BarackaMilli ObamaNilli
February 15, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Activism, Culture War, Current Affairs, Election '08, People, Politics, Public Policy
I am having way to much fun a the expense of Obama’s name lately …
Pajamas Media: What Barack Obama and Milli Vanilli Have in Common
Barack Obama is all image and no substance, writes Bob Owens. And forget “change.” He’s just lip-synching the old liberal standards.by Bob Owens
Fresh off of impressive wins in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, Illinois Senator Barack Obama seems poised to ride his campaign mantra of “change” to the Democratic presidential nomination, with a very real possibility of becoming America’s first black president. His rock star — excuse me, “Barack star” — hype aside, however, he is running a campaign on ideas and ideals firmly rooted in old-school, well-monied, liberal culture.
Obama’s political background is cryptic, and perhaps purposefully so. Recent attempts to find some substance in his legal and academic background have come up empty. His record of voting “present” while in the Illinois Senate instead of taking a position on tough issues is well-known. Democratic focus groups that wildly favor Obama over Hillary Clinton could not list a single legislative accomplishment for the senator, and instead admitted of Obama that “you don’t get the substance. You only get froth and apologies.”
To date, Obama’s masterful rhetorical skills have wooed voters across the political spectrum, but for those of us who grew up in the late 1980s and early 1990s, we may well be advised to start considering Obama as the “Milli Vanilli candidate.”
You remember Milli Vanilli, don’t you? Or are you still trying to forget? …
Go read the whole thing. I think it is unfortunate to compare Obama to Milli Vanilli. They were a complete sham whereas Obama is sharing what I truly believe he believes is the best for the country. I also think it is unfortunate because those guys were humiliated the world over and I don’t like it when people continue to berate them. Especially after one of them has committed suicide.
Back to Obama, … his flimsy substance? He is completely in line with liberal left of left leanings but he is the first liberal to truly start using messaging that reaches across generations, political parties, race and gender in a compelling way. People rightly criticize him for being all talk and no game (not much to date at least) but the power of words to compel the masses to action … like it or not … is substantial.
Think of it this way, when was the last time you got Oprah to emcee your gig, raised thirty million in a month and have Hollywood create a music video featuring one of your speeches?
After 12 years, conservatives haven’t sent Mrs. Clinton packing. Yet after about 12 months… Obama may have put the final nail into the coffin of her political career.
To say he is completely devoid of substance is to deny reality. Denying reality will not win against him.
I have been guilty of saying things along the lines of Barack being icing without a cake, a doughnut instead of a steak … but the truth of the matter, as I keep saying, is his speeches do have substance that people are starving for; Vision and Inspiration. Those two things are crucial ingredients to get the “substance” of public policy done. Current punditry, political elite and policy wonks seem to want to ignore that. They stick to the easy partisan wha wha’s of age old battles instead of realizing the culture has moved beyond both sides. I think Obama does recognize that and that puts him ahead of the game.
Unfortunately, this election doesn’t seem to have the right mix of a candidate who embodies vision, inspiration and pragmatic substantive change. Compounding this is the consumer mindset most have of politics today. That mindset being, “what are you going to do for *me*?” instead of what a President can lead *us* (as in ALL of us … not just the star struck) to do.
Back to Obama :), if Obama were a Republican … I have a feeling the above quoted author would probably be lip synching the praises of the RNC instead of their current anti-Obama talking points.
Just sayin’
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Milli Vanilli may have been a sham but it was great music regardless whoever the singers actually were. Too bad they truly weren't the singers but, in my eyes, it doesn't take away from the fact I like the songs 'Girl You Know It's True' and 'Blame It On The Rain'.