Before my reader goes to the polls in Texas or Ohio this Tuesday, here's more to think about on Barack Obama.
Barack Obama has successfully promoted himself as the candidate of Change (note the capital "c"). Dallas, Texas anchorman Kevin Cokely reported today on
The Chris Matthews Show that one Texas politician has even said, "If Bill and Hillary were the bridge to the 21st century, Barack Obama
is the 21st century." The hype has built to the point Barack Obama is now considered by his flock to be not just a political candidate but a messianic visitor from the future.
But is he really the future, or does he just tie up loose ends of the past for Baby Boomers?
No less than Caroline Kennedy caused a stir when she called Barack "
a president like my father." Michelle Obama is now drawing comparisons to Jackie Kennedy, not dissuaded by her flip hairdo and ever-present string of pearls. Hillary Clinton went after Barack for comparing himself to Martin Luther King, Jr. After Bill Clinton galvanized black voters in South Carolina with his (benign) comparison of the Jesse Jackson and Obama campaigns, Ted Kennedy stepped in to support Obama.
Kennedys and Kings. Is this the future? Maybe if your idea of the future is 1963.
Barack Obama's handlers have inexplicably convinced everyone he's the candidate of the new century by using nothing but 40-year-old references. College students can now feel that they've stepped back into the sepia-toned photographs from their history books and stand on-the-scene for history, hearing a slimmer Martin Luther King who doesn't get dirty and unattractive in the trenches. The white Boomers are finally resolving their guilt for slavery and Jim Crow laws by nominating a black man for president. Anyone left unconvinced can rest on the words of the surviving Kennedys that we're headed for the next Camelot.
Experience? Well, just look at his outstanding record of "present" votes in the Illinois legislature! Or no, how about the fact he didn't vote for the war, overlooking the fact he wasn't in a
position to vote for the war? Well, he was a civil rights lawyer for awhile. Oh, screw the details! What are you, a racist? I'd like to have a beer with him! This guy's gonna be great!
Now I just want to know where Sammy Davis, Jr. stands on all of this.
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Obama Mania!!! Six months ago I wouldn't have given him a snowballs chance in you-know-where to win the democratic nomination. Fast forward to today and now I'll be surprised if he doesn't win...and win it all. He is certainly the new media darling. The "hip" candidate for all the Joe Stanos and beautiful people.
I wish I was more beautiful.
Interesting times to be alive, my friend.
If he does win it all I'm guessing there won't be all that much change for most of us any way.
Yes, Sammy Davis, Jr. died in the early `90's. But back when JFK was campaigning, Sammy was the Hollywood connection to the White House, and they had asked him to hold off marrying his white wife because it could make things difficult for Kennedy. I wonder what he would have to say about the presidential race in 2008? "The candy man caaan..."