David

Karki

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February 18, 2008

The Dangerous Substance of Barack Obama

Much has been made of Sen. Barack Obama wowing almost orgasmic (or should I say “Obasmic”?) crowds with eloquent oratory that, if you get past the emotion for two seconds, contains little to no substance. Just say the words “believe,” “hope,” “change,” and “future” enough times and in enough different combinations, and you too can give an Obama stemwinder!

But this criticism, while accurate for the most part, is the least important that could be levied against Obama and his verbal equivalent of Krispy Kremes. For when you look, really look, at the content of his speeches, the core is really the twin pillars of egotism – self-pity and megalomania. Obama's America is one in which people take pride in their victimhood and helplessness, and this turn to the government-as-superhero for salvation.

Self-pity: Much of this is simply the same class-warfare-laden, business-despising far-left boilerplate that John Edwards couldn't make fly. Oil companies, HMOs, Wal-Mart and CEOs are all the big bad boogeymen determined to screw you out of the comfortable existence to which you're automatically entitled and owed by birthright. A condensed portion of Obama's Super Tuesday speech:

His Super Tuesday speech went on about Exxon profits, CEO bonuses and lobbyists, while regaling us with sob stories about mothers who go without health care for sick children, teachers taking second jobs at Dunkin’ Donuts and much more in this vein.

Naturally, it's his and government's duty to swoop in and save the day for you (cue the tights, cape and fists-on-hips pose), because you certainly can do nothing whatsoever about it – nor should you have to. Obama plays to America's baby boomer-inflicted case of chronic immaturity by indulging her spoiled brats even further with a big dose of feeling sorry for themselves, rather than giving them the long-overdue swift kick in the behind (perhaps several) that they need. Part and parcel of this is that, like a child, you do not have to be responsible for yourself. The boogeymen screw you and government protects you from them, like mommy and daddy. You just spectate, a helpless victim, observing life rather than living it, participating not at all.

Megalomania: This is inherent in the government-as-savior approach he takes as the first, best and only solution to pretty much everything. Which is just a fancy way of saying he himself is Messiah, as he'll be wielding the magic wand of government, after all.

Look at how utterly self-congratulatory the following is from Obama's Super Tuesday speech:

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. We are the hope of those boys who have so little, who’ve been told that they cannot have what they dreamed, that they cannot be what they imagine. Yes, they can. We are the hope of the father who goes to work before dawn and lies awake with doubt that tells him he cannot give his children the same opportunities that someone gave him. Yes, he can. We are the hope of the woman who hears that her city will not be rebuilt, that she cannot somehow claim the life that was swept away in a terrible storm. Yes, she can. We are the hope of the future, the answer to the cynics who tell us our house must stand divided, that we cannot come together, that we cannot remake this world as it should be.”

And notice the inherent logical contradiction, if not dishonesty – yes, the boys/father/woman all can. But if so, what the hell do they then need Obama for? So, in truth, they cannot – at least not until Obama and his followers, a.k.a. “hope,” first come along so these folks can turn to him, open thine eyes and see that their salvation and deliverer draweth nigh. Only thereafter they finally can.

Is there not an ounce of humility to be found? Is there no end to the delusions of grandeur?

And more importantly, what if this sort of egomaniacal drivel clothed in flowery language can actually take root in America? What if enough of her people are now overgrown spoiled children who don't want to take responsibility for themselves yet fully expect to live as if they had, and will eagerly fall for the spiel that they were screwed by capitalism and socialist government will save them? I shudder to think of the consequences if the answers are as I fear.

There is substance in Obama's words all right – and it should give us all pause. 

© 2008 North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.

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