Obama the Populist
It’s sad that it took the loss in Massachusetts to get Barack Obama to put the people’s core concerns back on the front burner where they belong--at least, rhetorically.
He should have had them there all along. Instead, he was distracted by the sweep of grand policymaking—saving banks and corporations, getting health care reform passed. Now, the sudden talk about fighting for the common man has a whiff of reactive desperation about it.
Worse, the dewy-eyed idealists who plunged into the political system for the first time and pushed him over the top not only feel that he has favored centrist wishy-washiness over their progressive hopes, they are turned off by the Man of Change’s morph into Just Another Typical Pol. The process of the health care battle has been protracted and repellent, and Obama’s willingness to get his hands dirty and make whatever deal was necessary to get it passed deeply offends those who craved a “new kind of politics.” The high talk is beginning to ring hollow.
The new rhetoric out of the White House may gain back the soft support of some skeptical independents, but by compromising his political soul, Obama risks forever losing those who were prepared to forgive him just about any failing, as long as he stood for something.
CHAN LOWE has been the Sun Sentinel’s first and only editorial cartoonist for the past twenty-six years. Before that, he worked as cartoonist and writer for the Oklahoma City Times and the Shawnee (OK) News-Star.
Comments
He's a pathetic, weak, lying, clueless empty suit. He's a fool and he underestimates the Americans he is supposedly leading. If anything we all know this idiot is leading our nation off the cliff. He doesn't care one bit about us. It's ALL about him. Selfish, self centered arrogant nitwit, lording his "highness" over us all. A worthless POS. A polished liar. Above all else, the king od liars. Shameless poser. Satan consults with Obummer-to learn how to be more evil.
Posted by: KimCameo | January 26, 2010 5:05 PM
OMG- That's a lot of vitriol to follow. I really don;t see much difference between the R's and the D's when it comes to really having the interest of the people's well being in mind.They,(including Obama) polish up the outside while the inside of the political machine remains rotten and unchanged.Obama will tell us the bad news on the economy, the banksters,Wall Street, the wars, and make it look justifiable...with a grimace,and at times, with a grin.Hypocrisy can be seen with R's or D's,sad to say. We- the people,freeze,freeze,freeze
Posted by: Lorraine Wagner | January 27, 2010 10:02 AM
If KimCameo is a chick...I think I have a crush...at least up to the point of Satan consulting.
I don't think our beloved leader mmm...mmm...mmm Barack Hussein Obama is particularly evil ... although I believe he will say anything (or bow) to anyone to get them to like him...which makes him a complete liar in my book.
As long as repubs don't run some guy like McCain...we can be sure that Obama & Carter will have 1 more thing in common...being a horrific 1 termer.
Posted by: Sebastian The Ibis | January 27, 2010 10:20 AM
Welcome back, Carter.
Posted by: Barry O. | January 29, 2010 4:40 PM