The Sentinel

Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: Commentary

Media Credit: pubs.usgs.gov

Despite its tendency to fawn over him, the national media is beginning to see through the hype of Presidential candidate Barack Obama. A growing number of commentators and even Barack enthusiasts are beginning to worry about the personality cult developing among his supporters. From Barack Obama t-shirts modeled after those of the infamous Che Guevara, to Obama-Girl
underwear, the marketing of Barack Obama is providing a happy distraction from the candidate's lack of substance. Obamamania dependent upon itself cannot long endure.

Consider this hollow applause line, "We are the change we have been waiting for." What does that even mean? Also consider, "I am accused of being a hope pope, I plead guilty." Huh? This vacant rhetoric is characteristic of Barack Obama's intellect and political life - articulate, but empty. The ambiguity of his campaign is one of Obama's most endearing qualities. He stands for nothing, which allows him to be all things to all people. In fact, his campaign staffers are trained to talk about how they "came" to Obama, not to where he stands on issues. That sounds eerily close to evangelists testifying about how they have come to accept Jesus.

The campaign's substance gap was recently exemplified during a MSNBC interview. Obama representative Kirk Watson was asked by Chris Matthews to name a single legislative accomplishment of Barack Obama. In five minutes he could not produce a single one. Now that the hype is deflating, it is becoming increasingly clear that Obama is little more than a traveling motivational speaker: an empty suit.

Obama's status as the presumptive Democratic nominee will force his campaign to shift gears. Even the most ardent Obama follower must eventually come to terms with the fact that hope itself does not put food on the table. Americans cannot hope themselves into a better world. Thus, when it comes down to brass tacks, what would an Obama presidency really look like? In a word, liberal.

The National Journal lists Barack Obama as the most liberal and partisan member of the Senate, putting him to the left of Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and Ted Kennedy. At no point during his tenure was Obama a member of a bipartisan or even moderate agreement. Many times, in fact, he has counted himself among the opposition to largely bipartisan bills. His campaign's policy proposals do not offer anything new or unique either. They could have easily been lifted from the plans of John Kerry and John Edwards in 2004. With former Edwards campaign manager David Axelrod running Obama's campaign, they probably are.

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