Unlike DMX, I've heard of him. And I know that the guy has admirable qualities, and I know that it's very much against the trend (at least the global trend), but I just don't get the whole Barack Obama thing.
I know what it means for people to have a viable African-American candidate, and I know that many Americans appear to be looking to make a statement that the US is capable of choosing a 'progressive' and more articulate alternative to the current occupant of the White House.
But Obama? He just leaves me cold.
For a while I wasn't sure what it was that left me that way. And then it clicked. I've figured out what it is that makes me unsure about Barack Obama. No, not the cult-like behaviour of some of his followers (although that too freaks me out a bit, but it's not unknown in US politics). What turns me off is who he reminds me of when I hear him speak.
And who is that, you may well ask.
Johnathon Livingston Seagull. That's who. And if you read my review of that book, you might get why I'm not comfortable about the similarities.
There just seems little detail. Hope, future, destiny, audacity, faith, opportunity, courage, daring, fearlessness and on it goes. Fantastic. Great. All really good things. But what do they mean? What does it look like? What is he promising to do?
I really hate quoting Walter Mondale here, because history has recorded how well he did in'84, but it was a zinger of a soundbite that I can see McCain pinching: "Where's the beef?"
I know what it means for people to have a viable African-American candidate, and I know that many Americans appear to be looking to make a statement that the US is capable of choosing a 'progressive' and more articulate alternative to the current occupant of the White House.
But Obama? He just leaves me cold.
For a while I wasn't sure what it was that left me that way. And then it clicked. I've figured out what it is that makes me unsure about Barack Obama. No, not the cult-like behaviour of some of his followers (although that too freaks me out a bit, but it's not unknown in US politics). What turns me off is who he reminds me of when I hear him speak.
And who is that, you may well ask.
Johnathon Livingston Seagull. That's who. And if you read my review of that book, you might get why I'm not comfortable about the similarities.
There just seems little detail. Hope, future, destiny, audacity, faith, opportunity, courage, daring, fearlessness and on it goes. Fantastic. Great. All really good things. But what do they mean? What does it look like? What is he promising to do?
I really hate quoting Walter Mondale here, because history has recorded how well he did in'84, but it was a zinger of a soundbite that I can see McCain pinching: "Where's the beef?"
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