Sen. Obama A Political Rock Star, But His Ideas Are Conventional
Investor's Business Daily
Sen. Obama A Political Rock Star, But His Ideas Are Conventional
Thursday December 28, 7:00 pm ET
Jed Graham
For the past year, the Democratic presidential race was shaping up as a duel between Sen. Hillary Clinton and the un-Hillary, whoever that turned out to be.But as Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana hinted last week when he became the latest would-be contender to bow out, the field has been shaken up by the new Goliath on the block, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
Whether there were too many Goliaths or whether I'm just not the right David . . . the odds were longer than I felt I could responsibly pursue," Bayh said.
Obama, who burst onto the national stage at the 2004 Democratic convention with a unifying message in the midst of a polarizing campaign, has become the political equivalent of a rock star. His new book, "The Audacity of Hope," vaulted to the top of best-seller lists, and he is attracting big crowds way ahead of the 2008 election.
"It's quite incredible in a history of celebrity politicians to see somebody go so far with so little effort and, really, one glorious speech," Stephen Hess, professor of media and politics at George Washington University, said of Obama.
Bayh withdrew after three reporters covered him in New Hampshire -- while 150 followed Obama.
Nevertheless, former Sen. John Edwards, the vice presidential nominee in 2004, officially announced his presidential bid in New Orleans on Thursday.
Edwards used the Katrina-devastated 9th Ward as the backdrop to launch a campaign reprising his 2004 message that America isn't sufficiently spreading the wealth.
Edwards' populism may stand a better chance of exciting Democratic primary voters than Bayh's centrism. But he, too, will have to contend with the well-oiled and well-financed Clinton machine and the Obama phenomenon, driven by personal appeal.
"All we know about (Obama) is that he is exciting and interesting," Hess said. "He's new in a political world where everybody looks a little shopworn. He's a graceful, if not elegant, speaker. He has a remarkable resume, and he hasn't done very much, and that's awfully attractive."
Cult Of Personality
With just two years in the Senate and six in the Illinois Legislature, Obama, 45, has attracted a following not for legislative achievements, but because he has cultivated the image of a politician who can rise above bitter partisanship.
"We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states," he said in his 2004 convention address.
Obama struck a similar tone in "The Audacity of Hope," lamenting the troubling "gap between the magnitude of our challenges and the smallness of our politics -- the ease with which we are distracted by the petty and trivial."
While Obama declared that he is "angry about policies that consistently favor the wealthy and powerful over average Americans," he also said, "I believe in the free market, competition and entrepreneurship, and think no small number of government programs don't work as advertised."
Also, he said, "I think much of what ails the inner city involves a breakdown in culture that will not be cured by money alone."
Party Line Voter
But when it comes to turning broad strokes into real policies, Obama is largely a blank canvas.
His signature idea is known as "health care for hybrids." He favors relieving U.S. automakers of some retiree health care costs if they make more fuel-efficient vehicles.
He also has pushed for the creation of an Office of Public Integrity and co-sponsored legislation to provide earmark transparency.
On key issues, Obama almost always votes the party line. He opposed the Iraq War before it began and favors cutting troop levels.
He voted against John Roberts' Supreme Court nomination and joined an unsuccessful filibuster of Samuel Alito's nomination despite criticizing "procedural maneuvers" to block Bush's court picks.
He opposed the Central America Free Trade Agreement but said, "I wish I could vote in favor."
Centrist Democratic blogger Mickey Kaus said Obama's big speech favoring the Senate's immigration reform bill this year offered "an idiosyncratic veneer of reasonableness over a policy that is utterly party line and conventional."
Liberal operative David Sirota suggested Obama's positioning may reflect an "aversion to confronting power" that may offer "a major opening for a real populist."
Recent polls show Edwards is competitive in early-voting states.
A poll of likely Iowa voters by Research 2000 last week found Obama and Edwards tied with 22%. Next was Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack at 12% with Clinton at 10%.
A Concord Monitor poll of likely Democratic voters in equally key New Hampshire showed Clinton with 22% vs. 21% for Obama and 16% for Edwards. A November poll gave New York's junior senator a 23-point lead over Obama.
At least one political analyst believes strong support for Edwards and Obama could help Clinton.
Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said if the race comes down to "one major candidate vs. Hillary, they have a chance."
But if there are two or more major rivals, "she'll win," he predicted.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ibd/061228/general.html?.v=1
Sen. Obama A Political Rock Star, But His Ideas Are Conventional
Thursday December 28, 7:00 pm ET
Jed Graham
For the past year, the Democratic presidential race was shaping up as a duel between Sen. Hillary Clinton and the un-Hillary, whoever that turned out to be.But as Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana hinted last week when he became the latest would-be contender to bow out, the field has been shaken up by the new Goliath on the block, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
Whether there were too many Goliaths or whether I'm just not the right David . . . the odds were longer than I felt I could responsibly pursue," Bayh said.
Obama, who burst onto the national stage at the 2004 Democratic convention with a unifying message in the midst of a polarizing campaign, has become the political equivalent of a rock star. His new book, "The Audacity of Hope," vaulted to the top of best-seller lists, and he is attracting big crowds way ahead of the 2008 election.
"It's quite incredible in a history of celebrity politicians to see somebody go so far with so little effort and, really, one glorious speech," Stephen Hess, professor of media and politics at George Washington University, said of Obama.
Bayh withdrew after three reporters covered him in New Hampshire -- while 150 followed Obama.
Nevertheless, former Sen. John Edwards, the vice presidential nominee in 2004, officially announced his presidential bid in New Orleans on Thursday.
Edwards used the Katrina-devastated 9th Ward as the backdrop to launch a campaign reprising his 2004 message that America isn't sufficiently spreading the wealth.
Edwards' populism may stand a better chance of exciting Democratic primary voters than Bayh's centrism. But he, too, will have to contend with the well-oiled and well-financed Clinton machine and the Obama phenomenon, driven by personal appeal.
"All we know about (Obama) is that he is exciting and interesting," Hess said. "He's new in a political world where everybody looks a little shopworn. He's a graceful, if not elegant, speaker. He has a remarkable resume, and he hasn't done very much, and that's awfully attractive."
Cult Of Personality
With just two years in the Senate and six in the Illinois Legislature, Obama, 45, has attracted a following not for legislative achievements, but because he has cultivated the image of a politician who can rise above bitter partisanship.
"We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states," he said in his 2004 convention address.
Obama struck a similar tone in "The Audacity of Hope," lamenting the troubling "gap between the magnitude of our challenges and the smallness of our politics -- the ease with which we are distracted by the petty and trivial."
While Obama declared that he is "angry about policies that consistently favor the wealthy and powerful over average Americans," he also said, "I believe in the free market, competition and entrepreneurship, and think no small number of government programs don't work as advertised."
Also, he said, "I think much of what ails the inner city involves a breakdown in culture that will not be cured by money alone."
Party Line Voter
But when it comes to turning broad strokes into real policies, Obama is largely a blank canvas.
His signature idea is known as "health care for hybrids." He favors relieving U.S. automakers of some retiree health care costs if they make more fuel-efficient vehicles.
He also has pushed for the creation of an Office of Public Integrity and co-sponsored legislation to provide earmark transparency.
On key issues, Obama almost always votes the party line. He opposed the Iraq War before it began and favors cutting troop levels.
He voted against John Roberts' Supreme Court nomination and joined an unsuccessful filibuster of Samuel Alito's nomination despite criticizing "procedural maneuvers" to block Bush's court picks.
He opposed the Central America Free Trade Agreement but said, "I wish I could vote in favor."
Centrist Democratic blogger Mickey Kaus said Obama's big speech favoring the Senate's immigration reform bill this year offered "an idiosyncratic veneer of reasonableness over a policy that is utterly party line and conventional."
Liberal operative David Sirota suggested Obama's positioning may reflect an "aversion to confronting power" that may offer "a major opening for a real populist."
Recent polls show Edwards is competitive in early-voting states.
A poll of likely Iowa voters by Research 2000 last week found Obama and Edwards tied with 22%. Next was Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack at 12% with Clinton at 10%.
A Concord Monitor poll of likely Democratic voters in equally key New Hampshire showed Clinton with 22% vs. 21% for Obama and 16% for Edwards. A November poll gave New York's junior senator a 23-point lead over Obama.
At least one political analyst believes strong support for Edwards and Obama could help Clinton.
Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said if the race comes down to "one major candidate vs. Hillary, they have a chance."
But if there are two or more major rivals, "she'll win," he predicted.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ibd/061228/general.html?.v=1
posted by presgore19 at 5:05 PM
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