Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
2861U2 said:How long is Obama going to talk? It's going on 40 minutes.
methinks you're going to have to get used to lots and lots of speeches by Obama ... until 2016.
The Cult of Obama
- Thread starter MaxFisher
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
methinks you're going to have to get used to lots and lots of speeches by Obama ... until 2016.
OP
OP
MaxFisher
War Child
2861U2
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
MaxFisher said:
Perfect example of the typical Obama supporter.
Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
2861U2 said:
you must know so many.
LarryMullen's POPAngel
Blue Crack Distributor
2861U2 said:
Please.
2861U2
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
Irvine511 said:
Are you kidding? I'm surrounded by them.
U2democrat
Blue Crack Addict
No, that guy was just ill prepared, and was embarassing to watch as an Obama supporter.
What you don't see in that video is Keith Olbermann asking Chris, "What has the United States Senate accomplished in the last 7 years?"
Silence.
Plus, who's to say his time in the US senate is the ONLY experience that should matter? He's done great work fighting payday lenders, his community organizing shows great skill in managing and bringing groups together successfully, plus in the US Senate he actually pushed through Lobbying reform. No, it wasn't perfect, but it's a greater step than anyone else has taken.
What you don't see in that video is Keith Olbermann asking Chris, "What has the United States Senate accomplished in the last 7 years?"
Silence.
Plus, who's to say his time in the US senate is the ONLY experience that should matter? He's done great work fighting payday lenders, his community organizing shows great skill in managing and bringing groups together successfully, plus in the US Senate he actually pushed through Lobbying reform. No, it wasn't perfect, but it's a greater step than anyone else has taken.
phillyfan26
Blue Crack Supplier
- Joined
- May 7, 2006
- Messages
- 30,343
2861U2 said:
These statements make you lose credibility.
2861U2
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
phillyfan26 said:
How? Is it not true?
I hear people everyday say they are supporting Obama, and they can't explain why. I remember watching an Obama supporter on Fox News in one of Frank Luntz's focus groups, and he was asked what Obama has accomplished, and he said "He's a good speaker." You could hear Sean Hannity sighing in the background, as was I.
phillyfan26
Blue Crack Supplier
- Joined
- May 7, 2006
- Messages
- 30,343
Correct, it's not true.
Sure, there are idiots out there. Just as there are idiots for McCain.
I'm behind Obama because his political positions are better than McCain's and better than Clinton's. Plain and simple.
Sure, there are idiots out there. Just as there are idiots for McCain.
I'm behind Obama because his political positions are better than McCain's and better than Clinton's. Plain and simple.
MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
Washington Post
The Obama Delusion
By Robert J. Samuelson
Wednesday, February 20, 2008; A17
It's hard not to be dazzled by Barack Obama. At the 2004 Democratic convention, he visited with Newsweek reporters and editors, including me. I came away deeply impressed by his intelligence, his forceful language and his apparent willingness to take positions that seemed to rise above narrow partisanship. Obama has become the Democratic presidential front-runner precisely because countless millions have formed a similar opinion. It is, I now think, mistaken.
As a journalist, I harbor serious doubt about each of the most likely nominees. But with Sens. Hillary Clinton and John McCain, I feel that I'm dealing with known quantities. They've been in the public arena for years; their views, values and temperaments have received enormous scrutiny. By contrast, newcomer Obama is largely a stage presence defined mostly by his powerful rhetoric. The trouble, at least for me, is the huge and deceptive gap between his captivating oratory and his actual views.
The subtext of Obama's campaign is that his own life narrative -- to become the first African American president, a huge milestone in the nation's journey from slavery -- can serve as a metaphor for other political stalemates. Great impasses can be broken with sufficient goodwill, intelligence and energy. "It's not about rich versus poor; young versus old; and it is not about black versus white," he says. Along with millions of others, I find this a powerful appeal.
But on inspection, the metaphor is a mirage. Repudiating racism is not a magic cure-all for the nation's ills. The task requires independent ideas, and Obama has few. If you examine his agenda, it is completely ordinary, highly partisan, not candid and mostly unresponsive to many pressing national problems.
By Obama's own moral standards, Obama fails. Americans "are tired of hearing promises made and 10-point plans proposed in the heat of a campaign only to have nothing change," he recently said. Shortly thereafter he outlined an economic plan of at least 12 points that, among other things, would:
• Provide a $1,000 tax cut for most two-earner families ($500 for singles).
• Create a $4,000 refundable tuition tax credit for every year of college.
• Expand the child-care tax credit for people earning less than $50,000 and "double spending on quality after-school programs."
• Enact an "energy plan" that would invest $150 billion in 10 years to create a "green energy sector."
Whatever one thinks of these ideas, they're standard goody-bag politics: something for everyone. They're so similar to many Clinton proposals that her campaign put out a news release accusing Obama of plagiarizing. With existing budget deficits and the costs of Obama's "universal health plan," the odds of enacting his full package are slim.
A favorite Obama line is that he will tell "the American people not just what they want to hear but what we need to know." Well, he hasn't so far. Consider the retiring baby boomers. A truth-telling Obama might say: "Spending for retirees -- mainly Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- is already nearly half the federal budget. Unless we curb these rising costs, we will crush our children with higher taxes. Reflecting longer life expectancies, we should gradually raise the eligibility ages for these programs and trim benefits for wealthier retirees. Both Democrats and Republicans are to blame for inaction. Waiting longer will only worsen the problem."
Instead, Obama pledges not to raise the retirement age and to "protect Social Security benefits for current and future beneficiaries." This isn't "change"; it's sanctification of the status quo. He would also exempt all retirees making less than $50,000 annually from income tax. By his math, that would provide average tax relief of $1,400 to 7 million retirees -- shifting more of the tax burden onto younger workers. Obama's main proposal for Social Security is to raise the payroll tax beyond the present $102,000 ceiling.
Political candidates routinely indulge in exaggeration, pandering, inconsistency and self-serving obscuration. Clinton and McCain do. The reason for holding Obama to a higher standard is that it's his standard and also his campaign's central theme. He has run on the vague promise of "change," but on issue after issue -- immigration, the economy, global warming -- he has offered boilerplate policies that evade the underlying causes of the stalemates. These issues remain contentious because they involve real conflicts or differences of opinion.
The contrast between his broad rhetoric and his narrow agenda is stark, and yet the media -- preoccupied with the political "horse race" -- have treated his invocation of "change" as a serious idea rather than a shallow campaign slogan. He seems to have hypnotized much of the media and the public with his eloquence and the symbolism of his life story. The result is a mass delusion that Obama is forthrightly engaging the nation's major problems when, so far, he isn't.
The Obama Delusion
By Robert J. Samuelson
Wednesday, February 20, 2008; A17
It's hard not to be dazzled by Barack Obama. At the 2004 Democratic convention, he visited with Newsweek reporters and editors, including me. I came away deeply impressed by his intelligence, his forceful language and his apparent willingness to take positions that seemed to rise above narrow partisanship. Obama has become the Democratic presidential front-runner precisely because countless millions have formed a similar opinion. It is, I now think, mistaken.
As a journalist, I harbor serious doubt about each of the most likely nominees. But with Sens. Hillary Clinton and John McCain, I feel that I'm dealing with known quantities. They've been in the public arena for years; their views, values and temperaments have received enormous scrutiny. By contrast, newcomer Obama is largely a stage presence defined mostly by his powerful rhetoric. The trouble, at least for me, is the huge and deceptive gap between his captivating oratory and his actual views.
The subtext of Obama's campaign is that his own life narrative -- to become the first African American president, a huge milestone in the nation's journey from slavery -- can serve as a metaphor for other political stalemates. Great impasses can be broken with sufficient goodwill, intelligence and energy. "It's not about rich versus poor; young versus old; and it is not about black versus white," he says. Along with millions of others, I find this a powerful appeal.
But on inspection, the metaphor is a mirage. Repudiating racism is not a magic cure-all for the nation's ills. The task requires independent ideas, and Obama has few. If you examine his agenda, it is completely ordinary, highly partisan, not candid and mostly unresponsive to many pressing national problems.
By Obama's own moral standards, Obama fails. Americans "are tired of hearing promises made and 10-point plans proposed in the heat of a campaign only to have nothing change," he recently said. Shortly thereafter he outlined an economic plan of at least 12 points that, among other things, would:
• Provide a $1,000 tax cut for most two-earner families ($500 for singles).
• Create a $4,000 refundable tuition tax credit for every year of college.
• Expand the child-care tax credit for people earning less than $50,000 and "double spending on quality after-school programs."
• Enact an "energy plan" that would invest $150 billion in 10 years to create a "green energy sector."
Whatever one thinks of these ideas, they're standard goody-bag politics: something for everyone. They're so similar to many Clinton proposals that her campaign put out a news release accusing Obama of plagiarizing. With existing budget deficits and the costs of Obama's "universal health plan," the odds of enacting his full package are slim.
A favorite Obama line is that he will tell "the American people not just what they want to hear but what we need to know." Well, he hasn't so far. Consider the retiring baby boomers. A truth-telling Obama might say: "Spending for retirees -- mainly Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- is already nearly half the federal budget. Unless we curb these rising costs, we will crush our children with higher taxes. Reflecting longer life expectancies, we should gradually raise the eligibility ages for these programs and trim benefits for wealthier retirees. Both Democrats and Republicans are to blame for inaction. Waiting longer will only worsen the problem."
Instead, Obama pledges not to raise the retirement age and to "protect Social Security benefits for current and future beneficiaries." This isn't "change"; it's sanctification of the status quo. He would also exempt all retirees making less than $50,000 annually from income tax. By his math, that would provide average tax relief of $1,400 to 7 million retirees -- shifting more of the tax burden onto younger workers. Obama's main proposal for Social Security is to raise the payroll tax beyond the present $102,000 ceiling.
Political candidates routinely indulge in exaggeration, pandering, inconsistency and self-serving obscuration. Clinton and McCain do. The reason for holding Obama to a higher standard is that it's his standard and also his campaign's central theme. He has run on the vague promise of "change," but on issue after issue -- immigration, the economy, global warming -- he has offered boilerplate policies that evade the underlying causes of the stalemates. These issues remain contentious because they involve real conflicts or differences of opinion.
The contrast between his broad rhetoric and his narrow agenda is stark, and yet the media -- preoccupied with the political "horse race" -- have treated his invocation of "change" as a serious idea rather than a shallow campaign slogan. He seems to have hypnotized much of the media and the public with his eloquence and the symbolism of his life story. The result is a mass delusion that Obama is forthrightly engaging the nation's major problems when, so far, he isn't.
deep
Blue Crack Addict
Irvine511 said:
can you list his legislative accomplishments while in the U S Senate?
BVS
Blue Crack Supplier
phillyfan26 said:
I agree and unfortunately he's slowly been chipping away at himself that he doesn't have much more to lose.
If you would have asked anyone what Bush accomplished before his Presidency the response would have been similar except not because of a lack of time to have a lot on his resume, but because he failed at everything he touched. So I have to laugh at conservatives who are suddenly so concerned about accomplishments.
McCain has accomplished to turn his back on many of the ideals he's fought against the past 8 years of his career... go McCain
Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
deep said:
deep said:
*The Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law)
*The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law)
*The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, (passed by the Senate)
*The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law)
*The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee)
and if you look at his record in the IL state senate, he sponsored more than 780 bills, of which 280 were signed into law.
and he was always against Iraq.
i also don't think that having prolific legislation is necessarily an indicator of being a worthy presidential candidate. just look at Ted Kennedy.
deep
Blue Crack Addict
2861U2 said:
you are on to something here
and that guy in the youtube video is hardly an idiot
he is an elected official in Texas, a supporter that the Obama camp is happy yo have
Obama's resume' is incredibly thin
The last article posted
"The Obama Delusion"
is worth reading.
People are caught up in all this Obama mania
and most likely will end up with a nominee
that the old broken down war horse McCain, can best in an electoral college contest.
deep
Blue Crack Addict
Irvine511 said:
that little laundry list amounts to not much of anything
and as for always being against the Iraq War
that is a negative for him
if he was in the Senate there is a case to be made - that he would have voted for it, regardless of what he said.
Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
deep said:
i can accept the points in the Obama Delusion.
i cannot accept the contention that Hillary Clinton would be a better candidate to win the election.
this race is going to be about the independents. and we know what they think of her.
and let's keep in mind -- Obama has nearly defeated the Clinton machine. that's something the Republicans have never been able to do.
MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
Who has read one or both of his books? I just got Dreams From My Father yesterday, I'm embarrassed to admit I haven't read either before now. I would imagine Audacity Of Hope contains more of his political ideas and accomplishments.
I will be depressed if McCain is elected, that I know for sure. I can't imagine it will happen but stranger things have happened.
I will be depressed if McCain is elected, that I know for sure. I can't imagine it will happen but stranger things have happened.
Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
deep said:
that's a Sting-like dismissal without anything to back it up.
could you point to the junior senator from New York having a more luminous Senatorial resume?
deep
Blue Crack Addict
Irvine511 said:
I am aware of the popular votes, too
it would be interesting if we only looked at the Blue States and the BATTLE GROUND states.
if Obama gets 80 per cent of the votes in South Carolina, Utah and all the small states that will surely vote GOP
that can carry him to the nomination
bot all that support in Democratic primaries in Red states means nothing in November
MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
Irvine511 said:
How much of it is that vs the Clinton machine defeating itself? Bill Clinton defeating her campaign? Maybe even intentionally. What politician with that experience and intelligence and political skill says things that are that stupid? Either that or he went so out of control due to some guilt complex or something. Senator Obama of course was the perfect opponent for their foibles and stupidity.
Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
MrsSpringsteen said:
first, i'd say that Obama has run a near perfect campaign. superior organization, no question. superior to the Clintons.
as for the Clinton's self-destructing ... better now than in October.
Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
deep said:
a 16 point spread in Wisconsin should tell you something. as should his ability to get the White Men who wouldn't need much convincing to go for McCain.
offhand, i bet i can name you three posters in here who would vote for either McCain or Obama, and probably Obama, but would not vote for Hillary under any circumstances. these are middle-of-the-road, now anti-Iraq, certainly anti-Bush voters.
they live in places like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and *especially* the inter-mountain West. Obama can reach these people. these people don't want to be touched by Hillary.
MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
politico.com
Obamamania verges on obsession
By: Lisa Lerer
February 20, 2008
BALTIMORE — Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings has held elected office for more than a quarter-century, so he's seen his fair share of politicians come and go.
But apparently he's never seen one quite like Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
"This is not a campaign for president of the United States, this is a movement to change the world," he said as he introduced Obama last week in Baltimore.
"You do not get 13,000 people in this auditorium with a campaign."
As over the top as it may have sounded, Cummings' sentiments weren't all that unusual.
Because when it comes to Obama, hyperbole seems to be the rule, not the exception.
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.
For weeks, Clinton and her campaign have increasingly centered their critique of Obama on the notion that while he can wax poetic on the stump, she offers more experience and on-the-job training.
Last week, Clinton adviser Sid Blumenthal e-mailed an article from The American Conservative implying that Obama's support was, at least in part, due to white liberal guilt.
"It's time to get real about how we actually win this election," Clinton said Wednesday at Hunter College in New York.
“It's time that we move from good words to good works, from sound bites to sound solutions.”
Her conclusion: “Let’s get real.”
McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, also has clearly signaled how he would attack Obama should the Illinois senator be his Democratic opponent in the fall.
After McCain’s victory in Wisconsin Tuesday night, he too cast Obama as long on rhetoric but light on substance.
"I will fight every moment of every day in this campaign to make sure that Americans are not deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change," McCain said.
Unfortunately for McCain and Clinton, their talking points don’t seem to matter much to the growing ranks of Obama-maniacs.
Thousands of screaming, cheering, and sometimes even crying supporters regularly come out to hear him talk.
His most fervent backers fall in love with his idealistic message of change — irrelevant of the dry details — his youth, and his powerful presence on the stump. For some, the affair can border on obsession.
And activist Democrats aren't the only ones swept up in Obamamania. His campaign events are filled with first-time voters, self-described political slackers, and even a few Republicans who now zealously back the first-term senator from Illinois.
Ross Avila, a senior at The University of Pennsylvania, drove more than 2,200 miles to volunteer in Iowa, New Jersey and South Carolina for the campaign.
"Iowa in January was so miserable," he says, remembering the single-digit temperatures.
"I can't imagine doing such grueling work for someone that I didn't believe in so much. I think he's very unique that way."
The true believers can “Obama-ize” just about anything. Knitters for Obama crochet for him, Runners for Obama jog for him, and Hold 'Em Barack, well, they bet on him.
In Chicago, a recent art exhibit showed works depicting the candidate on canvas, paper and even in animated videos.
Some of the posters are vaguely reminiscent of classic Soviet propaganda, with a large, benevolent-looking Obama staring out from the paper. The artists plan to tour their "independent political propaganda campaign" across the country.
The Internet offers a revealing glimpse into the curious scope of Obamamania. One blog, titled "Is Barack Obama the Messiah?" cuts right to the chase.
A search on Flickr, a photo-sharing website, turns up pictures of Obama cakes, murals, etch-a-sketch drawings, and even tattoos.
On Etsy, a crafts auction website, you can buy Obama jewelry, paintings, and even a homemade Obama Valentine. The card shows a sketch of the candidate with the text, "I want to Barack your world."
The magnitude of the Obama movement has reached such Elvis-like proportions that even the candidate seems to be trying to tone things down.
Last week, he talked much less about his campaign being a social movement and more about concrete policy plans, taxes, energy consumption and education.
On Wednesday, he gave a major economic address at a General Motors plant in Wisconsin, introducing his plan to invest in "green-collar" jobs and create a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank.
"Today I want to take it down a notch," he said at the start of his speech, noting that his address would be "a little more detailed, a little longer, with not as many applause lines."
In Houston Tuesday night, he also seemed to warn his audience that his campaign would rise and fall on hard work and basic political intangibles rather than the appeal of a higher calling.
"The change we seek is still months and miles away," Obama said.
“As clear as I am that I am not a perfect vessel, I would not be running if I did not believe that I could lead this country in that new direction that we have a unique moment that we have to seize,” said Obama, “but I have to tell you I can’t do it by myself. No president can.”
So far, none of the change in rhetoric appears to have dulled the ardor of Obama's fans.
Earlier this month, the campaign raised over $7.5 million in less than 48 hours, all through online contributions.
In January, Obama raised roughly $32 million to Clinton's $13.5 million.
Last week, Obama attracted a crowd of 19,000 to the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
Four days earlier, more than 18,000 voters filled Seattle's Key Arena to see him.
The 3,000 that didn't get in waited in the cold for over an hour to hear a roughly two-minute version of his stump speech.
When Obama finally took the stage, the crowd roared so loudly that a local reporter in the press section covered her ears.
At an Omaha, Neb., rally the day before, supporters leaned perilously over railings, screaming and crying, trying to touch Obama as he passed.
During both speeches, a supporter yelled out, "I love you." This happens fairly frequently and Obama is always ready with a smooth answer.
"I love you back," he says, with a quick, almost cocky smile.
The campaign works hard to cultivate the rock star image. After he's introduced, Obama routinely waits about 30 seconds to enter the arena.
The excitement grows, until his entrance is perfectly timed with the soaring chords of U2's “City of Blinding Lights.”
"I can't really verbalize exactly what it is about him," says Avila. "Part of it is just beyond explanation."
Obamamania verges on obsession
By: Lisa Lerer
February 20, 2008
BALTIMORE — Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings has held elected office for more than a quarter-century, so he's seen his fair share of politicians come and go.
But apparently he's never seen one quite like Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
"This is not a campaign for president of the United States, this is a movement to change the world," he said as he introduced Obama last week in Baltimore.
"You do not get 13,000 people in this auditorium with a campaign."
As over the top as it may have sounded, Cummings' sentiments weren't all that unusual.
Because when it comes to Obama, hyperbole seems to be the rule, not the exception.
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.
For weeks, Clinton and her campaign have increasingly centered their critique of Obama on the notion that while he can wax poetic on the stump, she offers more experience and on-the-job training.
Last week, Clinton adviser Sid Blumenthal e-mailed an article from The American Conservative implying that Obama's support was, at least in part, due to white liberal guilt.
"It's time to get real about how we actually win this election," Clinton said Wednesday at Hunter College in New York.
“It's time that we move from good words to good works, from sound bites to sound solutions.”
Her conclusion: “Let’s get real.”
McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, also has clearly signaled how he would attack Obama should the Illinois senator be his Democratic opponent in the fall.
After McCain’s victory in Wisconsin Tuesday night, he too cast Obama as long on rhetoric but light on substance.
"I will fight every moment of every day in this campaign to make sure that Americans are not deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change," McCain said.
Unfortunately for McCain and Clinton, their talking points don’t seem to matter much to the growing ranks of Obama-maniacs.
Thousands of screaming, cheering, and sometimes even crying supporters regularly come out to hear him talk.
His most fervent backers fall in love with his idealistic message of change — irrelevant of the dry details — his youth, and his powerful presence on the stump. For some, the affair can border on obsession.
And activist Democrats aren't the only ones swept up in Obamamania. His campaign events are filled with first-time voters, self-described political slackers, and even a few Republicans who now zealously back the first-term senator from Illinois.
Ross Avila, a senior at The University of Pennsylvania, drove more than 2,200 miles to volunteer in Iowa, New Jersey and South Carolina for the campaign.
"Iowa in January was so miserable," he says, remembering the single-digit temperatures.
"I can't imagine doing such grueling work for someone that I didn't believe in so much. I think he's very unique that way."
The true believers can “Obama-ize” just about anything. Knitters for Obama crochet for him, Runners for Obama jog for him, and Hold 'Em Barack, well, they bet on him.
In Chicago, a recent art exhibit showed works depicting the candidate on canvas, paper and even in animated videos.
Some of the posters are vaguely reminiscent of classic Soviet propaganda, with a large, benevolent-looking Obama staring out from the paper. The artists plan to tour their "independent political propaganda campaign" across the country.
The Internet offers a revealing glimpse into the curious scope of Obamamania. One blog, titled "Is Barack Obama the Messiah?" cuts right to the chase.
A search on Flickr, a photo-sharing website, turns up pictures of Obama cakes, murals, etch-a-sketch drawings, and even tattoos.
On Etsy, a crafts auction website, you can buy Obama jewelry, paintings, and even a homemade Obama Valentine. The card shows a sketch of the candidate with the text, "I want to Barack your world."
The magnitude of the Obama movement has reached such Elvis-like proportions that even the candidate seems to be trying to tone things down.
Last week, he talked much less about his campaign being a social movement and more about concrete policy plans, taxes, energy consumption and education.
On Wednesday, he gave a major economic address at a General Motors plant in Wisconsin, introducing his plan to invest in "green-collar" jobs and create a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank.
"Today I want to take it down a notch," he said at the start of his speech, noting that his address would be "a little more detailed, a little longer, with not as many applause lines."
In Houston Tuesday night, he also seemed to warn his audience that his campaign would rise and fall on hard work and basic political intangibles rather than the appeal of a higher calling.
"The change we seek is still months and miles away," Obama said.
“As clear as I am that I am not a perfect vessel, I would not be running if I did not believe that I could lead this country in that new direction that we have a unique moment that we have to seize,” said Obama, “but I have to tell you I can’t do it by myself. No president can.”
So far, none of the change in rhetoric appears to have dulled the ardor of Obama's fans.
Earlier this month, the campaign raised over $7.5 million in less than 48 hours, all through online contributions.
In January, Obama raised roughly $32 million to Clinton's $13.5 million.
Last week, Obama attracted a crowd of 19,000 to the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
Four days earlier, more than 18,000 voters filled Seattle's Key Arena to see him.
The 3,000 that didn't get in waited in the cold for over an hour to hear a roughly two-minute version of his stump speech.
When Obama finally took the stage, the crowd roared so loudly that a local reporter in the press section covered her ears.
At an Omaha, Neb., rally the day before, supporters leaned perilously over railings, screaming and crying, trying to touch Obama as he passed.
During both speeches, a supporter yelled out, "I love you." This happens fairly frequently and Obama is always ready with a smooth answer.
"I love you back," he says, with a quick, almost cocky smile.
The campaign works hard to cultivate the rock star image. After he's introduced, Obama routinely waits about 30 seconds to enter the arena.
The excitement grows, until his entrance is perfectly timed with the soaring chords of U2's “City of Blinding Lights.”
"I can't really verbalize exactly what it is about him," says Avila. "Part of it is just beyond explanation."
Irvine511 said:
It tells me he can win a Democratic Primary. General elections are different.
[Q]offhand, i bet i can name you three posters in here who would vote for either McCain or Obama, and probably Obama, but would not vote for Hillary under any circumstances. these are middle-of-the-road, now anti-Iraq, certainly anti-Bush voters.[/Q]
Name them please:O)
Not many people want to be touched by Hillary.
Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
Dreadsox said:
it tells me that he can reach both the base and the independents. it tells me that he can inspire record turnout. it tells me that there are people getting involved in politics who haven't before. it tells me that this election, thankfully, will be fought from the middle, especially against a candidate who's own "base" despises him.
[q]Name them please:O)[/q]
nor do they really want to touch the space directly to the left of her name on a screen.
i like Hillary. i think she's a good legislator. i'd vote for her. but i think we have a better option.
and as joyfulgirl has said, by far the most important thing here are SCOTUS nominations. we've got to win. he's got a better shot than she does.
Jeannieco
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
Dreadsox said:
2861U2
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
MrsSpringsteen said:
WOW.
Don't these people have any dignity? How are they not embarrassed by these crazy statements?
MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
I bet plenty of men would say the same about Halle Berry- and collect the cups and much more than that.
I don't believe she meant it literally
I don't believe she meant it literally
2861U2
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
BonoVoxSupastar said:
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
I love when you make these holier-than-thou critiques of me.
Similar threads
