Obamamania verges on obsession

#1
OrangeEmpire

OrangeEmpire

The White Debonair
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#1
Obamamania verges on obsession - Lisa Lerer - Politico.com

His charms seem tough to resist, even for some of Hollywood’s biggest names.

"He walks into a room and you want to follow him somewhere, anywhere," George Clooney told talk show host Charlie Rose.
"I'll do whatever he says to do," actress Halle Berry said to the Philadelphia Daily News. "I'll collect paper cups off the ground to make his pathway clear."

Welcome to the cult of Barack Obama.

Many talented politicians attract devoted throngs — but with Obama, the fervency of his following borders on the messianic, and that phenomenon has only increased in recent weeks as Obama has scored 10 consecutive primary and caucus victories over New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, surged into the lead in the delegate count, and claimed the mantle of front-runner for the Democratic nomination.

But is there a downside to being viewed as a political deity?

Critics, including Clinton, Arizona Sen. John McCain and members of the Republican chattering class clearly think so.

A competing narrative has formed in recent weeks in which opponents try to turn Obama’s popularity into a negative by hinting that there’s something uninformed and empty — or just plain creepy — about his impassioned support.
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Thoughts?
 
#2
#2
Whether you like him or his policies, you have to respect a person that can get that much support in a public that's known for its political apathy (as evidenced by the extremely low political participation of Americans as compared to other developed countries).
 
#3
#3
Actually, I'm not surprised the media is doing this at all. For some reason impassioned support for an inspired political leader has become creepy and unacceptable here. Thus, the media crucification of Dean last time around. Obama will be harder to take down though.
 
#4
#4
Some are able to see thru the fancy speeches and catchy slogans. I do not respect what I fear he's going to do to the US.
 
#6
#6
ksushalovesthevols said:
Actually, I'm not surprised the media is doing this at all. For some reason impassioned support for an inspired political leader has become creepy and unacceptable here. Thus, the media crucification of Dean last time around. Obama will be harder to take down though.
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IMO, Obama has gotten a free pass for most of the election cycle.
 
#7
#7
Yes, very impressed to see the Brittany, Paris, Anna Nicole crowd falling over like sheep.
 
#8
#8
Americans have always had a mob mentality and wanted to back the winner so this is just another example.

I saw Obama fever compared to the dot com boom of the 90's and thought it was a very good analogy.
 
#9
#9
Typical presidential elections have about 60% voter turn-out. While that's not outstanding, I would hesitate to call that apathetic.

Also, the media has been very kind to Obama to date.
 
#10
#10
ksushalovesthevols said:
Whether you like him or his policies, you have to respect a person that can get that much support in a public that's known for its political apathy (as evidenced by the extremely low political participation of Americans as compared to other developed countries).
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Easily the most ignorant and moronic statement I have read of late. Yes, we must respect charismatic people, aside from any agreement in substance with what they stand for? Browse through the annals of history to see some charismatic leaders whom you believe have earned our respect...
 
#12
#12
First, he is not getting people to care about politics. If they cared about politics they would more closely scrutinize his policies (or lack thereof.) Second, getting people to care about politics, in and of itself, in no way is worthy of respect.
 
#13
#13
volinbham said:
Typical presidential elections have about 60% voter turn-out. While that's not outstanding, I would hesitate to call that apathetic.

Also, the media has been very kind to Obama to date.
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Actually, it's under 55% and it's also one of the lowest turnouts of any developed country, by a lot.
 
#14
#14
therealUT said:
First, he is not getting people to care about politics. If they cared about politics they would more closely scrutinize his policies (or lack thereof.) Second, getting people to care about politics, in and of itself, in no way is worthy of respect.
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Right, because unless your agenda matches that of the conservative right, you're not scrutinizing a candidates policies and don't care about politics. Good one.

Guns and electric chairs, Y'all!
 
#15
#15
And, it should be lower. Since, at least a third of the voting population does not know take the time to learn enough about what they are voting for. Also, look at those developed countries and see how they have faired with high voter turnouts...I would rather have a small and highly informed electorate.
 
#20
#20
Young, attractive Jimmy Carter like character with a sypmathetic media behind him will go as far as he doesn't have to talk about issues, which he hasn't had to do so far. Simply walk out and say "change" over and over has gotten him by a very unsympathetic Hillary Clinton. Sooner or later, he will be penned down to awnser how he's going to pay for his 875 billion dollars worth of social programs.
 
#23
#23
ksushalovesthevols said:
It isn't helpful to isolate one election to get a feel for the modern political landscape of this country. Since 1968 to date, our turnout has been under 55%.
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maybe the quality of candidate has something to do with it. Do you actually think that ~45% could cast an intelligent vote?
 
#25
#25
ksushalovesthevols said:
Right, because unless your agenda matches that of the conservative right, you're not scrutinizing a candidates policies and don't care about politics. Good one.

Guns and electric chairs, Y'all!
Click to expand...

Easily one of the most arrogant posts I've read on here (and that's saying something). Ignoring her comment, I wish I could find the link to it, I read a piece online from a Dem who said that the craze about Obama isn't so much how great he is, it's more of a "Thank God someone besides Hillary" attitude.
 
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