The Cult Like attack of Obama
By scarce Friday Feb 15, 2008 3:35pm 
The backlash against "Obama-mania" has really begun in earnest in the last week or so. Last night on CNN's The Situation Room, Carol Costello treated viewers to a Fox News-like presentation of more recent examples.
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COSTELLO: Many political observers say they've never seen anything like it. Thousands wait in line to see him, and it seems with every speech, they always latch onto Obama's three favorite words.
OBAMA: Yes, we can.
COSTELLO: Obama supporters wildly respond, chanting enthusiastically along with their candidate. But it's a scene some increasingly find not inspirational but "creepy."
L.A. Times columnist Joel Stein is cited, calling it "Obamaphilia. Then two of the very serious people sect have their opinions presented, Conservative columnist David Brooks in the NY Times, through his alter-ego Dr. Retail:
Meanwhile, Obama’s people are so taken with their messiah that soon they’ll be selling flowers at airports and arranging mass weddings. There’s a “Yes We Can” video floating around YouTube in which a bunch of celebrities like Scarlett Johansson and the guy from the Black Eyed Peas are singing the words to an Obama speech in escalating states of righteousness and ecstasy. If that video doesn’t creep out normal working-class voters, then nothing will.
Or Joe Klein in Time magazine, in a piece called Inspiration vs Substance. None too subtle is Joe. Klein also introduced the descriptor "creepy" to Obama-mania.
"There was something just a wee bit creepy about the mass messianism ... [T]he message is becoming dangerously self-referential. The Obama campaign all too often is about how wonderful the Obama campaign is.
And although not mentioned in the CNN piece, the truly creepy conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer gets into the act yesterday with this Washington Post column The Audacity of Selling Hope.
Interestingly, Obama has been able to win these electoral victories and dazzle crowds in one new jurisdiction after another, even as his mesmeric power has begun to arouse skepticism and misgivings among the mainstream media.
ABC's Jake Tapper notes the "Helter-Skelter cultish qualities" of "Obama worshipers," what Joel Stein of the Los Angeles Times calls "the Cult of Obama." Obama's Super Tuesday victory speech was a classic of the genre. Its effect was electric, eliciting a rhythmic fervor in the audience -- to such rhetorical nonsense as "We are the ones we've been waiting for. (Cheers, applause.) We are the change that we seek."
Krauthammer compares it to what he experienced as a young man growing up in Montreal, in what became known as Trudeaumania. The more obvious example to many Americans who remember the spring of 1968 is with Robert Kennedy. It would seem the traditional media's reaction to inspirational political figures has not improved in the intervening 40 years. If anything it's only gotten worse.
Or as Will Bunch succinctly put it:
But the real takeaway here is that passion + politics = cult.
God -- the real one -- save our political discourse.
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Foist!
yes i'm an obama follower.
and a cultist!
gimme some kool-aid! i need kool-aid!
Seems to me the 29% who still support Bush after all the damage he's done to our reputation, constitution, freedoms, military and budget are the ones who are the cultist. But don't expect to hear that in the corporate media!
These people are truly grasping at straws now...and that to me is a damn good sign!!!
the msm doesnt want us to be optimistic
they want us to remain cynical, depressed bastards
i was a kid when bobby kennedy was exciting the masses...but i still remember how my parents reacted to him....and it was a good thing
so is "obamamania"
emobile @ 2:
I like grape kool-aid...there IS NO OTHER than grape!
So, what's wrong about rallying around someone who actually had a vision. I remember another great man who had a vision: something about love thy neighbor. Boy, if we'd only have listened to him.
uncle joe mccarthy @ 5:
I am in agreement with ya Uncle Joe!
Well I agree it is creepy.
Don't drink the kool-aid!!!
After 7 years of Bush/Cheney, none of this should come as a surprise.
I support Obama, but I think skepticism about crowd's chanting monosyllabic slogans in unison is healthy. I think skepticism about adulation of political figures themselves rather than their policies is healthy.
Look, the truth will out. Which in this case, I believe, is that Obama is far and away the best candidate in the race. If Obama is all that we think he is, then he has nothing to fear from these pundits. But, again, I think it's healthy to question this type of phenomenon.
If you don't take this very seriously, you're whistling past the graveyard.
I am a Hillary supporter - but it's a close question. When I was at the caucus, I found the Obama kids a little - not creepy - but silly. Not all, or even most, Obama supporters can be branded "cult-like." But enough of them can to generate a storyline. The Obama cult can be as deadly as the Dean scream.
As a Hillary supporter, I don't want to press this storyline within the party, because it's toxic for everyone. On the other hand, it's crazy swiftboat type stuff - like the Dean scream or a nutty story about Kerry's military service - that kills Democrats in the general. Obama needs to figure out a way to get a handle on this.
I say this not because I'm against Obama. I hope Obama can counter it, and counter it quickly. But it is one reason I lean towards Hillary - Obama, being new on the scene, hasn't had a chance to define himself, and the Republicans will.
Let em scream on. You think the given power structure is going to go quietly??? They are going to fight as hard and as dirty as they can to keep power. THIS is the real war. We need to fight back and fight back hard. I was somewhat ambivalent, in the beginning, about Obama. But the fact that the "pwers that be" on both sides are terrified of him is all I need to hear. He has my full unwavering support.
I think they're scared of how much influence he has.
I was always suspicious why Carol Costello replaced Zain Verjee (sp.) a very competent reporter that was moved over to State Dept. reporting and getting less airtime . What ever the reason , it looks like she better at advancing CNN's agenda and not only about Obama , but other issues as well . keep an eye out on her . Maybe Zain wasn't a good enough propagandist .
If you want creepy just listen to any of the republican candidates
liberalNmoderation @ 6:
i like lime. :)
but it don't matter the flavor.
it's what we in the Cult of Obama mix it up with
before we jump off the cliff :)
Obama frequently blares U2's "City of Blinding Lights" at his events. Hmm, "Shining city on the hill," anyone? Sounds like the Barack Obama Cult want to be like the Ronald Reagan Cult.
well, gee maybe y'all should take these old fogies' opinions about Obama heading a 'cult' and just air them, uncritically, as an example of the "power" of the right wing media! because these folks don't get enough free press, they neeeeed liberal blogs to give them more. yapping heads are not going to determine the course of this election, and the best criticism they have of Obama is that he has a lot of enthusiastic supporters. for real! that is literally true, their best hope is to make people feel uneasy because Obama is popular. it's hilarious to watch liberals and Dems crouch back into their defeatist mindset and whimper that the big bad republicans are going to come along and magically undo Obama's support.
what I'm trying to say is, couldn't you just proclaim them to be full of shit, rather than reproducing all of their intellectually bankrupt drivel and giving it some credence? EVERYONE knows that the Republicans will be on the attack in the election, that's not something anyone is in denial of. what people are excited about with Obama is that we finally have a candidate who won't be trashed by their cheap, petty tricks. who is actually significantly differentiated from the Republicans. Kerry, Gore could be attacked for not being different enough. not so in this case.
it does help in defeating these media narratives though, for people to just immediately trash the accusation and those making it (of there being a 'cult') instead of giving air to their grievances and debating it as if it was actually a serious question! stop thinking like victims and losers!
Count me in with Obama. A highly intelligent Constitutional scholar that has brought people together to accomplish a lot in ILL. Personally, I find Joe Klein and Charles Krauthammer more than a little "creepy." It's come down to, this is all they have got. They are really reaching now. As for David Brooks, he is an idiot. He has been reaching since Bush took office. This country needs an inspirational leader now more than ever. We are in such bad shape, it is going to take a movement of large numbers of Americans to accomplish anything. We are in so deep, a President cannot do anything alone. Votes for Obama will also translate into a bigger majority in Congress. Obama is the best chance we have domestically and globally. That's not koolaid, that critical analysis.
This is the same corporate media who, for the most part, were cheerleaders for invading Iraq instead of acting like professional journalists (in other words, the credibility of the corporate media is about as low as that of George W. Bush and Congress).
The corporate media talking heads comment about voter apathy during every election season. And yet, when someone comes along that truly motivates a broad spectrum of voters, especially young voters, some in the corporate media are ready to criticize that candidate.
What I believe is going on is that Obama is talking about change. Real change and that scares the Establishment and defenders of the status quo of which the corporate media are part of. The fact that so much of Obama's contributions are coming from ordinary folks instead of powerful establishment interests is a good indicator of his broad and popular support and that he is not beholden to the status quo.
Maybe someday we'll also see change in the corporate media. I'm not holding my breath because the corporate media's allegiance is to its ad customers and stock holders and if they can deliver news that supports both, that's where they'll place their efforts. I saw the corporate media do the same thing with Ross Perot and his concerns about NAFTA and debt back in the early 1990's. And, as we know now, Ross was right. Ross Perot was taking on the establishment and they fought back and won.
If some in the corporate media are having a backlash against Obama, I'll take that as a good sign that Obama may very well be able to deliver change.
Once again, projection proves the mainstay of Right-Wing propaganda. Anyone who has seen these lunatics fawning over the dubious qualifications George W. Bush knows where the cult-thinking is...
cult Obama is frightening. I actually herd one pundit compare him to JESUS!!!!! I'm thinking seriously of not voting for a Democrat this year, if Obama is the nominee.
The Media has a LOT of power...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPlvdSQ6cAM
"There's really five companies that control 90 percent of what we read, see and hear." - Ted Turner
What's wrong with been political passionate? In the US politics is considered boring by most people as opposed to other parts of the World where citizens are sooo much more involved in the political process. ie: Europe. It seems that Americans always have something better to do than pay attention at the political process as a whole. God forbid they find a canditate exciting and moving and there we go: A Cult says the almighty MSN...sheesh!!
"Self-reverential?"
If you're going to put up a quote that everyone can read, you might want to not fuck it up in front of everyone. She seems pretty worked up about what these desparate right-wingers think. Pretty stupid report.
I sincerely mean this, #%$K Joe Klein, David Brooks and the rest of mainstream media. If this kind of thing was happening with McCain we would hear nothing but how great it is and how he has taken on the mantle of Ronald Reagan. Because it is a Democrat we get this nonsense and pure crap. Yeah, inspiring working class voters is such a bad thing. These big media asses could care less about the average working class of this country.
What? Charles Krauthammer calling someone "creepy"! Takes one to know one.
Ruthless People @ 3:
Fucking Amen!!
liberalNmoderation @ 4:
True Point.
This from the bunch that deified Reagan that is really rich!!
Obama will NOT be the nominee. You heard it hear first.
Well, Ron Paul is gone... that was the last media "political cult"... Obama shoulda seen this coming.
RLF @ 23:
It's the pundit that you should be scared of, not Obama. What kind of thinking is that?
Obamaphilia?
Nice job trying to make this a sexual matter ya pervert.
What a contrived smear campaign.
If this is the face of Hillary's revamped campaign.... It's a sad day for the Clintons.
Obama is my shepherd, I shall not want - from the Prophet Obama 3:36
The far right is scared sh*tless! It warms my heart.
By the by, he also has my vote in November.
StirFry @ 357:
my mother in law was the same,she was a super nice person.she just watched Faux Nooz to much
mudshark @ 361:
but it did take her 20 + years for her to accept me.
mudshark @ 362:
Jesus! That's a long fucking time.
xoites defends Constitution @ 363:
LOL...yeah.
But she was very nice.She'd take her digs at me and dems...every once and a great while.
Cause she knew.................I'd stand up to her. My father in law was a dem.But he was kinda weird.He ended up with Huntingtons Corea.
That's where my wife got it.
mudshark @ 364:
I am very sorry to hear that. It must be hard on you.
this is such a journalistic disgrace i don't even know what the hell to say.
where are the email links and contact phone numbers? give us some contact info on each listing so we can react!
Come to Obama. Kneel before Obama! Drink his blood! Drink his tears! Now rise and walk, you sick and crippled. Go forth!
mcnote5150 @ 353:
Wild speculation. Proof please.
alien @ 366:
No, you had it right the first time. There is nothing to say.
xoites defends Constitution @ 365:
I take it you're familiar with HD.
Actually X ,I consider myself lucky.1st,it's not like they said " You have 6 months" or anything like that.This is hard to express.
I'm Lucky,she's the most wonderful person I've ever met.
But I will say this........................it makes you get your priorites right.
Real Fastthe thing that made it worse was the doctors didn't have time for me,they just gave me a pamphlet and said"Here.....read this"
mudshark @ 356:
I don't think you can really give a leader credit for an economy anymore one way or other. Global trade has made it so there is very little they can do. However, I think many give Bill too much credit for the boom of the 90s. It was all a magical economy and the bubble burst. It just happened to wait until Bushie was in office, but everyone knew it was going to go for a crapper. It wasn't real.
Robert @ 368:
You want proof? Of what? This whole thing is bullshit from top to bottom and from begining to end.
Proof? LOL!!!!
An Average Joe @ 7:
Hey folks, with comments like this, it appears that Carol Costello may have a point. Are we electing a president, or choosing a new messiah?
what is with the incessant need for Hillary supporters to label and demonize Obama supporters? They are "cult-like", they all come from red states, they are all young, they are mostly black, they are mostly men etc. Except that some people are choosing a different candidate than your own and try to sway with them logic, not bullying, name-calling and fear.
mudshark @ 370:
Unforgivable!
Have you looked for a support group? I think that would be a good idea.
X....anyone that puts up with me.................well.....................has too be pretty damn good.
xoites defends Constitution @ 372:
LOL!!!! Imagine being in the frame of mind in which the best way to articulate your political views is by making an analogy to a computer marketing drive! LOL!!!!
Give me proof that the Clintons are orchestrating this "cult" theory. And no amount of LOLs will suffice.
mudshark @ 370:
Damn...sorry to hear about that one. Doctors as well. Life is strange, that is for sure.
mudshark @ 376:
Thank you for the compliment but i don't think it is as hard as you seem to think. :)
ConcernedCanuck @ 371:
none of them are real,it's what you do with it while you have it.And in that,BC did very well.
JEALOUS!! That is all this is. Also I don't know why but it seems like CNN is supporting Hillary and is not giving equal media discussions.
Robert @ 377:
Look, just vote for the person you want to be President. I was in school yard spitting contests more logical than this crap.
xoites defends Constitution @ 375:
has it been hard?fuck yes it's been hard.I've never actually spoken to anyone about it...
My wife was diagnosed in 2003......and the doctors figure she's been having (geezzz how should I say this) lets just say it's been advancing for 5 years prior to the diagnosis.it's fuckin hard X.....but it's ok.........my wife comes first.
xoites defends Constitution @ 382:
I'm sorry, I was just addressing your seeming inability to address the question with a proper response. Throwing a LOL out and dismissing the question outright hardly seems to progress a discussion. Also, I just entered this discussion. If it's illogical, it started long before I asked a question.
mudshark @ 380:
I agree with you. I think Bill was just a smooth player, same as Obama. Doesn't mean he isn't going to be a good Prez......but....
actually hard doesn't do it justice...............try mindblowing.........in a very negative way
FUCK those creeps! Obama is the only candidate worth looking at. Now the well known STUPID MONEY that always seem to come out at election time is funding blatant slander on media. This really pisses me off! It is the same STUPID AMERICAN MENTALITY that brought us george Bush! WHY do you think Obama's slogan STANDING FOR CHANGE runs so true to so many of us? BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH. Enough of the predictable juvenile lies that seem to work so well on the undereducated. Enough of the GOP fascist news medias who strategically target candidates who run against the fascist militaristic principles of the GOP. Well, I am now sold more than ever on Obama. I want NOTHING to do with any nation that supports war mongers like bush and McCain. I am sick to death of being sick to death with the GOP. I don't want ANY candidate who bends their ethics for compromise. DO NOT compromise with the GOP. THEY are more of an enemy than we face anywhere these days. They have brought this nation down to its knees... and THEY are proud about it... FUCK THEM!
The Clintonistas are getting scared!!
GoBama, GoBama, GoBama
Now that he's gotten their attention, Americans will make the right choice, assuming it's a fairly educated choice. Even many Repiblicans are "joining the cult"!!
Cult of personality...hmmm.
Seems better than some of the alternatives on display:
Cult of Stupidity
Cult of Ignorance
Cult of War
Cult of Jesus
Cult of Allah
Cult of Secrecy
Cult of Torture
Cult of Fear
Cult of Mendacity
Cult of (Phony) Experience
Cult of Lousy Personality
Cult of the Invisible Hand
Cult of the Market Knows Best
Cult of You Can't Be Both Free and Safe
Cult of Clintonian Victimhood
I'm sure I've missed a few, but for now I think I'll vote for Obama and skip
the midnight rituals.
I hate them trying to wave the flag of "normal working-class voters." They make up the reality they want and try to sell it to us using trumped-up imaginary people, like if they tell us often enough that NORMAL JOES won't vote for Obama and think he's a cult leader, we'll all stop thinking and believe them. Sometimes it seems like a lot of journalists think their job is to gauge the trends in an election and try to act as a counterforce to whatever is happening, no matter what it is. Truly bizarre.
mudshark @ 383:
That's a helluva long time to not talk to anyone about it. That's gotta be worse than the disease. Everybody needs someone to vent to Mudshark. It doesn't help the disease, but it sure has to make a person feel better to vent.
sorry to bum you guys out, and X...........Thank You.......
just ,thank you.there are those moments.
and I'm startin to have one.
I'm tired of hearing how the more highly educated voters are attracted to Obama. After all, what could the highly educated possibly know?
Did it it occur to anyone else that when Clinton was whining about Obama's speeches, she was giving a speech?
Creepy is sneak attacks.
Creepy is invasion and occupation.
Creepy is destroying the peoples' property.
Creepy is chimpy's secret government.
Creepy is asking for immunity when "nobody is breaking the law."
Creepy is using the people of the US to get a bill pass for his buddies.
Creepy is chimpy, turd, teeth and the rest of the nuts.
Creepy is fighting brown people and calling them "al Qaeda."
Creepy is using fear.
Creepy is repugs tons of lies.
Creepy is the amount of crooks in chimpy's admin.
Creepy is tons of pervs in chimpy's admin (they just got another one the other day.)
Creepy is craig.
Creepy is all fakeass Christians.
Creepy is repugs commenting on enthusiasm.
Creepy is looking at chimpy's face.
You have got to be kidding me!
That was one of the most ridiculous
things I've seen!
Shame on CNN.
Creepy News Network
repugs are alway raining on someone's parade.
mann isn't creepy?
get real.
Creepy!!!??? The last eight years are what is creepy.
Let's see...a junior congressman from Illinois, with a law background supposedly isn't qualified to be Prez? Oh right, I guess Abe Lincoln wasn't qualified either...
Obama is the one. I just hope he doesn't end up like Bobby Kennedy.
Nope. CNN just wants us to vote for Clinton.
If they're really looking for something creepy, they need only walk over to Glenn Beck's dressing room. THAT would be "creepy."
I was a member of the cult but, thanks to some deprogramming (i.e., reading about his positions on gay marriage, nukes, the death penalty, and God), I have decided he's just another politician.
Yes, God forbit, our leader be inspirational and get us to dream bigger dreams. Far, FAR better to have Mr. C Minus, MBA, as president...
CalGeorge @ 43:
The best politician we have going for us...
fuckin media
Orangutan. @ 45:
Maybe!
ConcernedCanuck @ 391:
I take it out on my work.Then I found this place,and I directed my anger and frustation at the repugs(cause you know they deserve it).You guys have helped me more than you know.
mudshark @ 392:
You've burned out nobody, so don't think you have.
If Obama wins the nomination, expect this to be just the beginning of the media piling on him. They may like him now, but they always loved St. McCain. At least with Clinton, its just going to be reruns of the same old Whitewater/travelgate/etc. horse-crap, instead of the brand new horse-excrement lined up for Obama.
ConcernedCanuck @ 395:
Sorry, Bummed out.......damn arthritis in my hands sometimes types what I think....ya, that's what I'm going to blame...
Robert @ 384:
Sorry. I did not mean to insult you but if you look through this thread the whole discussion is ludicruss, at least to me. If you like Hillary, please vote for her. If you like McCain, vote for him. If you like Obama please leave a small vial of your blood by the door so we can make the proper voodoo doll and take control of your brain. It is really that simple.
mudshark @ 394:
Those bastards have deserved it all right.
mudshark @ 392:
This is a community, buddy. As public as it gets the same people still post all the time. I respect most if not all the people who do post. If you can't talk to us ( i think you can ) then who?
xoites defends Constitution @ 400:
Better words have never been spoken. I admire posters on here. Never given up on life or their country. I have nothing but the greatest respect for the optimism.
Let’s see…a junior congressman from Illinois, with a law background supposedly isn’t qualified to be Prez? Oh right, I guess Abe Lincoln wasn’t qualified either…
Lincoln, a 4 term congressman from Illinois, a self taught lawyer who argued over 400 cases before the illinois supreme court. How many did your harvard trained lawyer argue before the Illinois supreme court while he was in Illinois.
Obama made one speech against the war. When he got to the senate voted completely in sync with Clinton. He didn't join with Murtha and use his wonderful inspirational leadership to reach across the aisle to continue the fight. He joined no protest movements, like Sheehan's, to inspire people to towards ending the war. Lincoln gave his first of many speeches against slavery while in the Illinois senate. While in the US congress made numerous speeches against the war as well as resolutions. In fact he worked so adamantly against the Mexican American war that he knew he would not be re-elected and chose not to run.
After leaving office he continued to speak out for abolition of slavery. In addition to numerous speeches and articles he engaged in a series of one on one debates with Stephen Douglas on the issue while running for the US senate. The plan was to debate in each Illinios district. Though the contest was for a illinios seat in the US senate people came from neighboring states to hear the debates and they received national attention with transcripts of the debates being reprinted across the country. Obama attempts to limit to as few as possible one on one debates.
This is just a brief and abreviated list of Lincoln's accomplishments before he ran for president. To compare his accomplishments, his dedication to his causes, the risks he took to champion them to Obama is just silly.
Onward and upward.........let's take back the White Hose).
.
.
.
.
.
I misspelled House on purpose.:)
The only thing creepy are republican liars.
The difference between Hillary and Obama is she supported the Iraq war and he did not. Hillary also likes to take both sides of issues.
My vote is going to Obama this November.
mudshark @ 403:
Sorry, but i am really not into stockings.
Lincoln's arguments to the Illinois Supreme Court were on behalf of railroad companies.
Fortunately, Lincoln was such a great President that Mary Todd became qualified and "experienced" by sheer osmosis.
xoites defends Constitution @ 405:
LOL...c'mon X,how about some fishnet stockings with 6 in heels? YOWZA!
mudshark @ 407:
Rudy would definitely go for that.
xoites defends Constitution @ 405:
I'm from Chicago, home of the original White Stockings who became, of course, the Chicago Cubs.
fiver @ 409:
Yes, and they have a proud and almost consistant tradition. ;)
xoites defends Constitution @ 408:
thanks for the mental image.........ugh.
I won't be able to get that out of my mind for days. pretty damn funny though.
xoites defends Constitution @ 410:
Cubs in '08!!! After all, we won last '08 (and not since...)
ok back to the topic"Obama Cult"...hey it's not like it's the Rocky Horror Picture show.
Unless...you're talkin Repugs.
You know what is so frightening about the followers of the Prophet Obama?
How fast their former admiration of the Clintons has been turned into blind raging hatred towards them.
How could the Prophet of "Hope" and "new politics" incite so many people to change from admiration to blind rage so quickly?
You all know what I'm talking about.
You open up your favorite blog only to learn that somehow "Chris Matthews is right! That bitch Clinton should fire her press people."
WTF?
Or you've posted some of your concerns about Obama on another of your favorite blogs and the commenters you used to share some sense of comradery with are now ganging up on you calling you a racist, in between writing love poems about the Prophet Obama and reciting their favorite parts of his last speech.
WTF?
On another blog you used to enjoy, they're repeating all of the right wing anti-Clinton smears from the 90s, except this time they are saying "I should have known Bill Clinton would do this". From what? The lying smear Limbaugh made up?
WTF?
How did the Prophet Obama transform these former rational people into a bunch of frothing at the mouth Clinton haters who would give Michelle Malkin and Ann Coulter a run for their money?
How?
The Prophet Obama is right about one thing.
Change!
He sure has brought about alot of change already.
He's changed thousands of people who used to admire and stick up for the Clintons into a bunch of delusional Clinton haters.
I suspect Clinton has been coerced into the PNAC, foreign policy, oil-addicted agendas, and/or the invested interests of multinational, car/plastics/arms/etc. manufacture, exports, military jobs and bases, countless jobs, etc... with the same thug-like attitude the neo-cons can squeeze and blackmail her into keeping Iraq, oil pipeline constructions, US bases, ties with Saudies, state terror operations in Venezuela, Colombia, Pakistan, etc... etc...
Obama is not so lenient it seems, and the corporates are shitting their pants, for a few extra tax dollars and a heavier hand on the constitution and a bit more care towards the earth. Gimme a freaken break. Be responsible, learn and vote.
The damn media has hit such a low.
Go Barack Obama!
shame on you CNN!
The Obama cult is truly scary. How can they worship such a transparently shallow, smug, phony creep? Oops, I forgot 8 years of Bush!
UnrealityCheckDotCom @ 153:
Very good, and valid, point.
Rubyfulcrum @ 396:
I could not agree with you more Ruby. This same mainstream media some are now complaining about has been trashing Hillary the past two months and you Obama folks were cool with it. All of a sudden ONE correspondent makes takes one little swipe at the Obama crowd and you all take insult.
This same Main Stream Media that is STILL trying to BAIT us into nominating Mr. Hope?? I think you Obama folks still have them on your side at least for now. Who knows what will happen tommorrow if we are naive enough to make him the nominee. Guess?
ikonoklast @ 190:
Great point.
I do not see anything cult like in the Obama campaign. If his message is speaking to the best in people then he has a great message! He did alot of good for the people in Illinois. Some say Obama is just 'empty words'. But words have meaning, they provide and communicate his understanding of what needs to be done in America at this point in history. "Heal this nation, repair this world."
Obama understands this, because of his excellent achievements, his amazing and diverse life story, and his commitment to public service.
We need someone like this to lead America now; super smart, vigorous, intellectually curious, who can find common ground among diverse groups of people, healthy in body and mind, no baggage from the past, and with a strong conscience.
Obama '08.
...i could SWEAR i must have sat in front of the t.v. for what feels like ages BEGGING the carol costellos of the world to bat just ONE freakin' eyelash to show me they were human, that they were still(if ever were) with us, that they indeed knew the workings of the bush, cheney, rumsfeld cult of fear. instead, all i ever heard was either critics were unpatriotic, "where are the terrorists," "what's the emergency color alert," "what's the stock market doing" and about thousand freakin' dollar hamburgers-all done by the way with a cult-like devotion and impeccable timing.
OxyCon @ 414:
nice comment,I've been watching this phenomenon for awhile now.Though Here,the people here are civil for the most part.for the most part.
One thing that piss's me off is dems going after dems.We're better that that,we're better that they are(repug's )
All you need to do is gather the over-the-top rhetoric from the pro-Obama posts on this thread and you have all the proof you need that he's a cult. It's like listening to true believers talk about Ayn Rand or L. Ron Hubbard. It's disgusting.
OxyCon @ 414:
I'm a Clinton supporter, but I don't believe that all of this hate and attack politics is coming from Obama supporters, I think (and this is just my theory, so don't flame me bro) that there are Republicans pretending to be Obama supporters trying to disrupt the party. I think the real Obama supporters are well-meaning Democrats who are supporting the candidate of their choice. I may be naive, but I just don't think that your average lefty acts this way trying to silence dissent and shout down opposition. We've only seen this behavior from the right-wingers until now. I prefer to think that people in my party are patriots who disagree on a few minor points but all agree that we need a Dem in the White House come 2009.
Here's this site is fun (and very spot-on):
http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/
These right wing freaks along with the traitorous mainstream media have the nerve to talk about cult?
These freaks are so busy sniffing Ronald Reagans coffin until they don't realize what freakin reality is!!!!
It's not a cult. The GOP is the one with cult like properties, especially when it comes to their blind worship of Reagan (whom they consider a deity almost), and Bush, at least for the first 6 years of his administration.
It seems like it was only a matter of time before the MSM found a way to kill try and my Obama buzz. The idea of an engaged and motivated electorate that actually views a Democratic candidtate without a filter of cynisism and mistrust simply does not compute for these people. As far as they're concerned Obama is flying into the rarified air that has heretofore been reserved for St. Ronnie the Feeble. Screw 'em. I'm on this creepy bandwagon and if anyone else wants to get on, there's plenty of room.
liberalista @ 423:
I don't think you're being Naive,I think your suspicions are well founded
now, if this "cult" thing means that president obama must insist that we 'the people' take responsibility for our families, our communities, our neighbors, volunteer, reach out, get active in our own government instead of putting our feet up and letting someone FIX it...well, i don't know...i...i think that's a cult i could live with-and calling it 'democracy' wouldn't insult me in the least!
This is just the beginning. Thanks to our BIG liberal writer at TIME. JokeLine is a JOKE. He parrots the right wing narrative so the CNN's and Tapper's can use it.
There is a cult in American Politics and it seems to be getting smaller.
There called the 30 Percenters.
Those who still support Bush.
Most of them believe he is actually a Christian.
How creepy is that.
Admiring and voting in record numbers for a young , energetic , intelligent , DIFFERENT COLORED MALE is now to be viewed as "cult-like" , while those that continue to vote against their own self-interest(s) by voting Republican no matter the candidates (in)abilities is normal behavior ?
Chill you guys, and don't make much of what cnn says, even here, in Europe, people are praying and rooting for Obama to get the nomination, this is remarkable, considering how agnostic Europeans are. People here would love America to get a decent person like Obama for president, after 8 years of presidency from that war criminal and fascist gwbush.
And the way the media treats Hillary is a Joke too...I'll have a piece about that soon. After our nominee is finally determined, McCrazy will get all the MSM love...Mark my words...
RLF @ 23:
Why bother to post here if you're a scuzzy repug?
OMG! He thinks he can change the world! What a nutcase! If he becomes President and changes the world what ever will we do?
I bought a new killer guitar amp today-that's happy
Now maybe that's OT but wtf
Do you like to carry this
Shit in your head
Better to be a deadhead
Even if you never liked
The band.
Smooth sailin' all
And this from Frank Zappa
There is nothing like the stink of an overly loud guitar
Oh yea
So if I get down on my knees and pray to the god Ronnie Reagan or the little god, George W Bush, the media will find that acceptable. Wanting a leader that inspires people to do better, to be the change as Barack Obama does, is not acceptable by the media. Do a little exploration on Hillary Clinton and you will find out that she knew there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and yet she voted for the war. No wonder she won't apologize.
The problem with Obama is that its pretty obvious that he does not really believe the rhetoric he is speaking. He is just trying to get your vote. If he is elected as POTUS he will be no different that George Bush, but these Obamatrons don't get it. So sad.
JFK just wanted votes too. History may have made him into a saint because he was assassinated, but that wasn't who he was. MLK was real and comparing him to Obama cheapens the memory of MLK.
What a media hack-and-slash job.
The MSM had Hillary anointed as the President-in-waiting, ready to automatically win the general election. Obama came along and screwed up their pundits, and now they want to get their revenge on him because the American people want change so badly and they couldn't see it.
As far as I'm concerned, ANY change Obama makes, no matter how little, is a helluva lot better than Mr. Sit-On-My-Ass-And-Make-It Worse Bush.
Typical Republicans. They always show their poker hand too early. Now Barack Obama's campaign knows what attacks to expect and they will be prepared.
Be afraid of positive change! Maybe we should only change a little bit. 51-49 politics is getting a lot done in Washington these days, I say we stick with it.
Independent Voter @ 57:
You are right. It is so obvious that it is all he can do to try to talk the voters out of choosing him in State after State after State.
Well, to some of us, before CNN, we thought the whole thing is bizarre and for sure is becoming creepy.
I do find it creepy that the Major bloggers chosen sides and have become embedded journalists of the Obama campaign. I do find it creepy that the 'Progressive" voices are repeating verbatim all the Clinton hate. I do find it creepy that old white guys decide to pass the torch of leadership to another man without letting the people finish their voting. I do find it creepy that Jessie Jackson Jr. goes on an attack of Hillary about crying and gets away with it. I do find it creepy that JJ Jr. threatens Super Delegates that the carpet will get pulled under them. I do find it creepy that Michell Obama questions wether she can support Hillary if she is the nominee. I do find it strange when I am constantly told that his voters will not vote for Hillary, and if I want to protect the supreme court I have to vote for him, cause his voters will not. I do find it creepy that a speech once given against the war, is equal to a vote in the Senate. I do find it creepy that when he voted along with the status quo that is viewed as an anti war stance. I do find it creepy that it was ok with him that Kerry voted for the war, but not Hillary.
I do find it creepy that he says the following and no one talks about it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qNpeGPdhEw&eurl
No one has done more to bolster the Obama campaign than the MSM and the Rightwing.
Right from the beginning,even casual political observers would have been hard pressed to miss the fawning accolades spouting from the utterly insincere yaps of the usual bigots and racists and crooks that comprise most of the "Conservative(bowel)Movement" these sorry daze.So to see this disgusting gambit taken to the next level shouldn't surprise anyone:and they're really just getting started.Its just sad.
"Creepy?"
Hey, that's MY line!!!!
If they say "Obamorons," I'm suing.
This nation is tired of cynicism, mean, divisive Bush-Clinton style politics. The greedy, corporate profiteering establishment benefits mightily from lack of national consensus on major issues, and wants the division to continue. Obama has the intellect, vision, charisma, judgment, integrity to help us bridge divides, the leadership to move us forward as a nation.
We see in the enthusiasm for Obama true democracy at work. The media simply wants controversy and will try to take anything down. The nation wants unity and leadership.
Aaron @ 36:
HAHAHAHAHA
I's no different then Beatlemania, Elvismania, or what have you.
Ron @ 34:
I do not know if the Obama cultists can't see it, but it is unnerving. I think the closest the repugs get is Reagan, but again I've never heard him compared to Jesus.
What worries me is that CNN is telling mentally-challenged Christian fundamentalists that Obama just may be the anti-christ and that they should do something about it . The potential for this to get ugly is the creepy part .
Scared, aren't they?
L.A. Confidential @ 67:
Of course the wing nuts have always seen the devil in anything that has youthful vitality.
mudshark @ 362:
Ha! My mother-in-law is a liberal and watches all the MSM (Faux, CNN, etc) all the time. So she is very confused and very programmed. Oh well, she doesn't have to vote. We still have that choice.
Oh, and I didn't hear a peep about a "cult" when the right wing zombies was sticking "W" signs and stickers up their rear ends!!
Only a cult couldn't vote for a giggling freak into the White House not just once but TWICE!!
It's a testimony to the political desperation George Bush has sown in this country--not to mention the vacuous impoverishment of our mainstream media and the historical ignorance fostered by our educational system--that a slick first-year senator with a light resume who most people had never heard of less than a year ago has now become a living demigod. It's sad and ridiculous.
"we are the one's we've been waiting for" is a valid statement. Only us, we the people, can do anything to save our asses. We cant keep waiting for a savior, even Obama.
“We are the one’s we’ve been waiting for”? Did he really say that? Is that the stupidest thing you've ever heard, or what? Did he used to write Zen koans for Hallmark?
jack @ 433:
This is a little bit of a rip-off from what Ghandi said, "You must be the change you want to see in the world."
Let's take a closer look at who's really qualified and or who's really working for the good of all of us in the Senate. Obama or Clinton.
Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term - 6yrs. - and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law - 20 - twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.
These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress www.thomas.loc.gov, but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.
1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton's bills are, more substantive.
16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.
There you have it, the fact's straight from the Senate Record
Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize.
During the first - 8 - eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced
233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.
His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included **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 the Senate, **The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law, **The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many more.
In all, since entering the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096.
An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no record according to some who would prefer that this comparison not be made public.
He's not just a talker. He's a doer.
What people won't do to discredit someone
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