Posted by
Bullpen on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 5:51:52 PM
Last Friday I attended a Barack Obama rally because it was free and, well, historical. So why not? Even if it did mean I would be the lost red speck in a deep blue sea, it would certainly be interesting. It certainly was.
Right before I went, I told a friend of mine that I was going. He told me to “be careful not to get converted”. I replied “Don’t worry, there’s no chance. I have that one thing…intelligence.”
Obama, a brilliant campaigner, gave voters the illusion that he was going to be the single man to close the disconnect between voters and their federal government. To someone who actually listens to the substance, Mr. Obama seems to have a profound misunderstanding of the way our nation works. Saying we should be teaching our kids math, and science, and literature, and social studies, and art, and music is a campaign pledge more fit for 1828 than 2008. He spoke about ‘working’ with insurance and automobile companies as if they weren‘t part of the free market. His spoke of a foreign policy that lacks any sense or reasoning behind it. He spoke about how he understands the constitution but apparently doesn’t understand the concept of federalism.
Mr. Obama is extremely charismatic and is wonderful at portraying his message and responding to criticism, but I heard something different than everyone else did when he spoke. Every time he said “sacrifice” I heard the word “comrade.” Every time he spoke of giving everyone this and that for the purpose of ‘uniting’ us, I heard the words “Our Great Leader.” When he spoke of change and hope, I heard empty, feel-good liberalism.
But I didn’t see all these people clamoring for a hope that they didn’t have. The people I saw were just so caught up in the idea of their liberal savior. Who could blame them after years of party leadership with the likes of John Kerry, Harry Reid, Tom Daschle, Nancy Pelosi, and Al Gore?
After being forced to stand for “change” for 6 hours straight without moving, I looked up into the deep and clear night sky that hung above us all. There was not a star to be found. There was no beacon of light brightening the abyss. Maybe it was a mere coincidence. But I don’t believe in coincidences.