Garrison Keillor: Obama has gifts that transcend race and his own slim résumé.

[kpete]

Garrison Keillor
June 12, 2008

...................

But when you look closely at him he is a skinny young black guy and this is going to be a problem for some folks.

...................

That era is not so distant. A culture doesn't turn on a dime. Race is a part of this race, even though nobody wants to think so. But Obama has gifts that transcend race and his own slim résumé. On the radio, he is an orator resurrected from a distant time when people had higher standards for that sort of thing. He is graceful and quick and possessed of confidence, and if you like the English language you'll find a lot to admire in him. People can dismiss the importance of speaking, but that is a big part of the job he's running for.

We've lost 4,000 U.S. men and women in Iraq and induced vast destruction and misery and all for a cause that has never been set forth in words that most Americans can understand and accept, and now the great majority of our people see the 4,000 as having lost their lives in a dishonest cause that was botched from the start. That is the failure of the Current Occupant. Whenever he steps up to the lectern, public confidence drops like a rock. He's not a leader, he's just a regular feller.

I know plenty of regular fellers, some smarter than others, and at the moment I am leaning toward Obama. He has those gifts, and when he launches forth against the dismal darkness of recent Republicanism, he is throwing nothing but strikes.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/columnists/chi-oped0612keillorjun12,0,4769571.column

[TwilightGardener]

1. Still one of my favorite writers of all time.

[opihimoimoi]

3. The GOP is hoping to frame the issues/debate to their end....Obamas strengths

are to be reduced/minimized....

they will nit pick as Bullies do

they will lie as Bullies do

they will change the subject as Bullies do.

they will not solve anything...they wish to remain in control to dominate the Society to Their terms.

McClone has old ideas

Obama has New Ideas..better ones...

[TwilightGardener]

6. Agree 100%.

[groovedaddy]

2. "I know plenty of regular fellers, some smarter than others, and at the moment

I am leaning toward Obama. He has those gifts, and when he launches forth against the dismal darkness of recent Republicanism, he is throwing nothing but strikes."

He is, in deed!

[On the Road]

4. Why Did Keillor Say He Was 'Leaning' Toward Obama?

This was written yesterday. Who else would he consider voting for?

But I do agree Obama is a legend in the making.

[Sal Minella]

8. Think he was just talking about his preference in "regular fellas," not his candidate preference. nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Transcend race?

Hmm.

[cbc5g]

7. I listened to his Lake Wobagon stories this morning taking my mom to the airport

Funny guy! Amazing orator. And I'm very happy that he is behind Obama.

[liberal N proud]

9. Garrison Keillor has a great read on America