demonstrate "the stark difference" between himself and other possible contenders. Until then, it's just marketing.

[Gloria]

4. He got elected, then signed a 3-book contract....right then, my cynicism

meter turned on. What has he really done? I'm already sick of him and the hype. My one consolation is that he may peak way too early....

[AtomicKitten]

5. I like Obama.

And I think it's foolish for people to summarily dismiss him prematurely. Since when did creating a buzz become a bad thing?

[gorbal]

6. I was thinking all the overkill might hurt him

Then I saw him speak on tv the other day and all those thoughts washed away somehow.

[Connie_Corleone]

7. If he runs and wins the nomination, I'll gladly support him. nt

[dipsydoodle]

8. How does he compare with J.F. Kennedy

before he was elected in '61 ?

I'm not asking out of cynicism - I'm asking because I'm interested to know. To me, just watching our news over here, Obama is the only person who has got Kennedy's charisma which can be an important influence.

[michaelwb]

11. Quite a bit

Elected to multiple terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1946, 1948, 1950) Elected twice to the U.S. Senate (1952 & 1958).
Congressional Bio

And he actually had a distinguished record as a legislator in the House & Senate.

Obama, may get there eventually but right now comparing their records pre-presidential run only hurts Obama's case, IMO.

[KharmaTrain]

12. Kennedy Served In The House & Senate

In The House from 1946-52 and the Senate 52-60.

While I like my Junior Senator, and would support him if he was nominated for VP, he's definitely didn't serve as long in Federal Government as JFK did.

While charisma is a good asset, it's not the measure of the man...especially one who will have to step in and clean up the myriad of messes this regime has created. I'd rather see Senator Obama continue working in the Senate as there's more he can do there for us now...and prove his worthiness for a future run than at chicken dinners in Iowa.

[Toots]

9. Sounds to me like Mr Sirota has some sort of envy..

:shrug: We don't need to worry about anyone making such claims about him...

[dysfunctional press]

10. apparently, a handsome articulate black man makes some people go ga-ga...

i haven't heard a SINGLE substantive thing that Obama has done that would qualify him to be a presidential candidate, let alone POTUS.