Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The zelig candidate
I have lusted in my heart - Carter Stays Neutral in Race, But Praises Obama's Oratory - WSJ.com
"Obama's campaign has been extraordinary and titillating for me and my family," Mr. Carter said.
Carter goes on to argue something similar to Sullivan's lengthy endorsement:
".I think that Obama will be almost automatically a healing factor in the animosity now that exists, that relates to our country and its government."
It's amazing how much identity politics goes on around Obama. Sullivan thinks his name alone will heal rifts with the arab world. It seems like an awful lot of the enthusiasm revolves around who he is and how that will affect people as opposed to what he might actually do. As Sullivan himself says:
The logic behind the candidacy of Barack Obama is not, in the end, about Barack Obama. It has little to do with his policy proposals, which are very close to his Democratic rivals’ and which, with a few exceptions, exist firmly within the conventions of our politics. It has little to do with Obama’s considerable skills as a conciliator, legislator, or even thinker. It has even less to do with his ideological pedigree or legal background or rhetorical skills. Yes, as the many profiles prove, he has considerable intelligence and not a little guile.
3 Comments:
By 
TigerHawk, at
Wed Jan 30, 07:28:00 PM:
There is no American identity that, if embodied in our President, will heal rifts with the Arab world. The idea is laughable. Only changes in policy might do that, and most of those changes are contrary to our best interests.
By Assistant Village Idiot, at
Wed Jan 30, 10:12:00 PM:
But Obama can lead us all, whether we are black or female; whether we are Democrats or liberals, Obama is the one who can bring us together. I just know it.
By Ray, at
Thu Jan 31, 12:39:00 PM:
I am amused. It seems that the more crazy left-wing a Democrat you are, the more "healing" you think Obama will bring to our national politics.
