Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Yes We Can

I'm sorry, but I'm a little creeped out by this Obama "Yes We Can" video on YouTube. The man can speak, he has a powerful message, and I believe he is sincere, but the marriage of his spoken words to a gospel beat, and the rhapsodized looks on the faces of the heavenly chorus are just a little too much for me. If the technology had been available they'd have made one of these for Mao, or Evita. Chavez and Kim Jung-il are probably working on their own as you read this. And can you imagine if a conservative politician made something like this? They would be condemned as the worst possible kind of demagogue. Reagan was accused as such for using too many sunrises and flags in his ads; this makes those things look like ads for lawn care products.

“Yes we can?” I assume we’re supposed to think: “I have a dream.” Manipulative is really not a strong enough word for it. Haven't we had enough political personality cults in this country? Didn't people vote for GWB over Gore because he was “more likable”? That worked out well.

Making Obama into a religious figure takes rational thought out of the electoral equation and creates a very dangerous atmosphere. If you disagree, ask yourself how you'd like a Mike Huckabee ad starting Jesus as his biggest supporter.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's "We Are the World" re-dux -- and the best way to get to young, inexperienced voters -- and they're buying it. I work with oceans of these zombies -- they love him, and their mantra is, "He'll get us out of Iraq!!"

None are aware of his rather hawkish stance on Pakistan, and how he'd hunt down terrorists in that country of 160 million (mostly Muslim) that happens to have a few nukes.*

Oldsters like me require less BS put to (bad) music -- and a tad more respect than to think a poorly-produced marketing ploy will put me over the edge. I may occasionally cry while watching Hallmark commercials, but I'm not a total sap!

* Speech at Woodrow Wilson Center, 2007

Anonymous said...

You have underestimated the yearning of a substantial part of the American people for a government which they feel represents them. 7 years of feeling impotent does things to you. This election has spiritual overtones.

Anonymous said...

Words and Inspiration

i and others continue to be moved by the words of Caroline Kennedy in her support of Obama... she says what others have not been able to put into words and reflects a growing movement here in the heartland of Ohio.

Afraid Hillary and McCain have no such words of inspiration.

Perhaps some want to go back in time, but more so, more importantly see Obama as the promise of a very new day, a move away from the stagnation of the same old...

Caroline excerpt-
I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.

I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.