Politics and Culture

Obarney

Obama's speech is the most polarizing discourse in my lifetime. The disparate reactions have little to do with the message and everything to do with its effectiveness and emotional punch. Some conservatives liked it, but most felt like I did: The public caught Obama applauding the most hateful religious figure this side of Emperor Palpatine, and Obama had to do some damage control. It certainly wasn't, as some liberals contend, "brave" or visionary- Obama would have mentioned racism from the beginning of his candidacy if he were any kind of brave. Remember, Obama ran as the forgiving, non-threatening, minority "bargainer," trying to get all of the unmentioned-by-him positive benefits of such a position (T-shirt below) while being careful not to ruffle the feathers of the benign neglecters. No doubt Barack was upset when the media forced him to abandon his strategy.

A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win by Shelby Steele

Obama Making History shirt

Besides, does it take an especially intrepid man to call for racial reconciliation (it might at Jeremiah Wright's church)? Who finds racial harmony controvertial? Isn't that the theme of dozens of television shows since the seventies and half the Barney episodes? Barney probably handles it with as much depth. I got it! Obarney!

Obama showed a level of calculation I only approached when trying to convince my dad that I needed to borrow the car. Essentially:

"Whatever Wright said that you think is bad, I disagree with, but you have to understand how you've made us feel and, besides, it's not any worse than these things you don't consider that bad." Obama filled his speech with numerous examples of dishonor: Can you imagine McCain using his grandmother's less noble moments to get a bump in the polls?

Then, Obama made a plea for all Americans to place all of their grievances- health care, parks, library hours, the car salesman who made you buy the extended warranty, everything- in the blender and press "puree." Obama promised to add his special supplement to this mixture and serve the concoction back to us as a miracle cure.

Obama covered his lie that he was never there when Wright went nutty.

So, what to make of this panting LA Times article comparing Obama to Abraham Lincoln? It's like calling Britney Spears the next Maria Callas. Lincoln said those words immediately before 625,000 Americans lost their lives over slavery. Think about it.

In the end this speech will be as transformational as Romney's speech on religion. Remember that?