And Obama Wept

This is silly. “Weirded out” by Obama supporters? The first time you see someone stepping outside of their comfort zone to join in a cause your first reaction is to ridicule them back into their box. What good does that do anyone? And calling his supporters a “cult” is way out of line. As a Hillary supporter who sees their movement, I’m inspired. I believe Hillary is a better candidate, but I don’t demonize or try to demean their movement.

People are weeping cause they can’t stand the thought of Bush in office another day.
So this is what they call journalism these days.

So far, I understand that Obama is for puppies, apple pie, baseball, and hope. I have not heard one single issue that he’s taken a stance on. That’s why you have to look at his (tiny) voting record. When he does vote one way or another, it is always on the socialist side. He’s the most liberal senator in DC, and with the crop we have in there no, that is no small statement.

Obama is no underdog, and having all this money to blow on rallies where he chants rhetoric is a “waste.” Hillary doesn’t need rallies, just stick to your policies and plans.
Obama cult, that is scary. How weak we are?

Wait til people take a close look at Obama’s actual church. Yikes!

Anyone seen the movie “Bob Roberts”?

Thinking about it deeply there’s no choice here more than voting Barack Obama all the way & going for Hillary Clinton is like jumping from “FRY PAN TO FIRE”

A great example of this was a puff piece ABC did Wednesday morning on their early new show (prior to GMA). Near the end, they showed an extended clip from Obama’s speech, glowingly spoke of how he was viewed in America, then posed the question of how he was viewed in other countries? Of course, every person they spoke to in every country was gushing over Obama. STOP THE MADNESS! The press needs to ask specific questions on policy, and not let any candidate (particularly Obama) slide into vague generalities about change. Keep asking the questions until the American people know exactly who and what they are voting for. The Obama-gasm we see today is pure swoon. His fitness for the highest office in the world is a serious question yet to be answered.

people are desperate for change not only in the white house but socially! and Obama can bring that to the U.S. not Hillary. If Hillary wins the Nomination, I’d rather take my chances in the world and vote for Mccain instead.

Betty – you are a moron if you think MSNBC is being unfair posting articles about Hillary spending her own money on her campaign. Have you read the news later? It’s all about Obama. Maybe if you were to think outside the box you’d realize that MSNBC is completely biased toward Obama and have been from the start.

This is exactly what some of us have been saying. The creepy Jim Jones like followers of Obama. A bunch of goobily gook about change and “We(?)can do it”.
A bunch of sad, clueless yound people looking for something or someone to latch onto.

Thank you!! Finally people seem to be noticing that the Obama campaign is Messianic. You cannot disagree with anything Obama or you are a racist!
It reminds me of the 2000 campaign when the press fell in love with Bush…he is the man I would want to have beer with…a “nice guy”, remeber the nicknames?Gore was just awful blah blah..a liar and worse!
Give Hillary the same coverage as Obama.

Enthusiasm and participation in politics…it must be stopped!

This article is dead-on accurate. Obama is benefitting from the process of group-think as I’ve never seen it in my 50+ years. I believe it’s simply become a P.C. thing, as that is the guiding light for most Dems and libs. Always easy to take the P.C. road, you know.

Paradigm, I could not agree more with what you stated. These people are searching for anything. Sad but he is not the way…

So now it’s come to this? Suggesting those who are supporting Obama are part of a cult?
How condescending and insulting.
Give me a break.

All Sen. Clinton, or an intrepid reporter has to do is ask Obama one question: “Where’s the beef?”

All Sen. Clinton, or an intrepid reporter has to do is ask Obama one question: “Where’s the beef?”

Is it really any different than any other candidate with a following? Sure the language varies, but its only language. Basically, the author is a Hillary supporter. He supports her because of the language she uses and the way she presents her self.

FINALLY! A news story that is not anti Hillary Clinton. This is the most “dead on” article about Obama so far. It does seem like a cult. His followers seem almost like sheep. It’s scary. His diciples/followers are so taken in that they don’t question any thing about him like only 30 something months in the Senate (most spent running for President), his arrogance, exactly WHERE all this money is coming from???

It’s no more ‘out of hand’ than the media’s participation in The Coronation of Hillary over the last year. That REALLY creeped me out.
Obama supporters are desperate for a united country – something we haven’t had in the last 16 years. Something a Clinton can’t offer. Something that only Obama seems to have the ability to do.
It’s a shame that you can’t participate in the optimism.

Wow… I’m a rational, 25 year old war veteran/law student who is actively supporting Obama. To insinuate that a cultish movement is the reason for his popularity is incredibly irresponsible. After 7 years of what we have had, are you surprised about people wanting change?
The reason I like him is the prospect of him seeing law through the lens of the Constitution (he was a Con Law professor at U Chicago). I also enjoy his moderate federalist views on issues more than I like the heavy federalism coming from Hillary. You want to know why he appeals to people? It isn’t because of hollow rhetoric, it is because his ability to inspire is, in fact, followed with a plan that will do good for our country (in my own opinion).
So, if you have had a couple strange encounters with Obama supporters, you should probably attempt to step back yourself and not fall victim to opining from the perspective of a limited sample. Also, to the person who made the revelations parallel, the anti-christ is going to come from a former Roman province. I don’t think Hawaii qualifies. If you are going to practice fundamentalism, it pays to know what the Bible says.

Senator Obama delivers great results, great speeches and people like him. Americans are uplifted and motivated. I think ABC wants Americans to go back asleep. Thank God we don’t have to get our news from just 3 networks anymore. Who hired this idiot to report for ABC? This is news?

I think the reason that you see this type of response to this candidate is because people are feeling very bad in this country and they are desperate to believe in something positive. Obama and Clinton are both very capable leaders and they both seem to have very concrete ideas about how they want to lead the nation. However, there is something special about having the gift to lift spirits. How will that translate into action? Who knows, but I don’t see anything wrong with giving this guy a chance.

This is news???
This is pure commentary.
There is nothing weird about Obama or his campaign. This is just one hell of a charismatic guy.
As for policy, I suggest you take a better look because if I’m not mistaken the policies are all there in their specifics…
But maybe it’s gonna get this webpage more hits to have a bit of yellow journalism.
Maybe your time would be better spent tracking down “churches” like Scientology that have tax-exempt status but are more cult like than this campaign…
This is something new. This is the grass roots. This is a revolution.

I agree with the others, that this article is stupid posturing by ABC.
I guess hard-botten cynical reporters think that citizen enthusiasm and participation in politics, for a change, is “weird”.
I guess it is weird. But what do you want? Resuming the lobbyist-driven government and uninformed, apathetic populace?
How glib and idiotic. I wouldn’t appreciate calling Hillary’s fans a “cult” either.
This is just childish. Shame on you ABC.

Millions of Americans getting involved in the political process for the first time, and the pundits – some of whom have a past with the Clinton political machine – are now declaring it a cult. Very interesting attack tactic – and very, very dirty.
The Clinton proxies should really be cautious about how far they go in insulting Barack’s supporters. It’s one thing to attack a candidate, but it’s another to go after inspired Democrats who have shown a willingness to donate in droves. Look at the splintered Republicans – is that what we want as a party going into November?

I think one camera shot from Fox News of Obama’s speech supports your point. It caught a woman who was so overcome by emotion as Obama spoke of his earlier days as a community organizer. Very eerie!

If Obama is an inspiration similar to JFK, I wonder if the media in the 1960s raised the same questions.
Maybe we’re tired of venomous campaigns full of dirty tricks and “hate the other guy” mindsets. Maybe we’re interested in breaking the hegemony of this “republic” over the past 25 years. Maybe we believe that it’s time for a new generation of politicians, a larger manifestation of the tried “kick the bums out” approach.
Maybe after years of Bush and the religious right, we’ve finally realized that change in this country only happens if you organize, unite, and vote. Maybe our passion for the future of this country overcomes our desire to seem disengaged, so as to need the spoon-fed meals the media is all too happy to provide.
Guys, be careful. We’re growing tired of the 24 hour news cycle’s desire to make up any story and run with it. This one falls under that category. Report, then move on. There are plenty of stories in the world to cover that you guys unfortunately ignore.

I agree that Obama has detailed some of his policy plans, but they are never challenged by the press, and he has yet to explain (with hard figures) how he will pay for all this! The fact is, Obama’s plans would steer this country into socialism, castrate our Armed Forces, open our borders to more terrorists than ever, and lead us into economic suicide. YOU CANNOT DO THIS JOB WITH SERMONS ALONE. Experience matters. Obama is not ready.

not news. not an article. Save posts like this for the web forum

I think it is disturbing for many older whites to see so many people swoon over a black man that is NOT solely entertaining them by singing/dancing/sports. There is no pretext for the “Obama Phenomena” other than black entertainers and MLK. And that’s disturbing because of the implications it has on the historical domination by whites on intellectualization and leadership.
For many older people, accepting Obama is like being dropped in a tub of ice cold water. So it becomes easy to dismiss what you can’t grasp as a cult. Just like I’d dismiss the “Polar Bear” Diver’s Club as a cult when they jump in freezing water every year.
He DOES have plans. They are superior plans. I just think he overestimates peoples’ ability to read and comprehend. He has a professorial background, and he still expects his students to read up on their studies before they come to class (rallies).

I think it’s interesting that in an election when there’s not much inspiration that the media criticizes the one candidate whose managed to tap into the imagination of everyday Americans. While I’m not necessarily an Obama supporter, I do find myself listening to his message of finding the greatness that exists now instead of just hoping for it in the future. I think that’s Obama’s way of telling us that we don’t have to wait for things to get better, we can be a part of the process that makes it better. I think that’s a message that everyone, no matter whom they should support, should consider.

Well said Blake. I am an Obama supporter who listens to the issues, but the differences between Clinton and Obama are very minor. So my only choice is to choose the candidate that makes me believe that we can do better. He is the only candidate in any race that has ever made me want to get involved and I should not be ridiculed for that.
In a time when the country is so divided and people feel a disconnect from a government that has betrayed them, inspiration and an ability to bring people together ARE the key issues.

As an Obama supporter, it’s frustrating when there are so many posts about “Obama doesn’t take a stand on anything”. Wake up!
1) Iraq War (I think his stance has been much more clear than Hillary’s “it was a good idea at the time to vote for the war”)
2) Immigration – supporting Driver’s licences to illegal as part of a comprehensive reform (still not sure where Hillary is on this issue)
3) NAFTA – Dissaproves ( For Hillary’s position see point #1 – just substitute NAFTA in for war.)
4) Foreign Policy – speaking to leaders of non-friendly countries is not taking a stance??? Who would have thought that maybe diplomacy would be a better alternative to war.
Please, if there is anyone who can be questioned for not taking a stand on the issue is Hillary.
I am still waiting to see what she will do with Social Security.

I was watching the omnipotent Joe Klein haughtily walking around the Hartford Civic Center as part of the National Press Corps during Barack Obama’s appearance in front of 16,000 supporters on the day before the primary. I could tell by the smirk on his face that he was disapproving of Barack Obama’s immense support. I was seated among people in that crowd who were, like me, supporters — just plain folks. There was plenty of fervor and excitement but Klein’s characterization of “mass messianism” is completely and totally incorrect and very cynical. Why are these rallies held in the first place?? Easy—to get as many people as possible to see the candidate in person and not just on TV. Maybe to convert the fence sitters? Is my use of the word convert offensive?? I will admit to being at similar rally on the New Haven Green 2 days before the election in 1960(I was 15 at the time). The adoration of John F Kennedy was no less enthusiastic but I didn’t hear a critical word about it then. It was another time when there was far less cynicism than there is today and far fewer Joe Kleins.

Wow! I’m a 50 year old professional who raised my kid single handedly. And all of a sudden, because I don’t buy into the same old political garbage we’ve been getting for 16 years, I’m part of a cult? How dare you. If you journalists and media people are all so smart about what everyone thinks, how come you keep paying for polls that are getting it all wrong. Who’s part of a cult here?

What a great essay.
IT IS ABOUT TIME
Lots of us are feeling creepy watching this snake oil revival meeting.

When You have Oprah campaigning for You, That absolutely make it cultish.

This story blows
After 7 years of bush we are all sick of it and want something totally different. Barack is offering us this… no the man can’t have every plan and detail worked out to revolutionize the country immediatley on “day one”, who could? bush has created so many messes it would take, well, a HARVARD graduate, years to untangle! Now because we have (finally) someone who is as pissed off as we are about how washington is being run and how lousy the state of the country has become under bush… because we are extremely happy and hopeful, we are now in a cult. I think barack will become president and make sweeping, needed changes and make this country proud and healthy again… I also believe he is the first politition in a helluva long time that actually tells the truth. So to the author,,, have big ole cup of SHUDDDUP!

At this point in time we were supposed to be well-into the “post-coronation swoon”, with daily soft-focus shots of the queen-in-waiting entertaining prospective cabinet-suitors in her drawing room at Chappaqua. Instead, she’s has to break into her book-advance piggy bank to keep this medicine show on the road. The Clintons and their MSM allies can lie about a lot, but as the bucks dry up, it’s going to be harder and harder to keep those “friends” on the reservation.

If Obama can win the White House based only charismatic speeches of hope and change that make his followers “feel good”, I am ready to believe one day an AntiChrist will convince people to stamp 666 on their forehead. Are we people, or sheeple?

All the dems are weirdos…I’m voting Republican…you all should too.

Who cares? Right now-whatever it takes
to bring down the Clinton machine! I
would rather have Obama then China or
Saudi Arabia running our country-if the
Clintons get back in-that’s what will
happen-do you think they got all that
money from them without some type of
sell out. Get real! The Clinton’s can
not be trusted and your naive if you
think they can be! They have an agenda
and it’s not for the betterment of the
USA. I give Obama credit for going up
against them and seemingly winning! Btw
I am a conservative-but right now-I am
more interested in what’s happening in
the Democratic party-to see someone take
on the machine and win is fantastic-and
it appears there are a lot of Dems that
feel the same way!

One thing is true. Obama may not get Hillary’s voters if he is the nominee!
No vengence like that of a Woman scorned!
Imagine 50 million scorned woman!
LOL!

I think ABC wants the people of this country to listen to the news media and the political pundits who will be making the decision for them on who to vote. Just like how it is time to get rid of all the Washinton politicians and start over fresh, it is also time to get rid of all the current media outlets and startover.

The euphoria of Obama is nothing less than the pure essence of our liberalism- we all want to change the world, and our hope and faith in a new future is predicated on ignoring the abject failure of socialism wherever it has been tried.

I see Jake’s point, but Obama isn’t the only politician with cult-like followers. When I attended an Obama event last summer, people were crying as if he were Elvis…….my mom said there are always fanatics and that she had seen those same types of people at Clinton events in the 90s………it proves to me the stupidity of the masses, not anything inparticular about Obama-he’s just playing off of what people like about him. I still support him (in a normal way).

Let’s face it – the press coverage of Obama has been one big love fest.
Even my Obama supporting friend has commented on it and ABC has been no exception. I’ve done my homework and Obama’s sellout to big coal and nuclear power, his non-sensical healthcare program and his habit for taking credit for legislation he has neither authored or sponsored is worrisome to say the least. This is not the man I want to lead us out of a recession, clean up our climate crisis or take care of our health care mess.

Was this article even necessary? There are weirdos everywhere. Case in point – the drudgereport, where I found this stupid article.

Did anyone notice that crazy woman over Obama’s shoulder as he gave his speech Tuesday night? If that wasn’t a spooky vision of cultish worship, nothing is.

I have spent my entire voting life religiously voting against “the republicans”; and now becouse I have a candidate that I want to vote for I am a member of a cult? Wow,the lenght Obama haters will go. This is sad.

I think a lot of the comments here show a distinct generational divide, and require us to pause and think a bit about how the Democratic Party is shaping as we move towards November.
It seems that on one side, we have those who have been voting for several elections now, who remember what it was like to have their efforts blunted by the Supreme Court in 2000 and to have Bush reelected despite already being harshly criticized almost everywhere. They remember Gingrich and the New Republican Majority forming, and they remember Reagan’s 49-state political machine.
On the other hand, we have young adults, many who are voting for the first time and have (as myself) never known a president not named Bush or Clinton. They’ve been told by their parents that politicians are bad and that government is corrupt and probably isn’t going to do anything but have the IRS send you mail every January. It’s not that they’re dumb (or that older Democrats are wrong for having some degree of cynicism), it just seems to be that they know that politics can be better, and instead of being skeptical of it, they’re more willing to accept it with open arms, because it isn’t Bush.
Both sides should be critical of every politician, as we should of anything that is concerned with power; but we need to find a reconciliatory middle ground at the same time.

Obama “IS” the one he shall lead us to the promise land, Glory be his name, I will drink Koolaid is I have to.

I don’t care about policy details.
I just want change for the sake of change.
A few years down the road, I’ll want more and different change.
The Changers will bring us change, you can count on that!

Listen to Sen. Obama’s speech patterns and cadences. He draws out his adjectives:
“For tooo looong this nation has waited for…”
Who does he sound like? The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, a man regarded as a modern-day saint in this secularist nation. It’s not surprising that people think of Barak Obama in a religious manner.

If Obama had an R next to his name his coverage would have been starkly different. And, yes, “Messiah Complex” comes to my mind when I see and hear him.
Have you noticed that he hasn’t rejected Move-on’s endorsement? What does that tell you? When Nixon was President, Sen Clinton and Media figures like Jack Anderson investigated Oligarchs like Howard Hughes and Robert Vesco and their corrupting influence on Politics-Now these Soros clones are accepted and even celebrated despite their poisonous, devisive influence. Maybe McCain could fix that-Hillary and Obama won’t.

Maybe Obama is really the favorite in this race now. Up until today the ultra conservative Drudge Report seemed like they were posting relatively positive Obama articles in contrast to the usual Hillary bashing links. Today right there at the top we’ve got “The Obama Cult” link. Kind of sickening.
The bigger story is that we could see Drudge start to go negative towards Obama being that the Neo-Cons are realizing that theres little to no chance they could beat Obama in the general. I think we’ll see all the Conservative talking heads start to subtly back Hillary as well. They’re very aware that with her high negatives she’s beatable in the general. They could very well be looking at 8 years of Barrack and that scares them.

I think People are just excited to finally have someone REAL running for president. He is one of us. He talks like us. When you ask him a question, he answers straight! Ask Clinton a question, like how would you enforce health insurance mandates?, and she talks AROUND the question! I saw her asked the SAME question 3 times and still didn’t want to answer it! Obama is easy to listen to, he’s honest. I have actually heard him ADMIT making a mistake! THAT is real…People respect honesty, we know our Politicians are human. But we don’t like liars. I don’t agree with EVERY policy he has, but I agree with his principles. Though, he DOES have policies which are outlined on his site, for those who are unaware. You see, if the person isn’t honest in the first place, you can’t believe a word of what they say their policies are. Bill Richardson needs to put personal interest aside and endorse Obama. Obamas policies are best for Latinos re; drivers licences, and Obama was the Senator who had COURAGE to March with Latinos for immigration reform. Clinton didn”t. Lantinos deserve to know who really works in their interests. Clinton is a Politian…Obama is a Public Servant.

Obama is becoming the God to the Godless. If you don’t believe in something, you will fall for anything. Sure, he is handsome and charming and sounds good, but the fact is he is the most liberal Senator in the Senate, and he will lose if he becomes the nominee, because his true color will be revealed (no pun intended). If Hillary becomes the nominee, she will lose too because of the baggage and lack of appeal.

I am a republican that will vote for Obama
No I am not leaving the party “the party has left me” to quote a similar statement by Reagan.
Yes my family and I will vote for Obama.
Why not Hillary?
That for most of us would be going back to sensitive time that we want to forget,we have to much on our plate as a nation, at least by voting for Obama
we can make closure history

I wholeheartedly agree. Not only am I unable to get clear answers from Obama supporters of than “I am supporting him because he makes me feel so good” , but i have spoken to people in their 20′s and 40′s who said that the pressure to support Obama was so strong they were either shamed when they said they supporting Senator Clinton, or felt that they needed to either lie or not disclose. That is scary!

Best. article. ever… solely for the righteous frenzy you seem to have whipped up in the Obama supporters. It is one thing to support a candidate; it’s quite another to anoint them the “chosen one”.
By the way, I thought Hillary was the savior of the Dem party. That was 2004, you say? My bad.

Listen to Sen. Obama’s speech patterns and cadences. He draws out his adjectives and adverbs:
“For tooo looong this nation has waited for…”
Who does he sound like? The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, a man regarded as a modern-day saint in this secularist nation. It’s not surprising that people think of Barak Obama in a religious manner.
Regarding where’s the beef? Sen. Obama is running a new kind of campaign: his stand on the issues is on his website. The website is the hard drive to his campaign. His supporters check out his website two or three times a day.
Go Obama 08!

Can Obama make a speech without a teleprompter? He always has two on both sides for EVERY SPEECH.
Who is he talking to? A monitor or the people? I think we know the answer.
He is reading words off a teleprompter that somebody else wrote for him. Watch his speeches and how he shifts to reading one teleprompter to the other. It’s downright creepyscary.
He is another GW Bush who also ran on CHANGE in 2000. He is recycling all the Republican ideas. Funny isn’t it.
Plus, his main campaign manager was the one behind the Howard Dean smears, with his Obama bin Dean smear campaign. The DNC must be thrilled about that.

To me, the Obama movement shows that young people are desperate for something to believe in during these difficult times. Let’s face it what Bush has done is abhorrent to those who are idealistic. It’s great that Obama energized these folk and pulled them into the process. But I agree with your column: Obama seems like a preacher delivering the sermon on the mount “come to me and ye’ shall be saved”. It’s like a cult. Take it on faith- “Change You Can Believe In” and those kind of empty platitudes. I do find it unsettling.

“We are the change we’ve been looking for” is about realizing you have power if you involve yourself in the process instead of waiting for someone else to deliver you solutions.
I guess we’re all so post-modern and meta that real enthusiasm “weirds” us out.
Aren’t we clever?

We are tired of Bush, tired of being ashamed of our country, and can see little to look forward to in a Clinton or McCain administration, but much to hope for about an Obama one. It is not a religion.

First, many posters above have correctly pointed out that the characterization of Obama as “style over substance” is a myth that Hillary has created and the media has bought. Read over his 64-page Plan for America. Or go to his website and read the summaries of his plans for healthcare, social security, etc. His plans are every bit as detailed as Hillary’s. But his plans are better and more consistent, and I believe he has been more honest about his views on tough issues than Hillary.
Second, the author of this article has virtually no understanding of what a cult or a messianic figure is. A cult is a group where followers are taught to worship their leader. Barack Obama is teaching us to believe in *ourselves* again. For example, “We are the ones we have been waiting for.” That is the prescise *opposite* of a messianic message. What he’s saying is that we need to *stop looking* for a political messiah. Instead, we need to believe in ourselves, engage, and march for the change that we want. This is a life affirming message that calls on us to reach for our true potential. Why should I be embarrassed to say that this message appeals to me, and that for the first time in my entire life I have actively engaged in the political process?
By contrast, Hillary’s campaign is the one that infantalizes the electorate. Maxine Waters stood on stage in California and announced, “We don’t need hope, we need help.” This view of politics casts the electorate as inactive, disengaged helpless beings that depend upon a tough guy in Washington to solve all of their problems. And somehow this is “less creepy” than a movement that asks others to get involved and finally take their seat at the table of democracy?
On Tuesday, I walked two miles down Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, Massachusetts with hand-painted sign that said “I HOPE === OBAMA”. The reason I chose that message for my sign was precisely because of cynics like the author of the article. You want to criticize me for hoping? You want to criticize me for believing that if we come together we can change this country and this world for the better? Fine, go ahead. I’ll keep walking with my sign.

Hmm… The Cult Of Clinton, worshipers of the snake in the year of the rat, complaining about the Cult Of Obama? Interesting. The flips have flopped to the other foot and now there’s a problem. Hillary’s popularity wans because in reality she was only popular with the media. Obama has grsssroot financial support of Joe Average where Hillary takes money from rich special interests whom she will protect if elected. She takes from the rich to rob from the middle but doesn’t really help the poor… Members of the fawning media are confused. What else is new?

That’s a theory I’d like to check out. What do atheists think of Obama or this “movement?” My husband and I (both atheists) too are creeped out by it. We always thought that everybody talks about him like he’s some weird religious or cult leader and thought we were alone until now.

I recently watched interviews with people who had just viewed one of the presidential debates. I saw glistening eyes; I heard quivering voices; I saw longing gazes. One young lady, her voice cracking, proclaimed, “I trust Barack Obama!.” I got the feeling that this woman, if given the chance, would have placed a crown on his head, kissed his ring and bowed in holy reverence.
It was all….quite disturbing. Nothing against Mr. Obama or any other candidate, but Hades would freeze over before I could knowingly vote for any politician so steeped in egotistical fantasy that he actually thought he had the power or obligation to transform society according to his personal agenda. I’d have to wonder what other delusions his arrogance might be causing. I’d have to further ponder what degree of cultural dysfunction is necessary to prompt ordinary citizens to think that such transformation is best effected by a political leader.
These interviewees, themselves willing accessories to the madness, were looking not so much for a prudent leader or pragmatic policy maker as a charismatic Messiah. Where did we get the idea that politicians are supposed to fulfill such roles? Is it because we continue to look outside ourselves for someone to save us from ourselves? Are we that weak and unimaginative?
Government should only do for citizens what they cannot do for themselves, and, comparatively, that ought to be very little. Indeed, the need for government is inversely proportional to the character and ambition of its citizenry.
Out best hope is to put more power in the hands of people than politicians. And the best way to do that is to maintain a rigid system of checks and balances, the most effective of which is limiting the amount of money that government gets.

“Hmmm…Experience got us into a war.
Credentials have morphed into “nothing” with respect to foreign policy. You want me to vote for more credentials and political experience?? I think not!”
Actually, experience did not get us into the war, W did. A lot of people forget that W had practically no experience relevant to being president when he was elected. He was a “charisma candidate” who never took stances on issues, kind of like Obama.

As a Brit who once lived in the States & isn’t politically aligned to any of the democartic frontrunners – cultism’s all aound Obama.
The defensiveness by his supporters is unsettling.The notion that one can talk less of policies & dwell on weird forms of positive thinking belongs more to cable TV than real world politics. As a Black person, i find the rush to call Obama critics racist very regressive indeed.

I’m an Obama supporter, and I resent the insinuation that by supporting him I’ve been indoctrinated into a cult. He espouses the policies I believe in, was clear-eyed on the folly of the Iraq War and had the guts to speak out, and has the best chance of resetting the playing field to the progressive’s advantage, a la Reagan for the GOP. He also attracts independents by the boatload, which is gold as far as increasing the Democratic majority in Congress. Clearly I know myself and know my reasons for supporting my candidate.
Sure, there are a few fringe loonies on every side. Clinton has plenty of them, maybe more than Obama. Postings like this just distract us from what’s important: Taking back the White House and “turning the page” (yeah, I said it!) on the Bush years.

Obama is a fairy-tale – and really, an ego-maniac when you get right down to it. His inexperience, and perhaps worse, will be revealed shortly.

Sometimes what makes a good coach is not just his training program or the plays he calls during the game, but the effect his half time speeches have on the players when they’re behind. Nothing cultish about it. Good managers execute a given policy and keep you on budget and schedule. Good leaders take calculated risks, make wise decisions and change the world.
George Washington was popular precisely because of his personality and ability to inspire, not because he was a policy wonk. To the average English person, the revolutionaries were acting wide eyed and strange, and yes cultish in their drive for democracy and loyalty to General Washington. Throughout history, devotion to heads of state inspired ordinary people into doing extraordinary things. It’s no surprise that the US Presidency has been described as the closest thing to royalty.

“Cult” is pejorative, editorializing, and offensive.
I am excited by a candidate who includes me in his rhetoric, who is humble enough to pay homage to the notion that he is where he is because of us, the people, and can only go further with our help. I believe him when he says these things because I know them to be true based on existing facts (fundraising, votes, etc.), not myth.
Barack Obama has proven the ability of his rhetoric and approach in bringing oppsoing sides together for the people’s welfare in both the Illinois and U.S. Senates as well as within the Democratic Party. Hillary Clinton admitted to enjoying a good fight, but Obama recognized that the fight within the Party was not serving the Party and he acted to end it back in Nevada.
There is no cult here – just a growing mass of people hungry for a more honest, more congenial, yet competent candidate about whom to feel enthused.
Barack Obama is that candidate.

Obama is a nobody who has nothing but rhetoric to give to his fawning masses. It’s enough to make me vote for McCain

…And you do realize you just insulted 50% of the Democratic Party?

“it is imperative to excercise the “present” vote in order to keep the bill alive, and provide the chance to cure its sabotage-driven problems.”
Now thats just golden my friend, get real. lol

The comments by Obama supporters/followers should be read by every single voter in the counrty. This is the change and unity? It is indeed exactly like zealot behavior.

Let me break it down for you.
People trust Obama
People do not trust Hillary (the Clintons)
People have a great sense of relief that they could actually trust an American politician….. one that has a very viable chance of succeeding.
Therefore this election is about far more than mere policy..on which Clinton and Obama are very similar
Policy is irrelevant if you can’t trust the candidate.

That cult-like behavior is now taught to them/brainwashed into them (the under 30 crowd) in the schools and colleges: active engagement with reflection, gender-focused learning (i.e, the female stereotype of love and emotion; subjective feelings rule, and minorities benefit because they are subjective, as well. Trouble is it doesn’t equate to the real world and capitalist workplace). They espouse Alice in Wonderland-like euphoria, love and positivity.

Question for the poster who said that “speeches” don’t “pay the bills.”
What does pay the bills? A piece of paper with a ten-point plan on it?
People, let’s get real here. The *only* thing that produces “peace and prosperity” are *ordinary citizens* getting up off their asses and doing the right thing: talking diplomatic with their enemies, working hard for good causes, raising their families with good morals, bonding with their communities, etc.
We are going down a dangerous road in this country, with our citizens completely disengaged from one another. When Michelle Obama says that it is a problem that nobody knows their neighbors anymore, she’s right. I don’t know my neighbors and it *is* a problem. If we continue to sit on the sidelines and on our couches, we’re going to be waiting a long, long time for things to get better.

All Obama does whip up the crowds up
with platitudes, very similiar to
tv-evangelists.
He has nothing of substance to offer,
aside from his cliches, and hope of change.
He is afraid to debate one-on-one.
He is being swept into the whitehouse
by the same mainstream media,
and voters that brought us Bush.
Rezko starts up in March,
or will that be delayed again?

What nonsense. This is more Clintonian psychological warfare. In order to discredit Obama, the Clintons are now passing rumors around that his supporters are nut cases. The fact is that Hillary’s supporters are the nut cases who keep deluding themselves that Hillary just took Bush’s word for it when he asked her to authorize the war on Iraq but said he would not use the authorization until he was sure there were WMD. Everytime I ask a Clinton supporter about this, they tell me, rather incredibly that they believe her and/or that Bush fooled them too so it is okay that a US Senator did not use her voice to ask tough questions and that she turned a blind eye to the lack of facts in the reports she had access to. Come on folks. The wackos are the HRCs zombies who criticized the liar Bush for the war in Iraq but are willing to vote someone who authorized the war so that she could appear tough on terror when she made her run for the white house. Talk about cults!!

Yes, my friends, He ! Hee hee. Anything you want, just chant Obama 08! Obama 08!

Good article, good take on the situation.

This guy is so right, I watched Obama’s rally on Tuesday night and All I was waiting for was a referral to the onorous “Treaty of Versailles” and instead he uses Washington as the catalyst to drive the weak-minded lemmings into a frenzied “Hysteria” .

Soros has one goal- and that is to demolish the U.S.
He is for: legalizing drugs, euthanasia, open borders, the repeal of welfare reform, economic globalization,etc.
His ultimate goal is a one-world
government government.

And what about so many of the Hillary Clinton fans I’ve met who are voting for her exclusively because she is a woman? What kind of blind faith is that? If Obama were white, I’d still vote for him. If Hillary were a man, would she still have so much female support?

Want to make your own Obama? It is really simple…
Start with no experience, add in 2 cups of cliches, a 1/2 cup of banality, a 1/2 of passionate oratory, and 1 tablespoon of bromides, buzzwords, old saws, and trite truisms.
Bake in an oven of empty vague promises of hope until fully cooked. How will you know when its done? When the world has achieved “unity” of course- whatever the heck that means.

On the other hand we have Hillary Clinton who would garnish peoples wages to force them into “her plan” which would give us a substandard form of health care. You can bet she won’t be standing in line for treatment. That would be just the begining of her socialists transformation of our country.

so the far left is saying Obama is the savior and the far right is saying McCain is the devil.
This nation is nuts.

The Obama fever is surreal. But hey if he gets elected maybe Texas and California will finally gather enough cause to go on their own.

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear.”
–Marcus Tullius Cicero 42B.C.

Attention America, Hillary loaned 5 mil to her campaign, why didnt she contribute it ? Cause she wants hard working people to donate it so, she can get her money back out of the donations!Now who are this people Voting for her? lol

wait- I’m getting a handle on it now – Obama is the savior, McCain is the devil and Hillary is the whole-illusion
The nation totally IS nuts. just keep this in mind: SCOTUS JUDGES SCOTUS JUDGES SCOTUS JUDGES
Whoever gets elected will name 3-4 of them.

spock: ”
The problem here is not supporters of the other candidates, it is the fact that the Obama supporters are obsessed over an individual who has not shown to take a stand on any issues, he answers in general to appease both sides.

Good article. Anyone refuting that has failed to read most of the worshippers praises above. This really is scary. It’s what happens in spiritual vacuums – people worship mere mortals, not God.

I also think his followers believe strongly in him rather than voting for him simply for the lack of someone better. I won’t be disappointed with Hillary or Barrack. The republicans will choke on the war, irresponsible spending and horrible foreign policy that has seen the our image tank accross the globe. Dems 08

Come on folks. The wackos are the HRC zombies who criticized the liar Bush for preempting a war in Iraq but are willing to vote into office a US Senator who authorized the war, out of political expediency. Hillary placed personal political ambition above human life. Any Dem who supports her is in complete denial, out of touch with reality and are abdigating their moral duty to show respect for the thousands who have died unjustly because of her vote. Talk about cults and idol worship!

The only reason I support Obama is because he has the prettiest girls backing him up.

Yesterday clinton was shaking hands with sen kennedy and joking about his endorsment obama turned toward her and turned back to talk to sen johnson then she said hey obama i am sure glad he (kennedy)endorsed you with a sigh jokingly at that point he was grabbed by the elbow by sen kerry and led out of the chamber.

I generally don’t look to the MSM for accurate (or even truthful) analysis, but for once they’re right.
There is no doubt that Obama is intelligent and charismatic but then, so was Jim Jones and we all know how that turned out.
Thus far I haven’t heard Obama say anything of substance at all. He talks a good game, but he isn’t saying anything and I find what little bit he has said to be wholly naive and bordering on dangerous.
Before the Obama ‘followers’ attack me, I am no Clinton supporter… in fact, there hasn’t been a dem on the ticket I would support since the first philanderer’s first campaign, and I didn’t support him then either!
We the people have been left with no legitimate choice for president and we the people will suffer for it. We have lost control of Congress. They seem to think they’re in control, not us, so until we rein them in and show them who is in charge it wont matter much which lousy candidate we’re stuck with as our president, the Congress will follow their own idea’s of right and wrong, good and bad, and continue to push this country toward socialism and a full blown nanny state where we are all dependant upon the government for our very lives. We are so far off the path that this country started on… and all anyone seems to care about is their idiotic partisan ways. This is not the country I volunteered to fight and die for. We can thank our so called ‘leaders’-BOTH PARTY’S- for the air of hate and futility, they started it and they continue to divide this country over it and if anyone think Obama or any other presidential candidate is going to fix it you are foolish, naive and blinded by rhetoric.

I am actually neither Obama nor Hillary fan. But I just feel dizzy that so many people knelt down and threw money out when they heard the word “change” from an idolized figure. It is a phenomena, if not a phantom. If you look at the specific line items that Obama proposed that he could offer to this country, where can you see though the real “change” he may bring in? Just a new rank and file? I wish it would not evolve into sort of blind movement. Will you enjoy a laughable Cultural Revolution?

I would much rather take my chances with Obama than vote for the status quo yet again. Do you seriously want McCain or Hillary? They are exactly the same. I am a US citizen and a Muslim and I am sick and tired of being nervous and worried about another terrorist attack on US soil – I want our country to reach out to everyone and make peace. Peace always brings prosperity and a better quality of life for everyone.

Wow, finally some people are still awake, I really cannot watch TV news and go to digg any more. It’s out of control, and almost make me sick. They don’t know any issue about Senator Obama support or against, and they only repeat and repeat attack other people’s different opinions.
I agree with some of you said it is great to see many people are enthusiastic about Senator Obama, but how about just be balance and calm and listen other people’s voice.

Maybe you dont like the tone of this article – but I A STILL WAITING to hear Obama talk about issues.
Obama has voted ‘present’ for 67% of his senatorial votes so far.
He does not take a stand, have a solution – nothing – so far.
When he stops being a serial campaigner and starts addressing the issues then I listen.
Until then – he is not worth any vote whatsoever.
All he has is hope? Thats a good place to start but HE NEEDS A PLAN!

Obama is a PHONY.He speaks like hes martin luther king but the man is no activist. hes a lawyer like all the dems who run for president.

Why is youthful enthusiasm so easily dismissed? First you want to get young people engaged and involved and when they are you then dismiss them as ‘fools’. Why? Are you so old and cynical that you can’t see that something great is happening here? People are excited about something! Young and old, black and white. Now you want to fear it. Unbelieveable.

I’ve listed and listed to Barak but I don’t hear a message. Just feel good follow me platitiuds. What is scary is that lost sheep will follow a wolf in sheperds clothing.

Maybe you have to be a non-baby-boomer to understand. I was raised in the America of Bush and Clinton. I’m not sure what else needs to be said. There is something refreshing about him even though I disagree with a few of his stances. I am the cynical Gen-Xer that has jumped on the bandwagon. For once I actually see something in a politician I believe in.

CULT???
Funny- This is the same mystic that all charismatic people seem to have. It’s called “IT”.
OBAMA has “IT”
George Clooney has “IT”
Princess Diana had “IT”
Oprah has “IT”
Denzel Washington has “IT”
John F. Kennedy had “IT”
Bill Clinton used to have “IT”
(although he still can turn it on when he needs to)
Hillary wishes she had “IT”.
GREAT CEO’s have “IT”.
The ability to inspire others to get involved to become part of something “bigger then themselves”.
Barack is not a CULT – he has managed to inspire us all to get excited about OUR COUNTRY AGAIN.
AFTER 8 YEARS OF BEING TERRORIZED – with the Red-Yellow-and ORANGE color terror status, we ALL would like to just live again.
We live in a GREAT COUNTRY – WE SHOULD BE PROUD. after 8 years of the Bush administration – with all the lies – deceit-cheating-and disenchantment, it’s refreshing to finally take a DEEP BREATH OF FRESH AIR.
After 8 years of breathing – NEGATIVE nasty – foul air — OBAMA is the FRESH AIR THIS COUNTRY NEEDS!

When Obama says “This guy was God before I was” about Morgan Freeman’s roles as an actor, I wonder if Barack means he is just acting messiah-like or he has drunk the kool-aid along with his other true believers.

Hi rufus1133,
Supporters of Senator Clinton are not GOP fascists! Is this going to be Obama’s answer to every problem? Are you saying that everyone who is not FOR Obaba is a racists? Get real!

I have listened to Joe Klein of the Time Magazine. He gets all his talking points from the Clinton Campaign, and he believes strongly that Clinton is the solution to all our problems. He is a Clinton surrogate and he should just come out and say so. If you go on Barack’s website, there are specifics oon his thoughts on our dependency on foreign oil, the mortgage crisis, childhood education, immigration etc. But he still keeps on insisting that there are no specifics. He can barely concealed his hatred of Barack.. Joe, that would not get you anywhere. The American people would decide not people like you. You only have a vote like the rest of us. And we can see thru you, we know you are working for the Clinton campaign

If this is the best the news media can do in coming up with a criticism of Obama, I’ll take it.
Obama is inspiring a cultish devotion in his supporters? How awful! Maybe Hillary can come back with that line the next time someone criticizes her for her Iraq war vote.

If actually have followed Obama’s career, there is very little uncertainty regarding what he wants to do. If you watch the news networks, all you get is the gooshy mass appeal language that either begins or ends Obama’s stump speeches. Universal access to health care, pro-active and direct foreign diplomacy, rejoining the community of nations to combat poverty, terrorism and climate change, a return to focus on rehabilitation in order to end our gulag state. Dang, and i don’t even donate or work for the guy. I just pay attention. Try on it for size, folks.

Now there is a bias in the media? Its funny how when the machine turns on its own how there is a bias. This article is from the tentacles of the Clintons. They are far reaching and have there own cult following. As a conservative the election has been done for a while. Because of the “disenfranchising” model of the primaries I had no voice (Texas). McCain is no conservative his only hope is to pull some Dems over and goes against Clinton. The false prophet Huckabee are not concervative either. Romney almost is. Obama will wipe the floor with any of the remaining republicans in debates. I would rather have Obama win and deal with the economy that is heading for a recession, pull out the troops and have an even bigger fiasco in Iraq. And when he can’t get any of his ideas passed through hopefully conservatives will WAKE up and finally fight.

If actually have followed Obama’s career, there is very little uncertainty regarding what he wants to do. If you watch the news networks, all you get is the gooshy mass appeal language that either begins or ends Obama’s stump speeches. Universal access to health care, pro-active and direct foreign diplomacy, rejoining the community of nations to combat poverty, terrorism and climate change, a return to focus on rehabilitation in order to end our gulag state. Dang, and i don’t even donate or work for the guy. I just pay attention. Try on it for size, folks.

“mass messianism”? Obama’s message is about us. It is because that message resonates with so many that makes it about us – not him. A few supporters expressing their exuberance in extreme ways does not change the basic message.
He is simply the communicator reflecting back the best within us. The basic message is about casting aside what divides us and focusing on what unites us. That has a very real application in politics.
It’s sad to see that politics-as-usual has made so many distrustful of anything that feels like hope or unity. We have become so divided, which has weakened us. Special interests have used wedge issues to do this for so many years now.
Why “shoot the messenger” of hope and unity or those who believe in it? This seems almost like a “soft” hatchet job, like the Clintons’ “false hope” or “fairy tale”, meant to tamp down our enthusiasm.
We cannot afford to be distrustful or fatigued with messages of hope.

The tendency to smear anything oppositional to our belief and value is common because it rattles our shaky foundation, insecurity, and poor self-esteem. These people do not have the capacity to tolerate, and least appreciate, differences. The levels of guilt, anxiety, aggression, self-loathing are so high that we need to find an outlet. And we do that by persecuting in others what we dare not face in ourselves.

I think with a republican congress to keep him in check Obama could be a popular presidenct, especially abroad and with the media. It might be style over substance but sometimes substance can get us in trouble. On the other hand he could be another Jimmy Carter and create a whole new generation of conservatives. Either way, it’s not looking to be a good election for the far right, they will be disappointed no matter who gets elected. I hate election years. There are always a lot of nuts on both side who use politics to deal with a lot of their personal problems.

I totally agree with this article.Most of the intelligent folks in this country will stop and weigh what he says and what his pattern in history has been. I will not vote for someone because Ted Kennedy, Oprah, or anyone else backs him or her. I have a mind of my own. I do not want to be owned by anyone. I want to know the facts about a peron’s history. What will he/she do? What have they done in the past when faced with difficult situations? In searching for answers to whom would best serve us, let us not throw caution to the wind. None of us are little gods and know all. All I can say is I know God and Obama surely is not Him.

Neither Hill Clinton nor Obama inspire me nothing. And no matter how the PBS, CBS, NBCBS, CNNBS, ABCBS, Times…love to kiss his. I only judge what ideas she or he offer.

I’m sure a lot of people thought those crazies who signed the Declaration of Independence were a cult, too.
Minimizing a political movement as a cult is just an attempt to deflate it.
I find most Obama supporters I encounter surprisingly conversant with his policies on the economy, health care, foreign relations. I get many more details from them about why they support Obama than I ever get from Clinton supporters who never seem able to tell me what her “experience” has produced and how she intends to enact or finance any of her proposals.
It takes a lot of energy, enthusiasm and determination to change the status quo. Maybe that feels like a cult to some, but to me it feels like a return to American ideals.

I really hate articles like this. Obama is an inspiration. He motivates Americans of every race, color, and creed to do one of the most American things they can do and that’s be passionately involved in the American political process. Instead of being excited and supporting this turn in the right direction media outlets like yours do the exact opposite. I’ve been giving to the Obama campaign for a while now and I’m about to give a little bit more. And you know what? Every time I read a dumb article like this it inspires me to voice my disdain for the jerks that wrote and published it and packaged it as news by sending Obama a couple more dollars. No I don’t think Obama is Jesus. I just love my country and am excited to see a real person with the desire and the aptitude to lead my country. Sorry if you can’t understand my optimism or should I say… Hope?

Obama himself may well have a lot more substance than the article implies but there are indeed cult like aspects to his followers.
You only have to look at the church he has chosen to attend and pastor that leads it to realize that there lots of question marks surrounding his presidential bid.
The sad truth is that neither the likely winner on the Dem side (Obama or Hillary) and the likely winner on the GOP side (McCain)inspire any one, who really thinks about it, with confidence that things will end up in good hands.
Now, if Bloomberg were to enter the race, I would vote for him in a flash. Give me pragmatism over cultism any day.

It is fine with me, I believe in Jesus and I believe in the Bible. It may be the sign that revealed in the Bible, the end of days is near and the redemption from Jesus is very near

Ron,
What experience does McCain have? 20 years in the Senate, bickering with everyone, backstabbing friends, trashing moderate and liberal supporters when the Republican primaries roll around . . .Oh, yeah, and that experience that tells him that 60 years in Korea is a success of some sort, that 100 years in Iraq is ok even if BOTH Americans and Iraqis want us out. Or is it his PhD in Economics? The guys a quack, and honest quack, but a quack nonetheless. We aren’t winning OK anyway, so good riddance. If your choice is to not think, please just stay at home and shut up.

Joe Klein is dead wrong. There’s nothing cult-like about this surge of support for Obama, and it does have as much to do with us as with him. It is the combination of the qualities iof mind and character evinced in his books and his life, together with our yearning for an intelligent and broad-minded leader after years of tragic obscurantism. There’s nothing mysterious about the phenomenon – what is mysterious, even now, is how this country allowed itself to be governed for so long by his opposite.

What do you expect when you starve people for decades? And don’t say ‘what about Bill?’
Bill Clinton got 43% and 49% That’s not charisma or leadership or anything else.

I’m a Reagan Republican and I was thinking of voting for Obama because I don’t want to go to hell.
( Unless liberal hell was an Ann Rand/Atlas Shrugged/Utopia kind o’ place. That might be Okey Dokey.)

I am so frustrated here. We finally have an instance where people are actually coming together to get things done

BARAK OBAMA IS A WELL SPOKEN, LIKEABLE HUMAN BEING, WITH A GREAT WIFE AND FAMILY, AND A FEW YEARS IN GOVERNMENT.
BUT, NOT ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO SUDDENLY BE CATAPULTED ONTO THE WORLD STAGE OF LIONS, TIGERS, AND BEARS.
FURTHER, AS ANOTHER WRITER HERE STATED, HE HAS NOT GIVEN US ANYTHING OF SUBSTANCE TO INDICATE HOW HE WOULD GOVERN THIS COUNTRY. NEVER MIND HOW HE WOULD DEAL WITH THOSE WHO WANT OUR DESTRUCTION.
I BELIEVE TODAY TOO MANY AMERICANS ARE BEING DRIVEN BY EMOTIONS AND PULLED BY THIS MANTRA OF “CHANGE” WITHOUT ANEXPLANATION, AT OUR OWN PERIL.
ENTHUSIASM DOES NOT TRUMP EXPERIENCE.
THESE TIMES CALL FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS RUN AND MADE MAJOR DECISIONS IN PRIVATE AND in GOVERNMENT POSITIONS AND HAS THE DEMEANOR AND THE TEMPERMENT TO BE CALM IN TURMOIL AND FIRM WHEN REQUIRED

Joe Klein’s and others’ observations on this are hardly worth noting, considering how he and others misrepresented democrat and opposition viewpoints in the past. It’s not a question of reporters being neutral , the middle point between an extremely distorted understanding of reality and a less distorted distorted understanding, it’s the question of whether or not a reporter believes that the truth can be gotten at, and that that truth matters.

I am shocked that some folks here are trying to acuse non-Obama supporters who use “cult” or “cult-like” as racist.
You ARE DISGUSTING.
I am Black. Again, I AM BLACK. A proud African American husband, father, and provider.
So let me be clear:
OBAMACULT
OBAMACULT
OBAMACULT
OBAMACULT
OBAMACULT
OBAMACULT
OBAMACULT
OBAMACULT
OBAMACULT
OBAMACULT
This is what is worrying me. Words and behavior matter in life. Barack’s tone and words are very worrisome, and his supporters are reacting with cult-like bahavior.

Read George F. Will’s column today entitled, “Will the Democrats blow it?” (subtitle: Clinton would unite divided Republicans around McCain). Ignore the signs and clues at your peril Democrats. It would be so sad if we blew another election, but we seem to be working our way toward that goal nonetheless again, surprisingly. It just amazes me that we keep making the same mistakes over and over again because enough of the Democratic electorate votes on whims rather than good, reasoned judgement and with the goal of getting our nominee elected in the general election. Hillary would make a good President, but she isn’t the best leader, she doesn’t inspire and unite, she isn’t the best choice among the two candidates, and there is a high probability that she won’t win a general election against a nominee like McCain (Romney or Huckabee yes, but not McCain). Again, ignore the realities and the clues at everyone’s peril. What a price to pay for making the wrong judgement….JUDGEMENT is important and matters, you see. Experience is just experience if you don’t learn and grow from it. The American people want something and someone DIFFERENT because we want REAL change, so join the movement of get out of the way….

I believe it was John Kennedy who said the job [President]is too big for any one man to have the required knowledge and experience. The key to success is for the President to surround himself with the best and the brightest in all fields. This Obama will do. He’s taken no money from PACs, lobbyists or special interests groups. Unlike Bush, who gave all the important appointments to his buddies and contributors, Obama will choose well. He is unemcumbered and owes no one. The exciting thing about Obama is that he has, and will continue to inspire many of the experts to work in public service again. He is the only candidate who has cut through the demoralizing layers of corruption and self interest that have become part of the system.

what’s probably causing so much cognitive dissonance about Obama’s campaign is what’s been so successful about it: Obama is approaching politics like a Community Organizer.
so far, politics really have been focused on the individual candidate, what he or she “can do for you”. and everyone has become incredibly cynical about politicians because they ultimately believe that politicians are just in it for themselves.
and then here comes Obama with his core message: the government is not just for the people, it REALLY IS by the people. i don’t know how the pundits are missing this, but it’s his core thinking: get actual citizens involved in their government again, get them to believe that all the corruption and criminal nonsense and partisan bickering can be changed if we stop sitting back like a disengaged electorate and work together to do something.
in this sense, i view Obama as a catalyst. none of the other candidates are or can be as effective in this as Obama is, simply because of their own natures and campaigns.
a “cult” is a group that enslaves its members and forces them do harmful things. what Obama’s campaign is doing, getting voters to stand with him instead of him standing on top of them (like some other candidates might prefer) is quite the OPPOSITE from a cult.

This isn’t about Obama, it’s about “Us”. The passion comes from people realizing that they can be truly involved which is a deeper seated desire than many realize. In my case, it’s not worship of a candidate, it that he “gets it” and he is asking me to lead by becoming involved. All the candidates are fallible, so I reject the notion of candidate worship. Listen to the tone of his campaign and you’ll see why people are really believing in themselves even more than they are in Obama. No one else really is expecting that of us, so I can’t get excited about my role with any of the others. Yes WE can…

As Obama’s rubes marched in unison…Satan himself must be enjoying this party.
Never thought I would find myself agreeing with Joe Klein about anything. I was wrong…

haha. it looks like ron paul and barack obama have something in common after all: a cult of fawning followers.

This is why I don’t trust democrats.Obama has no experience in running anything no bushiness no governorship been in senate only 2 years and most of the time didn’t take a stand.So here he comes along walking like a kool cat talking like MLK and Jesus combined about hope and change with no specifics at all and never walking the walk like jesus and mlk did.So the democrats go GOO GOO GAGA for this fake and are willing to make him president of the united states.thats a recipe for change alright.the kind that destroys a nation.

Mr. Obama’s popularity is to some degree a creation of a serious backlash to the existing administration.
Myself a lifelong Republican share the distain not so much resulting from the hard events of the past seven years but the reckless selling out of the Republican party to the fundamentalist right. MR. Bush is not a Republican in the sense that he is a smooth operator and like Hillary Clinton or Bob Dole before him, chose his party out of convenience.
Obama is liberal to the core…right down to his DNA. I think that people like that sincerity and are inspired by his intelligence & Reaganesque oratory skills.
I personally respect this man even though his philosophy of governance is different than mine. Part of me would be very excited to see him elected even though I may not vote for him.

Every candidate has their cult. Obama’s is young, online, and thus highly visible… nothing new.

Not about Obama about you means: like the fundraising people are more involved, he’ll be transparent and involve people more in government, he’d be nowhere without people powering his campaign by volunteering.
However, the fear and cult thing is far more interesting. Mr. Klein could have asked the campaign “What did Senator Obama mean by that?” But it’s far more interesting to suggest a scary cult like figure.
Because fear, as we all know, is a powerful motivator and easily understood. Optimism and hope, now that’s just downright scary.
Can I be sane and NOT support Clinton?

Why don’t we all just use whatever education we have to pick the candidate we think will actually do the best job.
Pick the one you’d want to rely on in a crisis….for whatever your reasons are, and vote.
In the end, every one of these candidates have something you bloggers and commenters don’t have….the balls to stand up in front of the whole world, offer themselves, and whatever they have to try to do what is right for the country.
Clearly, we’re never going to agree on what right really is…so just shut-up and vote.
We needn’t lable, or diefy them.
All we are asked to do is Vote.

Sorry
Being black doesn’t make you the last word on racism anymore than being Irish makes me a drunk. I don’t care what you are or where your from. If your opinion matters at all, though i would offer that it doesn’t, it sure as hell is not because of your race. You don’t get any special priveledge to call Obama’s campaign a cult because your black, although you sure make it seem like you do. Sorry, that time is over. No more david dukes, no more jesse jacksons. No more al sharpton, no more pat buchanan. It is time to turn the page on identity politics. It got us 8 years of reagan, 12 years of bush, and 8 years with a centrist married to a right wing congress. No more, no more.

CULT???
Funny- This is the same mystic that all charismatic people seem to have. It’s called “IT”.
OBAMA has “IT”
George Clooney has “IT”
Princess Diana had “IT”
Oprah has “IT”
Denzel Washington has “IT”
John F. Kennedy had “IT”
Bill Clinton used to have “IT”
(although he still can turn it on when he needs to)
All Democrats or left leaners…I’m guessing the original poster never considered that Ronald Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt and Abe Lincoln had “IT” as well. Just because you can be a public figure does not necessarily make you a great leader.

a news article based on the hearsay of someone commenting on their personal feelings derived from reading internet postings – gotta love the media – i guess enthusiasm is wrong – perhaps inspiration has been whats lacking to move this government along – policies are useless if there can’t be implemented due to lack of support – hillary telling us how smart she is becuase she has been doing it so long – romney playing with his stock graphs – mccain refusing to change his mind on a war that never should have been started as some kind of evidence of his leadership skills – where is the inspiration there? – perhaps obama can inspire people to support his ideas to the point where politicians will have to support his policies – bush used fear to motivate – whats wrong with hope

Obama can talk and talk for days without actually saying anything.
” Change” \
” Seize the Moment”
” yes we can”
Broad emotional appeals to the uneducated and young

hate to tell you this people but Hillary is no saint. Ex-board member of Walmart?? She also is still a major stockholder.

As a DEM, I’m excited about Obama for practical, not occultish reasons.
In contrast to some of his detractors who say he’s all poetry, he knows that talk runs the gamut from being inspiration to being cheap.
Clinton and Barack have similar voting records and policy positions, which means what matters is who can defeat a Republican and who, as President, can get their policies passed.
Barack is doing for progressives what Reagan did for conservatives–building up a broad base of support and crossover appeal.
This is how you’ll get immigration, economic, housing, war, and health care reforms passed.
Whether or not it’s fair to her, Hillary is a divisive figure and precisely the kind of President who is not likely to be transformative.
Thus, vote for who’s more likely to get passed the legislation you hold dear and realize that race, gender, region, religion, and party are distractions to political maturity.

Does it strike you as creepy that Hillary is starting to channel Obama? She’s picking lines from the speeches of Barack and Michelle Obama and making them her own. She’s taking voice lessons to try for better inflections in her voice. She was showing so much rhythm on stage Super Tuesday I thought she would start moonwalking. ;-) STOP!!!!

Gimme a break!! EVERY politician has a cult-like followers.

Obama supporters -your responses are exhibit A that this is a cult.

“The problem here is not supporters of the other candidates, it is the fact that the Obama supporters are obsessed over an individual who has not shown to take a stand on any issues,…” quote from spock..
He has taken a stand; one about which I cannot understand why there isn’t more comment and worry. He pledges his fervor, support and loyalty to Africa and Black America in his membership in the United Trinity Church of Christ. If Clinton, Huckabee, Romney or McCain supported any religion that excluded Black or America, they’d have been gone on day one. And for the record, that church IS NOT the Church of Christ. I belong to the Church of Christ and we do not specify a nation or race in our worship, as does Obama’s church.

I guess since Hillary is down on money, these media hit men have to give her some free slime on her opponent. Keep sliming away, It’s the clinton way.

Yet nothing is being said about Hillary supporters, who call all males that back Obama sexist (even misagynist). Makes you wonder. Could it simply be that people are really excited about politics for once?

Obam is a disgusting human being and once again, America will be sorry if they vote him into office. He’s a weakling and a liar. But I guess if he wins he can bring in Oprah and Al Sharpton to run the country.

Rallying to a passionate intense optimist like OBAMA is frankly easier than rallying to the CORRUPT, SELF SERVING CANDIDACY OF POLITICAL SELF ENTITLEMENT & LEGACY BUILDING of Hillary Rodham Clinton. The simple reality is that political ambition aside, as it takes a great amount of it to run for Presidency, the DEMONIC OBSESSION with POWER that the CLINTONS have is FRIGHTENING. Thank god that their is a choice for something and someone else.

I think the problem stems from when rational people see irrational people become euphoric over someone who hasn’t done anything for our country. We don’t understand you people. It’s not like he’s made some amazing changes in the US Senate…yet people prop him up like he’s some God of all things liberal and just. He could have proposed Universal Healthcare while in the Senate…but he didn’t.
He didn’t vote for the War in Iraq because he wasn’t in office then. Where was he? Playing with marbles at the Illinois state capital, yet he knocks Hillary every chance he gets. Face it. He’s never lead anything accept his self serving campaign and he’s never had to make a hard decision in his political life.
Being enthusiastic about your candidate is one thing…but being nuts about them gets you painted as a bunch of cult-ish liberal wacko’s. “Yes we Can” is a chant, not a statement.

What’s creepy is the way pundits and main stream media are doing anything they can to manipulate the masses against Obama–and ABC is one of the worst. A cult???? Give me a break. After 8 years of grinding depression over the state of our government, we finally have a candidate that is not the same old face of status quo politics. People are EXCITED and HOPEFUL for the first time in a decade. Look at the numbers of people coming out to vote. And you call that a CULT? Your cynicism is disgusting.

letter to MSNBC (KEITH)ALSO ABC, CNN, FOXNEWS AND ALL OTHER NEWS CHANNELS
KEITH,
I’m writing you because although I was a hardball fan until I have seen how Chris changes his views and seems to defend Hillary. I think this whole thing with Hillary having to give her campaign 5 million of her own money is just her way again to get attention. Its shameful, and its also shameful that the media especially MSNBC always seems to fall for everything she does to get attention. Do you guys really need the ratings, or are you falling for distractions like President Bush use to do when they didn’t want the country to focus on the Iraq war.
Everytime Obama wins something fair and square Hillary finds a way to get attention and you guys fall for it, every single time. She has use the fact that she is woman to make other woman feel sorry for her.
You see If Hillary played fair and square I would support her no matter who won between her and Obama. But all she has done is try to bring a negative view to Obama and when that didn’t work now she’s trying to draw attention about the money issue. Its shameless and you guys follow this as if you don’t know that all she is doing is trying to bring news to her. She’s shameless and you guys if you continue to follow this ridiculous story just to bring attention to her are shameless too.
And this goes to all news channels. Let the race between Hillary and Obama be a fair race. Stop following her ridiculous efforts to get media attention.
I will add again Obama shows he is above the fray. He didn’t start this talk about the money and who has money and who doesn’t. Hillary…And I would hope the media calls her out on it.. Stop using the WOMAN CARD. I’M A WOMAN AND I’M TIRED OF IT. IF WE WANT TO BE CONSIDERED AS EQUAL THAN WE HAVE TO FIRST TAKE THINGS AS EQUAL.When Hillary doesn’t win or feels she is falling behind she creates distractions. Now its the money thing. I tried so hard to like her again especially after the last CNN DEBATE where they both seems so civil. It made me think well if Hillary wins I CAN give her my vote…Now the money..when does it end..when she wins..If she doesn;t have her way than what? She needs to know that she may can’t win EVERYTHING? Obama works hard just to get this..just to get KICKED down by the media.

Obama – Clinton – McCain
It doesn’t matter.
They are all the same.
The destruction of America is the change that will happen.
Whoever gets in will see to that if it doesn’t happen before the election.
But that’s what’s suppose to happen.
The book has already been written… we can’t change the ending.
The end is near… Come Lord Jesus!

I know that we are supposed to keep on the high road, but, it is sometimes necessary to walk and deal with those who consistently use the low road to accomplish their goals. I speak of Huck Ster and Muck Cain.
HAVE ANY OF YOU HAPPENED TO READ THE FOLLOWING NEWS ARTICLES?
“The McCain campaign wasn’t content to let Romney have Bay County to himself Monday. William Ball, the former Secretary of the U-S Navy under the Reagan administration was in-town talking to the media and some of the
Ball says he supports McCain’s promise to bring the U-S Navy’s fleet up to 300-ships, and add hundreds of thousands of personnel to the ranks.
DNC: Lobbyist-Express, Not Straight-Talk Express, Drives McCain Campaign
|Published: February 02, 2008 8:31 AM
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following is being issued by the Democratic National Committee:
Trying to cement his place as the Bush establishment candidate, John McCain turned his back on his principles with a do-anything-to-win strategy that includes ignoring his past rhetoric on pork projects and the influence of lobbyists to benefit his presidential campaign. An independent review conducted by the advocacy group Public Citizen and released earlier this week “found that McCain has more bundlers — people who gather checks from their networks of friends and associates — than any other presidential candidate from either party.” The review noted that “McCain has at least 58 federal lobbyists raising money for his campaign.” [washingtonpost.com, 01/29/08]
Lobbyists Driving Double-Talk Express
McCain’s Campaign Has More Lobbyist Bundlers Than Any Other. A review released this week by the advocacy group Public Citizen found that John McCain “has at least 58 federal lobbyists raising money for his campaign.” Another 35 lobbyists were reported to be bundling for Rudolph Giuliani, who has now endorsed McCain. [washingtonpost.com, 01/29/08]

Straight from Senator Obama’s website “fact check” this made me laugh outloud about the “change” candidate…
RHETORIC: “Yet, like most democrats, Obama voted to keep funding the war until last year.” [Today Show, 1/17/08]
REALITY: EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT HAS VOTED TO FUND THE WAR IN IRAQ
wow – what a leader!!!
They also have the campaign foreign policy advisor, Samantha Power speaking on his behalf. Not exactly a fact -just an opinion by someone who has never held a foreign policy advisor position. She wrote a fantastic book – albeit super critial of Clinton while positive about Dole and Bush I.

Thank you for your your excellent article. Unfortunately, there are only a few reporters who dare to speak the way you just did, Howard Kurtz, Dan Abrams and a few others. In this country, we cannot afford to have “an affirmative action president”. A black president yes! but elected based on his capabilities and not the color of his skin. Just as Hillary is being judged. In this country today it is not OK to criticize a black man running for president, but it is OK to trash women (in this case Hillary) unfairly. I guess there are more misogynistic people than there are racist ones. I am a republican white man who is voting for Hillary. Because she is head and shoulders above the rest. Sorry guys, get over it. Welcome to the 21st Century.

Obama is a young senator running for president in an American democratic society that has a short attention span, limited understanding of history and its importance, an extremely liberal-biased media and until this year’s primaries, the lack of civic thirst or drive…he’s doing everything he can to be HEARD, be UNDERSTOOD and be ACCEPTED as a leader that has integrity and good ideas.
Could you expect anything less from Obama at this point in time? Now calling his followers a cult is flat out RIDICULOUS — don’t you realize you just told millions of Americans that they belonged to a cult? Shame on you.

Jake,
I usually agree with you, but here I must call out how very wrong you are.
1. “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for” is a call to address the cynicism in politics. you have an entire generation of folks disenfranchised by a buy-and-sell system. we are the ones we’ve been waiting for is a response to that cynicism to say we can have transparency and honesty in our government. we can bring these things forward. we are the ones we’ve been waiting for. it is perfectly in line with his general theme of asking something from the american people.
2. most of the opponents of obama’s message generally quip as mr. wolcott wrote, “his charisma is on a more ethereal plane, and I don’t look to politics for transcendence and self-certification.” well that is exactly the problem, a lot of folks are tired of the political game and do want to transcend that and offer solutions
3. the declaration of obama as a smitten generalist whose supporters don’t care for policy could not be further off. many obama supporters can go toe-to-toe in policy discussions with any other campaign. however, what we have seen in this campaign is that folks want straight-talk more than perfect policy. straight-talk is what we have not been getting from the bush administration which is why republicans are nominating McCain and why the one “issue” they say they desire is honesty.
there is more, but i would like to see if this comment will be at all entertained

sure, some of the campaign is over the top, as are all campaigns…..
but let’s remember that Hillary’s main criticism (as opposed to slur) against Obama is precisely about his willingness to compromise embodied in his health insurance plan. Obama’s plan is more likely to be enacted if he is elected than Hillary’s plan would be if she were elected because: 1) Obama defuses some opposition by eschewing a general mandate and garnishing wages, 2) he doesn’t begin by casting the Republicans and everyone with a slightly different plan as THE ENEMY, and 3) he recognizes that the main stumbling block that wrecked Hillary’s failure with national insurance in 1993 was not the technical details of this plan or that plan but the failure to assemble a broad coalition behind the idea of greatly expanded national insurance.
That is not messianic politics. That is horse-trading and deft (but not crass) maneuvering to get support behind a major reform measure.
Hillary on the other hand repeatedly presents a vision of a manichean world of good guys/gals (Clintons) versus Republicans.
Look back at Obama’s relations with Republicans – Hagel and Lugar on the war, for example, or McCain on immigration and campaign finance reform. Obama splits the Republicans apart. Clinton and Clinton untie them together. Remember how we got Newt Gingrich…….
I’m an atheist and would prefer a secular society. But lets get real.
Joe

This article posits the most ridiculous premise for a politcal analysis so far in 2008. The author implicity suggests that Obama supporters are only swooners, not intelligent, rational thinkers.
Of course there will always be people who compare candidates to biblical characters – remember the evangelical support for Bush? For example comments like “he’s been anointed by God” were plentiful in the past 8 years. What is great about America is that everyone can have a say.
It appears that the establishment. the media, and racists in particular, are really afraid of the growing and fervent support for Senator Obama; jeesh, we might get rid of the old Democratic and Republican establishment. Who knew? Maybe after 30 + years of this group its time?
If we elect Sen. Obama we will set this country on a sensible, humanistic and global course and right the wrongs of the years since George Bush took over the White House. Oh, and we might right some of the wrongs of the Billary administration, particularly term 2. Who knew?
How can any rational human trust a candidate (and I would love to be able to support a female candidate) who DEFENDS a man who committed perjury , is a serial adulterer, and had the gaul to state to the American public that oral sex is not sex?
Who can trust a candidate who will not release her white house papers, etc. so we can analyze just what “experience” she had as a First Lady? It is way beyond time for a change in the Democratic regime.
It will take someone like Sen. Obama to be a real “change” agent in this country.
We, the People, are fed up with the status quo, and the failure of the Democrats to make ANY change since taking over Congress in 2006.
Si, si puende!!!!!!! And we will.
I am a registered democrat, white, female and over 50. My college studies were directed to political “science”. Having closely observed politics for thirty years, like many of the media “experts, I am ENTHUSED that Sen. Obama has happened into our lives!

Wow- what a spin! Hillary is running for president while Obama is running a movement! How can you all not see that? And Obama’s line about ‘We are the one’s we’ve been waiting for’ is poem (and Maria Schiver) used it first.
Why must you ruin a wonderful thing? Are we all so scorned and burned that we cannot simply believe in something good and hopeful?
Go OBAMA!

Dear rufus1133,
This just gets better and better. So now the GOP is a cult. Rufus, your problem right noe is not the GOP, it is Senator Clinton. The fact is, you help the GOP and Senator Clinton with every post you make. By all means keep up the good work. I bet you are really a GOP nut case yourself.

I agree totally with the article. This election is not about Kennedy or Reagan, it is about the future. I am a 50 yr old conservative, and I voted for Hillary, never in a million years would I have thought 10 years ago I would be voting for a Clinton, but she’s the BEST candidate in 2008. I like Obama, he inspires, but I don’t see him as president in 2008, maybe in 4 or 8 years.
It is a cult like movement, aided by the media, starting with Chris Mathews & Keith Obermann which can’t be objective about anything Obama. They can’t imagine a WOMAN in the White House.

It’s not cultish. It’s that every politician in this country is exactly alike and so predictable and they all play to the lowest common demoninator.
A fresh face with a fresh message in that caldron of red ties and navy suits called Washington is going to stand out and be attractive to a large number of voters who are sick and tired of this type of politics.
It’s not a cult. It just shows how fed up people are with the usual ways that Washington operates. It’s been bubbling for a while, first with Ross Perot, then Howard Dean and now with Ron Paul and Obama.

It only took 3 seconds for Colorblind to corraborate my post!
I wrote” “Klein is going to write whatever favors the zionist supporter Hillary Clinton and unfavorably represents Barack Obama. So will most writers with last names Gold, Green, Cooper, Marx, Stern, xxxstein, xxxfeld,xxxberg, xxxwitz, xxxoff, etc.”
3 seconds later…..
Colorblind wrote: “Thank you for your your excellent article. Unfortunately, there are only a few reporters who dare to speak the way you just did, Howard Kurtz, Dan Abrams and a few others. In this country, we cannot afford to have “an affirmative action president”. A black president yes! but elected based on his capabilities and not the color of his skin. Just as Hillary is being judged. In this country today it is not OK to criticize a black man running for president, but it is OK to trash women (in this case Hillary) unfairly. I guess there are more misogynistic people than there are racist ones. I am a republican white man who is voting for Hillary. Because she is head and shoulders above the rest. Sorry guys, get over it. Welcome to the 21st Century.
Kurtz and Abrams belong to the same group.

This article hits the nail right on the head. I have been musing over the Obama phenomenon for a while now, and this article has just connected the dots for me.
Indeed, a key determinant of “cultish” behavior is when it is predicated upon what really are empty words designed to manipulate minds to perceive thoughts, desires, and other emotions consistent with the speakers ultimate agenda.
Case in point: the thrust of the Obama campaign is “change”. Of course, when things are not ideal for any person, that person will want some change to occur. A rational mind will questions, what specifically will be changed, how will it be changed, what have you really done (your track record) that you can gain my confidence that you can succeed in making this change. Absence of questions and answers to this campaign mantra is exactly what cults rely on. The more fanatical their followers, the easier it is for them to manipulate.
How disengenous is it for someone to compare the Obama fervor to what was going on with our constitutional forefathers. They had substance, specificity and originality. To the question what will you change, they did not respond: “same as what everyone that is popular is saying they will change”; how will you achieve this change: “by being a uniter not a divider” – directly borrowed from a successful campaign of GWB. Why do you think you are the person to effect these changes: “I am the mesiah”.

Yes, I concur with with the author. There is a cult-like obsession here. No different than the adoration and worshipping of Jim Jones or David Koresh. It is really spooky!

once again america turns its brain off to follow a savior. this is no change. this is the same thing. change would be be for the people to think like people and stop being sheep. this is a very important electino us of a.. don’t screw up just because oprah likes this guy..

The Dream Ticket…

… might be Obama/Gore or (Gore/Obama). Why? Because they’re both so inspiring, so motivating, so… Messianic:Inspiration is nice. But some folks seem to be getting out of hand. It’s as if Tom Daschle descended from on high saying, Be not

I’m taking my Mama to Obama, he is the true MESS-iah.(\__/)
(=”=)
(“)_(“)

obama’s time will come, we do not a novice, give hillary a chance.he needs no ojt. after dubya, what could be worse?

WAKE UP AMERICA. F.O.B. (Friends of Bill) CLINTONISTA’S are littered throughout the Mainstream Media. From Dan Abrams, George Stephanopoulous, James Carville, Paul Begala, Dee Dee Myers et. al. etc. HRC is the NEO-CON in the Democratic Primary. The Oligarchy and establishment are behind Hillary Clinton, which is why you see John McCain vowing for a 100 year War because the Neo-Con’s staked their agenda on the Democrats assuming that a Republican would lose. OBAMA is up against a CLINTON DLC MACHINE that has been in operation for the better part of two decades. Of course they will have their friends tear down the choice of the people, supress voter turnout and do whatever it takes including stealing Michigan & Florida if necessary.

B Hussein Obama is starting to believe his own hype. Yesterday he told supporters: ‘What started out as a whisper has grown to a mighty chorus that is sweeping the land.’
While some find this style of rhetoric to be soaring and inspiring, I find it vapid and pompous.

Obama needs to inspire to win a national campaign. If he talks about the issues in a dry calculated way (ala Gore and Kerry) he could never garner the support and sustained excitement needed. This is a political move. This does not necessarily mean he is unfamiliar with the issues, he is. Unlike Hillary, he cannot afford to be a policy wonk (she has name recognition, and thus is not terribly hurt by being stiff and calculating; although she has improved). Moreover, every candidate who tries to win a national election must appeal to a large group, and therefore must have a general message!! This is not particular to Obama. The fact that some folks get out of hand and become crazed supporters is no indicator that the movement is not genuine or substantive. After all, we can all think of examples of crazy followers of a moderate and good movement who are not reflective of its core values. If you are interested about where Obama stands on an issue, find out! Then, please agree or disagree with it. But please stop this nonsense. What is wrong with inspiring a whole generation of public servants? What is wrong with energizing a bunch of complacent Americans about the good this nation could do?

Folks, it’s called “white guilt”. The noted author Shelby Steele wrote about it. It’s the reason why white liberals can support Obama for President, yet move out of the neighborhoods or send their kids to private schools the minute too many blacks, Hispanics or Asians begin showing up.

Maybe we Obama supporters are just sick of triangulating politicians who enable us into a war that kills hundreds of thousands of civilians and destroys our economy.
“IT’S (IRAQ THAT DESTROYED) THE ECONOMY, STUPID!”

Go ahead and keep scaring people with comments and notes liks this. No wonder why this country is going down hill.

OK Jimmy,
Exactlly what experience does Clinton have? A couple of years in the Senate, how is that different than Obama’s experience? Clinton is a train wreck waiting to happen! McCain will beat her with no problem, polls show he can not beat Obama.

Did someone compare Mr. Obama’s speeches to THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE?
This shouldn’t need to be said, but it looks like it does;
We all have HOPE and we all WANT CHANGE.
But a dose of reality helps too.

The really scarey thing is that one of these people running may be elected!
Seems that we’ll end up electing the celebrity of the day. Not a good scene for most citizens.

I think there are two enormous forces at work here. Speaking as a young American, this is the first time in my political memory that there was a inspiring candidate for president – both in what his presidency would symbolize to the world and the way that he isn’t running a usual political campaign. Secondly, we must remember that the only real idealogical difference between Obama and Clinton is in their definition of the executive branch: One views the role as a sort of creative director (Obama) and one as a chief operating officer (Clinton). The implementation of big ideas is undoubtedly important but does not even touch the importance of HAVING broad ideas to begin with. Obama’s campaign has inspired – like it or not – and that indicates his leadership but also what Americans are looking for. Yes, there is a certain zeal that the Obama campaign has begun to connote but I do think that ANY (even overwrought) enthusiasm for our country’s political future is better than the alternative disenchantment that I felt among those in my generation. The country should embrace – perhaps not the candidate – but at least the possibility of a new generation of political engagement.

Obama needs to inspire to win a national campaign. If he talks about the issues in a dry calculated way (ala Gore and Kerry) he could never garner the support and sustained excitement needed. This is a political move. This does not necessarily mean he is unfamiliar with the issues, he is. Unlike Hillary, he cannot afford to be a policy wonk (she has name recognition, and thus is not terribly hurt by being stiff and calculating; although she has improved). Moreover, every candidate who tries to win a national election must appeal to a large group, and therefore must have a general message!! This is not particular to Obama. The fact that some folks get out of hand and become crazed supporters is no indicator that the movement is not genuine or substantive. After all, we can all think of examples of crazy followers of a moderate and good movement who are not reflective of its core values. If you are interested about where Obama stands on an issue, find out! Then, please agree or disagree with it. But please stop this nonsense. What is wrong with inspiring a whole generation of public servants? What is wrong with energizing a bunch of complacent Americans about the good this nation could do?

Obama’s favorite word is “change”, which is easy to promise and difficult to deliver. He and his zombie followers are going to learn that if he is elected. He is a political neophyte and has created a “cult of personality”, that’s all. He is an eloquent lightweight that guilt-ridden Whitey and racist Blacks flock to. Obama is a closet racist, judging from his books and choice of church, the UCC, which recently honored Louis Farrakhan. Anybody running for President that refuses to wear a flag lapel pin for Obama’s reasons is unfit to be on the City Council, much less President. There are so many reasons to dislike Obama and so few reasons to like him. I have asked people why they like Obama and the usual response is “Because he’s not George Bush!”. They cannot even define why they like him. Wake up, people, we can do better.

this is cool

AmeriKwa’s service industry (its biggest “sector”–lol) is down. Now that Brazilized Kwa is finished murderering 1.2 million people in Iraq and Afgan, in the name of Eretz Zion, and feeling morally superior about it– thank you very much–it’s time for the Obama Krishton tent show. When the dollar collapses and Obama is prez, the tent show will get even BIGGER. Probably you’ll all be singing “Yes We Can” by the Black Eyed Peas, and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”. What a mentally sick country and getting sicker by the week.

Question for Mr Obama: WHERE’S THE BEEF?

Sounds like you have more fun being cynical. People who are inspired are just out of your comfort zone. You should definitely avoid Ron Paul supporters then. You might be “weirded out.” Heavens to Betsy!
Obama plans on revamping and reinstating fireside chats, he plans on getting young people to serve their country beyond the confines of the military, he believes that all people can be covered by health care without trampling on their rights to opt out. If you think he’s nothing more than his rhetoric, frankly, you haven’t been LISTENING.

LOL…..In a country where celebrity is golden is it any wonder why Obama has taken off? He is appealing to non-thinkers, sheep heading for slaughter. I have read extensively on his site and have no idea what kind of president he will be…complete generalities nothing more. We will rue the day…

Rufus,
“i am not a democrat jimmy. And choosing party over the good of the nation is treason.”
Rufus, if you are not a Dem, you should butt out. The process that is underway, is for Dem’s to select our candidate. To say that it is treason for Dems to select Clinton is just plain CRAZY. You told us you are not a Dem, but you did not tell us you are not a GOP guy, just trying to cause trouble.

Nice job! I was just about to blog about this and then I saw your blog…Finally, someone is saying what no one has said. I voted for Hillary and had no problem with Obama until his supporters got so zealous and weird. They’re like vegans or something, it’s creepy…

HEY PHELONIOUS – I WILL TELL YOU WHAT COULD BE WORSE THAN “W” – IT IS CALLED JIMMY CARTER

This article is right on. It is about time someone started to observe the cult-like (non-substantive) nature of the Obama machine. The vitriolic and Obama-adoring reactions of some readers posted in these comments only re-inforces the accuracy of Jake Tapper’s observations.

So I’ll say this again:
I knew, sooner or later, someone would start dumping in this direction. They couldn’t make the ‘he’s a muslim’ slur stick…they couldn’t make ‘he went to school in a madrassa’ stick…they couldn’t make ‘he put his hand on the Quran instead of the Bible while being sworn into the Senate’ stick…they haven’t been able to make ‘he’s against a woman’s right to choose’ stick…so now we have ‘obsessions’, ‘creepy cults’, and whatever you find NEXT to describe and justify why folks should NOT vote for this man.
People are not only weeping because they don’t want to see Bush in office, they’re also weeping because they don’t want to see another Clinton in office.
People constantly use the hillary-republican talking points when they start discussing Obama. The desperation is so thick you can probably smell it across the country. This has passed the ridiculous stage into the pathetic.
This kind of crap is exactly what Obama was talking about…”change” from this crappy politics, of tearing others down just to make yourself(selves) look so much better. Telling lies just to smear your opponent when nothing else seems to work. How ridiculous we must look to the world. When is it going to stop? Oh, I get it…it will only stop when Hillary and Bill are back in office, right?! No wonder half the country is cynical. As a democrat who voted for Bill twice, I would rather vote for McCain than see those two back in office again.
Some of you people truly are nuts!

What a bunch of crap. So if I happen to not want Hillary Clinton as my president and I do support Barack Obama I am a member of a cult? This is the kind of crap that makes a lot of us pretty sick and tired of some of the Clinton people. They are like rabid dogs. This approach is not winning Mrs. Clinton any friends. Give it up.

Thank you ABC for the great article. The abundance of comments following the article tell me I am not alone in my distaste for Obama’s pious, empty platitudes encased in an empty suit. But, he and his campaign are clever. Promise “change” and a better life then sit back and let the recipient fill in the blank how he or she wishes. It’s like the never-ending hope of winning the lottery. The odds are heavily stacked against you but you buy the ticket anyway because maybe, just maybe… I guess my hope is that enough people will begin to realize that Obama is like the pretty gift wrapped boxes in display windows at Christmas — bright, festive and suggesting happiness while inside they’re empty.

I am dumb struck by a few things:
1. This reporter seems to be a closet Hillary supporter and is serioulsy (mis)using his power as a reporter to advance the cause of Hillary
2. The reporter is a frustrated, out-of-touch-with-reality popular culture (read: the Hollywood for Hillary crowd). My god!! When did popular culture writers (who follow the hollywood elite around and start believing in the same elitism) become experts at politics?
3. I am Marion Jone’s husband (the Olympic Sprinter). I stayed with her while she ran those miles. I am confident that I have more than 10 years of experience in sprinting. And by the way, I cannot achieve a Top Secret security clearance, but I have SEEN how many Secretaries of State have behaved. I know I can do the job because I believe I am ready. Oh, I may not have held any public position before marrying my wife and getting in the limelight, but how bad can it be? I know how she ran and what it takes to run. Yeah, I have so much experience in sprinting and having observed how my wife behaved in public, how the politicians talk on TV. I am 41 years old, so I can at-least claim 16 years of public service experience (I have known my wife for last 16 years)

I love that if you are for Clinton, you are white or rich or part of the media.
(btw, Stephananopoulus wrote a anti-Clinton book.)
I don’t know what media Obama supporters are referring to but it is overwhelming supportive. Read Maureen Dowd’s column in The NY Times to get an idea of what I mean.
I almost left my job to work for Obama but I waited to see what he’d do in the Senate. First thing he does, votes for Condi Rice. That anti-war stance sure translated well once he had the power to change something!

When will SOMEONE ask Obama 1. What has he done and 2. What is his plan. I know When Hillary points that out, its “oh poor mean Hillary picking on Obama.” The Republicans are going to EAT HIM ALIVE. We need someone with a plan.and someone who is tough. and that’s Hillary

A quote we should never forget:
Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.
C. S. Lewis

I was really mad at this writer yesterday. I give him credit today for being fair and pointing out a huge growing problem we are starting to face. Obama is increasingly attracting the radical and eaisly led. It is a movement. So did Hitler. So did several people in history.
Now, Obama is a VERY good man. He is no Hitler. But they really pave over his inability to be president with hype and hope. Change.
But change to what? The young senator will find himself in the same restrained box as all the presidents before him. With no experience to fight is way to his own legacy.
Most of all. There will be no utopian change. The only thing that will change is the name of the president.

Ok, who’s crackin’ on us old folks?! I voted for Gore and Kerry, and we still managed to keep Alfred E. Neumann in the White House!
I voted for Bill twice, (that in itself makes ME old) but I refuse to vote for Hillary.
I WILL vote for Obama, so if that makes me part of a cult, then so be it!
Wow, I voted for three white men, hmmm, I guess that makes me a racist.
All the way to the white house baaaby!
Go Obama!

What is wrong with you people? Following Obama is certainly not a cultish endeavor. People really like him and the message he brings to America. What don’t you like the most? The fact that he is winning or the fact that people flock to his rallys? People are so jealous! He is a great person (honest, intelligent) and would be the greatest president ever. Stop trying to ruin his campaign by saying things that are not true.

If Obama wins this election, you may as well hook the US to the Middle East because the nation will be a whole. I never thought I would EVER see America want a President who is Muslim, and he is. Don’t be naive’. Be alert and aware. He is not what he seems to be. The Islamist extremist caused us 911, and now we want an Islamic President? What are people thinking in America?? Are we that brainless? But at least for this election, you have the right to pick who you want. May not have that same right next election people. WAKE UP.
Sandy
Ohio

I hate to burst all of the dreamers’s bubble.If Obama gets the nomination it will be 1972 all over again.He will be routed in a general election.

You say it’s a cult? You say Obama is vague and has no plans? I say GREAT. I want a president who does nothing other than defend this country against foreign invaders.
I want a president who will NOT:
1. Pre-emptively invade other countries
2. Spend more than we take in and blow out the national debt
3. Allow corporations to set the agenda in D.C.
It’s time for a “do nothing” president.

Is there anything more intellectually vacuous than writing snarky comments about people who have the audacity to hope for a wiser, gentler, and more optimistic form of politics? I read through your article twice to see if I was missing something — some analysis, some insight — but no, nothing substantive, just juvenile cynicism. It’s not so cute with a 13 year-old — it’s corrosive from someone in your position.

i just read all these comments. I think people have no idea how fragile a thing like HYPE is. The media has the power to rip it away from you as much as promote you. We put up with 50 anti clinton articles a day. Yet one article like this drives the Obama supporters nuts.
Without the hype, what does obama got? You Obama folks are sure going to find out if he faces the Republican machinery.

Let me get this straight. If you vote for Hillary, you’re a realist who wants a real candidate. If you vote for Obama, you’re a vegan moron who drank the kool-aid.
Okay, in that case, can I have the cherry kool-aid?
(He does win out in the more educated demographic. Must be serving tofu at Harvard.)

We trained hard… but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
This is the basis of Obama’s campaign.

******END GAME ALERT************
Liberals: Have you figured out (this article makes my point further) that bigotry in the Dem party runs wild. From Bubba to Hillary’s Ghandi gas station ‘joke,’ to this very article conjuring up sublime ‘cult’ imagery, your venner is peeling. And just who is Hillary?
She voted for the war, 2 supplements, The Patriot Act, eavesdropping, data mining, and the surge, but she criticizes our approach. She is morally bankrupt.
Obama is of excellent character–just way too liberal for America. Give me Condi.
I say that and more–12 tunes this police officer wrote

To Jay: Totally disagree. McCain is so out of touch with the younger (and I mean 18-45 year olds) that he doesn’t stand a chance. Plus, he’s wrong on the war…that will be the nail in his political coffin.

Most of the Obama fans prove the fallacy and shallowness of his claims of uniting people and moving away from the old divisive “politics as usual”. Yeah right–someone write something you don’t like or agree with and you start name-calling, finger-pointing, and attacking. A great and exciting new way of bringing a country together! No, you’re still drinkin’ the KoolAid.

Wow, I’ve never seen a thread of comments railing so hard against the writer of the blog while at the same time proving every point written in said blog… You Obama-Rama-Ding-Dongs need to get a grip.

What you really wanted to say is “voodoo”.
You rascist.

Just another article written by an obvious Clinton sympathizer. Obama supporters should expect more of this type of dismissive media-speak in the coming weeks. In the end though, it won’t matter, because change is coming and neither the media-elite nor the Democratic establishment can stop it!

Barack Obama: Catchy euphemism for “cocktail of the moment”!!

How is it that Senator Obama and Senator Clinton have very similar policies on almost every issue, but Senator Obama always gets the “no substance” tag. Hypocrisy maybe? Just because Senator Clinton is BORING doesn’t make her more substantial.
We like Senator Obama because he is NOT politics as usual. All you old school political hack types are just going to have to GET USED TO IT!
P.S. Senator Obama will actually tell us what he is going to do, Senator Clinton gets to be all vague – like with Social Security and health insurance penalties and foreign policy. What a double standard!

The democratic party as a whole is nothing more than a cult. Think with your brain not your heart or this country is in deep trouble.

I see more of the same idiotic ‘neo-con’ and Drudge non-sense. Did you lemmings know that the UCLA school of journalism (hardly conservative by any measure) rated Drudge as one of the most UN-BIASED sources? When you consider that everything linked from Drudge almost always points to another site, usually from the MSM, it kind of makes you sound like a foolish idiot when you harp on the whole Drudge neo-con angle. But, I digress, those who shout neo-con and other ridiclously ignornat monikers aren’t really interested in truth and fairness anyway, they just want their ideology to be espoused, regardless.
I keep hearing people trust Obama… no, some people trust Obama, others are voting for him because he’s the lessor of two evils in their mind. I also keep hearing about being embarrassed by our country. Well, if you are then freakin’ leave you ignorant sots. Firstly, our country does not have as big a black eye in the world community as is reported and most of the countries that have a problem with us are socialist countries who, under Clinton, got what they wanted as opposed to what OUR COUNTRY needed.
Obama and Clinton are both espousing socialist ideals, they’re both looking for income redistribution and, while I agree health care must be addressed, universal healthcare, or socialzed medicine, is not the answer and will only ruin our medical system as a whole. Believe what you want, but you’d better take a REAL, OJJECTIVE look at CA, FR and those other socilist utopia’s of free medical care. They are not nearly as good as advertised, if they were we wouldn’t have Canadians pouring across the border for treatment!

Finally, a journalist who has the courage to look beyond the hype.
Why do Obama supporters get so aggressive when someone as much as asks a perfectly benign question : Why doesn’t Obama talk about specifics ? Why doesn’t he spell out how he is going to deal with the recession ? I know that it’s not “entertaining” or “fashionable” to talk about specific policies, but it is important especially when we are looking to elect President of the United States.

This article points out the problem with Obama perfectly. All symbolism, no substance. I’m an Illinois resident and I’ve watched him since he was in the legislature. There really isn’t anything there. To all Obama supporters: what exactly does he stand for and plan to do? Specifics please. I’ve yet to hear any.

Marilyn, I’m a vegan and I’m voting for Hillary (I guess I’m the exception).
My real comment: Is Tom Cruise orchestrating the Obama campaign, because this stuff sounds loony.

Adam I agree with you if Obama was White we wouldn’t see this article, however, it would be because he wouldn’t have made it this far. I can’t help think if we did this process like the old dating game and put a wall between us and the candidates and even put Edwards back in the race. Make each of the candidates list their accomplishments and their plans Obama would be the one saying “Hey isn’t there 3 of us here”
P.S. if you watched his rally in Kansas he was white there!

I have yet to hear any solid policy statements by Obama. He is VERY liberal and all he has done is motivate people who can’t think for themselves

It is very odd for a reporter who follows Mike Huckabee to single out Obama for fanatical followers!

To Kelly: I see your point that McCain is out of touch, though he does stand a good chance in defeating Hillary b/c in DC the Clinton name is trash – really. Plus I think McCain is right on the war, we can’t just pull out and let Iran/Syria fill the vacuum with an extremist government (granted we should never have gone into Iraq, but that’s moot now). I do support Obama 100 percent if for nothing else his so-called inexperience is exactly what I like, he isn’t tied in Washington old-school white man (I’m white) politics. And he’s a pleasure to listen to as a speaker. If Hillary takes the nomination, I’d rather take my chances with McCain in office then re-live the horror show that became the last Clinton presidency (Bubba in the White House again – god help us all!)

Whenever you read responses to any article or blog entry, you get to read responses from some real loons out there. This article bases itself on a few apparently overzealous supporters, which is an unfair characterization of Obama himself and most of his supporters. Apparently, there are some “wierdos” supporting any candidate, but you can’t say all their supporters or the candidate him/herself is like that….what an absurd argument.

Our president Bush has thought with his head and not his emotion, like the Democrats. He knows what he is doing, even if everyone disagrees. We need to continue his crusade against the enemy
within and without. End of sentence.
Its all of the Democratic thinking in circles that prevents real action-go ask Bush !

I hope you are comparing this to the current cult of Clintonfollowers! How else would you explain the appeal of Hillary/Bill?

I laugh when you all blame the Democratic Party. I am a democrat and will say that BOTH parties are dismal. Democrats and Republicans, what does either party have to be proud of?
It was the Republicans, non-partisans and Independents that Barack Obama brought out to vote that changed the political landscape. Not just more Democrats. Many Republicans are also backing Obama.
The Republicans for Obama campaign is growing bigger each day. I’ve heard that even pins and stickers for Republicans for Obama are sold out and back ordered.
With all due respect, everyone has their opinions but others need to wake up and realize what time of day it is.

Every politician seeks the level of adulation that Obama is receiving– they were the first celebrities, the first pop stars. The Clintons aren’t running strictly because they are power hungry or because of some ingrained sense of public service: they want to be adored! They want to sit next to Bono and get the VIP treatment. This isn’t anything new.
I’ve sat in awe listening to life-long feminists defend Bill Clinton’s philandering ways out of some bizarre Bill worship. Similarly, I’ve sat in awe listening to young republicans describing W as a “great man” in history.

Reading this article had me chuckling, but reading the comments made me burst into laughter out loud. When did people become cult members for fervently believing in someone? Does that mean that all along their has been a cult of Republicans? I feel the Obama article missed a key point. Instead of criticizing the people who choose to follow Obama (of which I incidentally am not, I’m a McCain Supporter at this point and a registered Independent), they should wonder why politics has digressed to a point where people just need the thought of change to endorse. they should wonder how our government and politics in general has jaded the American public to such a point that we EXPECT back door deals and non disclosure. It would have made a much better article in my opinion.

Heh, I can tell you exactly what Obama will do for you old folks. It’s right there on his website. He wants to see you passing your expertise to the next generation through volunteering and he’s not going to ask any senior citizens to pay a dime in taxes if you make under 50K annually. I think that’s a pretty sweet deal given everything you’ve put my generation through.

change, change, change, change, change.
I’m getting sick of the word. What is it these morons, CLINTON & OBAMA, want to change. I’ll tell you. They want to change how much freedom we have by giving us less. They want to change how much money we have in our pockets by taking more of it. They want to change how we deal with our enemies by running instead of fighting. They want to change the amount of control the government has over our lives by giving themselves more control. They want to change our healthcare system so that Washington makes the decisions not you or your doctors. CHANGE. Not for the better I’m afraid. Just a final note. As a republican I feel McCain is no better than the before mentioned morons
of change.

Finally a journalist has the courage and ethics to talk the truth however unpopular. I hope you are able to keep your job because of what you have said.The rest of the media has been too afraid to really speak to this…(might be called out as racist or fired)
I have been watching Obama and are struck by the “preacher, religious zeal tone” of his speeches & comments. If he wins the nomination, the Republicans will tear down the curtain of the wizard. Inspirational he is but no substance in his plans.
Voice in Illinois

If Obama wins, I hope Mike Bloomberg jumps in the race. I’m not ready to trust an empty suit with our country. 8 more years in the senate, he would have a record that I could trust more.

So you’re mistaking a politician with uplifting rhetoric for the messiah? Just because we’ve become used to a president who can’t speak English, a dull Democrat leading the Senate, and right-wing loonies on the radio who invent new hate terms doesn’t make Obama into something he’s not. But you can compare his speeches to those of MLK, JFK, and FDR.

Some of us understand the “we are the ones we have been waiting for”. For those who do not, and I can understand the problem here–there is a depth to this statement (and other similar ones) that may need to be explicated. Easiest translation: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Or other translations: “Get involved in the process.”; “Get up off the couch.”; “Apathy is no longer cool–being informed, registering to vote, working to get the candidate who you believe will be able to move the country in the direction you would like.”
I think this might be the time for the press to take a deep breath and attempt to get the essence of what someone is saying before attempting to put a negative label on it for the sake of creating sensational headlines.

“Basing a conclusion on opinions posted on listserves and blogs. Now there’s a winning strategy. And anyway, people are enthusiastic about their candidate. Isn’t that a good thing?”
That’s EXACTLY what I was about to type. Good stuff DKNY….

Whoa! The cool-aid drinkers are in full force today. Mr. Tapper it appears you’ve inadvertently poked the idea of the religious movement you so correctly described.
I’m a libertarian small-govt. person so I really have NO viable candidate in the race, but I can definitely see the fanaticism at work here. It’s almost like you can delete the article you wrote above and just show the posted responses to support your case…

democrats are nothing more than zombies.

Yay. Another establishment stooge coming to tell us the po’ stupid masses how Obama the populist is dangerous. Shove it Jake Tapper. Since you’re probably being paid by the CIA to write this crap, I wouldn’t be surprised to see you make a lame attempt to tie Obama into UFO’s and 9/11. Go ahead. We all need a good laugh.

To fellow Obama supporters:
Obama is not and should not be immune to criticism. When you call valid questions ‘attacking’ you do in fact make us look cultish. When you have an automatic, knee-jerk reaction to questions about Obama’s candidacy, that he’s being unfairly attacked(usually while unfairly attacking Hillary in the process) you make us look like idiots. The point here is well taken–the enthusiasm and feelings of excitement are real, but we (starting with Obama himself) need to go beyond the feel-good approach and start talking about specifics, and not just pointing people to the website. Ultimately, this kind of mentality is unfair to Obama–he is a good candidate and will make a good president, but we are setting him up to fail if we think that just because he’s inspirational and we’re excited, he’s going to magically change everything. Let’s turn this excitement and passion into action!

-Obama doesn’t take a stand on the issues? Excuse me? Check his website, watch some tapes of the democratic debate in California. He has very detailed policies, very clear plans and very clear goals. Secondly, he is quite willing to compromise on these plans, and has been described by serious journalists, who have actually examined his record, as an incrementalist, i.e. a pragmatist, who will compromise across party lines to get things done.
Which brings me to my second point. Is this sort of broadside, lambasting article serious journalism? The claims are baseless, and filled with a level of partisan, insider, beltway baloney. If Obama stirs up zeal and Christian fervor in his constituents, it is actually for a very good, precise, calculated, cold, political reason, and the fact that you journalists can’t see it is more telling about the level of intelligence in the media than anything else. Obama has been quite clear throughout the campaign that he is not just aiming for democrats and independents, he wants evangelicals on his side too. That’s right, hard core evangelicals who favor the bible over the constitution. The religious references in his speeches, his calls to Jesus in his stump speech are all clearly calculated on a political level to fracture the Right and bring Red-Letter Christians back into the fold of the democratic party, you know, the party that actually buys into the idea “what you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me.” This is actually the brilliant, political side of Obama — he thinks against the internal, traditional wisdom of the democratic party, which states that we have no business in a Church, no business dealing with Republicans.
Finally, to address one other claim made in the entry above. “We are the change we seek.” This is quite vague, but if you think about it, the statement is again made to appeal to Republicans, who are always talking about personal responsibility versus the democratic logic communal aid. We are the change we seek implies that nobody in Washington is going to change your life, you have to do it yourself, and that is that same stuff that I hear everyday from Republicans – it’s just put in a different, more rhetorically appealing way. None of this makes Obama republican, of course, but what it does show, first, is that whomever wrote the above entry has no sense of how to perform a freshman-college level rhetorical analysis, and, second, that Obama is carefully whittling away at that Regan coalition, starting to undo the horrible damage that the anti-Christ did to this country back in 1980.

I agree that as Obama gets more supporters I am seeing an increasing amount of zeal (the type of unwavering zeal that i have seen in Clinton supporters earlier).
I disagree however as to the source of the zeal…I think it stems more from his unusual combination of a candid nature of his demeanor while simultaneously appearing dignified and eloquent.
As someone who IS familiar with his proposed policies and his views on the issues, I agree that his campaign can afford now to bring those things out in a more national format (ie. sonme of the TV commercials, all the Media ops, and definitely the debates etc). Some people might not listen intently, but now that he has people’s attentions I think a good number will pay attention to those more involved things.

So… voting for the wife of a former President and continuing the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton bicameral dynasty is not cultish?
Suckers!

“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for,” Obama said. “This time can be different because this campaign for the presidency of the United States of America is different. It’s different not because of me. It’s different because of you.”
“Ask not what your country can do for You but what You can do for your country.”
What is wrong with a cult of Personality, That is what term limits are for, Bill only 8 years.

I heard the same words long ago; coming from another man, he was called a great leader, one who understood the people. Many fell and worshiped him for he lead the nation out of apathy and right into well. He came to power with subtlety, ceased the government by intrigue and brought the world to its knees. No one questioned his politics before he came to power and turned on all, though the writing was clearly seen, many called his detractor evil vile and mean. I saw the man I heard his words they haunt my nightmares for I see it happening all again.

What’s scary is all these Haters who seem unable to come up with an independent thought of their own, and simply parrot what the talking-head pundant punks have to say. Please, people, grow up! Of course you’ve never seen anything like this, unless you happen to have been born before 1940, it’s called a Movement, not a cult. I for one am thankful that people finally are EXCITED about a candidate, instead of having to choose between the least of several evils. And to those who say they don’t know what Obama stands for, or is riding on rhetoric alone – GET A CLUE, open your ears and eyes, watch the debates and visit the Obama website, where all of his planks are clearly delineated.

How very odd the comments of a precious few should generate this type of article. I suspect there is something deeper, and more personal to the author’s uneasiness, which led him to produce this article.
Perhaps it’s his inability to properly consign a ready catergory for the huge crowds Sen. Obama is drawing. But I think if he would take a calm moment and consider the past and ever-occurring, political castrophes of the past 8 years, he might be able to at least view it as what it is, normal.
Americans are almost desperate for transparency, honesty, and ideas in our government; and Sen.Obama appears to offer these in a far larger degree than the other presidential contenders; from Sen. “Vast right conspriracy” Hillary Clinton to Sen.’perhaps 100 years in Iraq” McCain.
Frankly, Sen. Obama is the type of political leader we haven’t seen in so long, some Americans are quite literally beside themselves with HOPE for an honest to goodness government.
Isn’t it about time America had one, enthusiasm and all.
Linda

Mr. Tapper,
Although I credit you for providing links to the referenced authors’ writings, you combined excerpts to craft a very negative article; one that seems to have inspired quite a bit of anger. But since much of the media attacks Hillary with sound bites and carefully selected news clips, I knew enough to read the entire articles of those you quoted (I respect Kathleen Geier’s article). The authors’ sentiments were not as negative as your article portrayed.
And what did your article achieve; in my eyes anyway? Just another forum – this one justifiable – for mainly anti-Hillary/Clinton bloggers. But at times, it is hard for me to read the mean spirited responses by supporters of all candidates, not just Obama’s. At least in the last debate Obama and Hillary recognized the importance of kinder ways.

Kool Aid anyone?

Jay, you are almost 100% correct. Your mistake is assuming that Obama is a deviation from the Bush/Clinton dynasty when in fact, he is the culmination of it. He is Hillary’s replacement, picked as early as 2004 (see ’04 Dem convention).

You know what’s one of the funniest things is about Obama? When he speaks in front of a black audience, he adopts the speech paterns, cadence, and tenor of a black, Southern Baptist Minister.
I mean who is this guy kidding? He grew up in a white family in Kansas, Hawaii and Indonesia. He probably never even met another African-American until he moved to NYC to attend Columbia.
So why does he speak like Dr. Martin Luther Obama? Too funny.

All of this covers the fact, that, at the core of St. Obama, is a Corrupt Chicago Machine Democrat of the old school.
Don’t believe, do some Internet searches under the term “REZKO” + “HOUSE” and “Slumloard”.
people should grow up, and start thinking for them selfs rather then letting the media do there’d thinking.

It is nothing new to see young people inspired by a smooth talker who doesn’t give specifics and who has no history upon which to base their trust. Young people need hope. Without it there is little reason to live. The reason older people prefer a known quantity is they have “been there, done that” and realize that campaign rhetoric is just so much wind–no matter who’s doing the talking. Choosing a candidate based on the campaign rhetoric of hope and change, particularly when no specifics are given, is like taking out a subprime mortgage without investigating what the risks might be. We’ve all seen where that might get us.

“I disagree however as to the source of the zeal…I think it stems more from his unusual combination of a candid nature of his demeanor while simultaneously appearing dignified and eloquent.”
I think it’s because he has purple lips, we have never had a president before who has purple lips, that’s a big draw for young people who don’t know any better.

Antichrist, anyone?

Curious that over 80% of black voters support Obama…I understand it but am surprised Jesse and Al aren’t front and center screaming “RACISM”
Obama is most likely our next prez…I hope he is what the sheep hope he is.

Thank you, Jake.
Somewhere in the recesses of my tiny little mind I have been increasingly uncomfortable with Obama. I really reached for it Tuesday night when I saw his speech; messianic in tone — carefully calibrated by intonation and cadence to stir the crowd to repeat the bumper sticker phrases he was feeding them. One word came to mind. “Demagoguery.”
Obama may be decent enough, certainly bright enough, but he may not be able to turn off what was started by Oprah– “He’s the one.”– and others in the press in their adolation for this man.
I know too well how we have longed for someone to deliver us from these terrible 8 years with the Bush administration and the previous 2 when President Clinton was underseige with the Republican Congress. But is a vague promise of deliverance the answer?
I am a democrat and will vote for the top of the ticket. But if Obama is nominated, his style will not go unnoticed by the public. How is he going to up against John McCain on national security? Remember the guys who knocked down our towers? They were religious, looking for a kind of purity, thinking that their deed would gain them deliverance. And if he wins, can he whip up this kind of following in the Congress? How does this translate into governance?
Obama is charismatic, but for the sake of the democratic party and the country I wish he could put aside his anointed role and tell us where he wants our country to go and how he will govern.
p.s.: for the sake of argument Harry Truman had a charisma by-pass, but made a pretty good president for some perilous times. Amen.

I’m an Obama Republican. I know all of the candidates’ positions.
But, I’m not a member of a cult.

What does Obama bring to the table that Hillary does not? Integrity. Clinton has broken pledges to the DNC and her fellow candidates in regards to putting her name on the ballot in Michigan and campaigning in Florida. What promises will she make to you that she’ll break? Yes, Obama supporters are not so cynical as to believe they need a lying, cheating, stealing president in order to get things done. We’ve had enough lies in the past seven years. 935 on Iraq alone.

Why does obama want to silence the voters of Florida and Michigan?

Eventually he is going to have to get specific about the changes he will be making. What the party needs is a moderate like Hillary to get the Repubs off of our back for the next 10-15 years. If we win this and stay in the middle with our policies, the Democrats will be in power as long as we want to be.
I fear that the Independants are going to find out just how much spending is going to occur under Obama and that he won’t stand a chance. Go Hill!

I would have to agree that this is likely an issue for Obama during the primaries, given all the unforeseen support Barack Obama is getting, but also I am happy that it is being discussed at this early point.
You see, I agree that some of the people involved with Obama’s campaign ARE a little bit too excited about all of this. But hey, if you look at the demographics of his supporters, these ‘overexcited’ guys are mostly YOUNG people, and given that, why would you NOT expect that to happen? Wait, that’s because you haven’t seen many young people getting involved in politics lately…
Having said that, I do think that Obama needs to address this issue. The ‘empty suit’ rhetoric is getting a little bit out of hand lately, and into pretty desperate tones such as this post against the “cult” – movement, anyone? – around Obama that is fast going out of control from the MSM perspective. And the resulting nonsense – read backlash – from the media must be placated right now if it is not to make any difference in the general election…

People want change, not another four years of the Bush-Clinton dynasty. People like feeling optimistic about the nation. The entrenched powers want nothing to change, so try to marginalize those who are enthusiastic about Obama. They need to come up with some way to smear him to explain the Super Delegates breaking for Hillary 2-1…

I’d rather sign on to the cult of a politician who bravely spoke out against a war which has directly caused 3,000+ senseless American deaths, than the cult of a politician who refuses to say her vote to authorize a war which caused 3,000+ senseless American deaths was a “mistake,” and who subsequently voted to give George W. Bush a green-light to prep for a senseless invasion of Iran. Hillary’s “pragmatic” approach has resulted in senseless death and financial peril for our country. Excuse me if I’m more interested in hope.

These Obama flakes (hey, new cereal?) give me the creeps. And they remind me of that CBS reality show “Kid Nation,” where the kidz loved to scream, “Yeah! We can show those grown ups we can do it TOO!”

For all of you intoxicated by Obama, wait til the hangover we will all have if this con man gets elected. I’ll be looking for you idiots. He’s a good speaker I’ll admit but all con men are.

Normally I don’t comment but I think this piece is a little much.
Lots of politicians’ supporters go over the top with love and adoration. I was at the Republican National Convention in 2004 and perfectly respectable adults were running around chanting flipflop with flip flops on their hands.
Our country has been divided and after the 2000 elections the Democrats were demoralized. Any decent politician can have good policy ideas but few offer the type of inspiration and hope needed when times are rough. Such people are few and far between.
Some of you sound suspicious rather than inspired and that’s fine. But I call foul when you equate this type of over-the-top political enthusiasm with cultism. I think the sports and celebrity obsession is a better, fairer analogy. I also have had the unfortunate experience of meeting real cult leaders and their followers. In my view, that is not what this is. People are tired of being angry and want to like someone. They want someone who at least comes off as not divisive. Few of the other candidates have that going for them unfortunately. Moreover if people are having a moving experience, please tell me how that is wrong. (Also, it can be inferred from the way this is written that you view Christianity as a cult. And the people who originally believed Christ to be the messiah were religious fanatics? I am sure the Romans thought so. Just saying…)
Lastly, can everyone tone down the debate, please? The Web seems to bring out the worst in people. We can disagree without demonizing the other side.

Perhaps you’re new to politics, but any successful campaign has it’s share of overzealous ‘cultish’ followers. Have we all forgotten the Deaniacs from 04? I don’t understand why so many feel the need to bash obama’s ability to inspire. Politics is all about pursuasion. If Obama can get persuade more people to get engaged and support his efforts we actually stand a chance of getting something…anything…done.

Obama’s rhetoric is about addressing a need in American society today. It is not messianic. It is American. Too many of us have lost sight of the fact that we can make a difference in our community and our world. Our problem is not that we don’t have good plans. It is that we are not paying attention. Obama has simply envisioned a world in which we have not gotten to yet. Obama’s supporters can’t always put it into words yet, but they feel it and will work for that dream.

this cardboard cutout full of hot air, is a mouthpiece for who knows what, and we don’t have time to find out who is behind him. But the luster is wearing off thank god, and he will fold soon. He can’t keep making the same speech over and over again.

Joe Klein’s frustration at the inability of his former bosses the Clintons to coronate Hillary has been showing of late. On TV he has virtually been boiling over and referring to Obama’s “lack of substance”.
Can either Joe Klein or other Obama bashers point to ONE area of policy where the Clintons have a proposal and Obama does not. The myth about “lofty words with no substance” is just that – a myth. Take a look at Obama’s web site and at all the extremely detailed and concrete policy proposals out there and let Joe Klein tell you where Obama has been lacking.
Since when did inspiration become a handicap? The Clintons and Joe Klein (the first to put Obama on Time cover as “our next president”?) actually never saw Obama coming. They will just have to deal with it. Meantime, chill it, Joe.

Anyone that promises “Change” is a liar,
when was the last time that any Presidents promises came true, unless it was a promise of not enforcing the borders or immigrations or the promises of more hand outs to those who choose not to work or are paid to not work. The only change that will come from this is the missing change from our pockets while the economy slides further down to pay for the handouts and unenforced border policies.

“Leaders don’t force people to follow; they invite them on a journey.” -Charles S. Lauer
George Bush has been President for 7 years and hasn’t invited anyone on a journey. He has demanded tremendous sacrifices of our armed forces and their families. He has demanded that citizens give up essential rights of privacy. He has demanded that we mortgage the future through enormous national debt while failing to provide healthcare or minimum wage increases for those whose children will pay that debt. He has attacked and marginalized opposition. The only people he has enthused are those who enjoy tax cuts on the rich and apocalyptic world conflict.
Enthusiasm has as its roots En-theos, meaning inspired by God. It’s about time people got enthusiastic about something righteous.

When, exactly, have political elections not been about demagoguery and fervor? When does the public, en masse, make an informed decision? When have political leaders spoken absolute truth? And what, pray tell, is absolute truth anyway? It seems to me that a lot of the confusion below results from some need to answer these questions clearly, when in fact they are not answerable at all, never have been, never will be. Just point me to one case, and I’ll go look at it, but I’m utterly confused by some of the commentary here that claims that, in some strange way, this is any sense different from what always goes on in the political realm. Politics is made of rhetoric, it’s made of what Plato called the “art of lies and deceit.” And if you want to be a strict Platonist, believing in ideal forms and all that spinning in the heavens, then I guess that these comments which claim Obama as a some sort of cult of personality make sense. But if you think that we live in an imperfect world penetrated and filled with hopeless ideals toward which we strive and at which we never arrive (i.e. pragmatic idealism, which I continue to insist is the case with Obama’s speeches), then this makes a little more sense.
Take Obama’s very clear differentiation of himself from Hillary on the issue of health care, the one issue, I guess, that shows some kind of small policy difference between the two. Hillary’s includes mandates, i.e. she will make you buy it or she will penalize you, and Obama’s plan does not include mandates, i.e. he provides a clear path to affordable health care but, at the end of the day, if you don’t want it, fine. How does Hillary expect to get mandated health care through the Senate? McConnell and the Republicans are going to filibuster her bill right into the potty, and unless we get 60 democrats in the senate to pass cloture, which I think is totally out of the picture, then Hillary’s bill actually has to be seen as the unrealistic one. Also, for those who claim that Hillary would be a better leader (and for those who claim we Obama supporters do not understand civics), I direct you to this. Her campaign promises are full of just as much empty rhetoric as Obama’s because of the system of checks and balances, the system of cloture, and the system of filibusters. She has not the flare of his speech, and this is the great difference to me, electability. Hillary is hated, hated by so many people in this country, and though I have no doubt that conservatives hate Obama too, which is their choice and fine, he does have the ability to appeal rhetorically. Don’t discount the power of words; words move the world; build empires; heal the sick; move men to murder; spur humans to redemption; words are the one tie that binds; the most powerful weapon there is.

As a evangelical and an Obama Supporter I find the tenor and characterization of this article extremely offensive, I also question your impartiality. I do find it interesting that when Sen. Obama was 20 – 40 points behind the media blogs were amazed at the fervor his campaign generated but now that it appears he may even win fervor has now changed to some kind of messianic movement. Maybe some are becoming uncomfortable at the reality that an African American might become President. Now that is something to ponder!

Every one of Obama’s ideas involves taking my property and giving it to someone else. That’s not AMERICAN.

I believe experiences and I don’t believe empty words. So far, what Obama has is empty words. Bush used the word “unite” to get himself “elected”. Now Obama is repeating what Bush did before and uses “changes” to try to get himself elected.

Thanks, finally someone saying what I have been thinking. Obama seems like a nice enough guy, but I have really not heard anything from him but “inspiration”, and exactly what are we to do with that. Great speaker but not any substance. Change, change, change, ok I get it! But what are we changing?

Finally. As teachers, we know how easy it is to manipulate kids/young people; because of that, we have not liked Obama from the beginning. It was no accident that he targeted them. In that regard, he knew what he was doing.

As a college student I am so relieved to see this article. Finally! A second look at a man who seems to walk on water.
This is politics, everyone is supposed to be scrutinized. Obama has zero foreign policy experience…he has barely been out of the country (2 days in London). And he says “hope” more than “policy” and that doesn’t get us very far. Why aren’t we talking about this? Because the media is in love with the pop culturesque, star studded, campaign of “CHANGE”.
Atleast with Hillary we get some substance. I am glad that the youth vote is finally coming out, but we need to use our heads before we jump on the trendy bandwagon. The ability to make good policy happen is the primary concern here.

I don’t understand the indignation that some of you have in regards to Obama supporters defending their candidate. I can’t say I am an avowed Obama supporter (frankly none of the candidates have really shown me anything yet) I can definitely see the appeal of his candidacy and the hope he seems to inspire in his supporters. The attacks seem to be coming from both the right AND the left. The attacks from the right kind of make laugh. I’m suprised that any of the conservatives out there were able to take the time from savagely attacking their war-hero nominee to be to write on this board about Obama. The attacks from Hillary supporters make me laugh out loud because Miss Rodham is a complete and utter fraud. She goes on and on and on about how she not only wants change but she can MAKE change, how she’s done it before and yadda yadda yadda. During her husband’s presidency she was in charge of reforming health care for 8 years and what change did she “make”? Oh none, things just got worse. (I guess that IS change when you think about it). What has she done as a Senator??? What significant pieces of legislation has be introduces that has heled the middle class at all??? I say it is the Hillary supporters that are drinking the Kool Aid. In one debate she said that she was responsible for getting health insurance for 6,000 children in New Hampshire alone, that is an out and out BOLD FACED lie. Low-cost health insurance was provided to those children as part of the Tobacco Settlement. At the time the deal was negotiated Hil-Hil was out promoting her book “It Takes A Village…” The Clintons are so incredibly a-moralistic it’s simply astonishing. Bill was swept into office by organized labor (unfortunately alot of unions have DEFINITELY had some of the Kool Aid) and how did the Clintons thank them? By signing the NAFTA deal and sending hundreds of thousands of good paying jobs to Mexico, that’s how. Someone wrote in an earlier post that Obama supporters are naive and don’t know how the leigslative process works because Obama can’t just MAKE change, which is of course correct. However Obama’s message seems to be resonating quite well with Republicans and Independents. I would say Hillary supporters are naive almost to the point of stupidity if they think she will be able to get ANY cooperation from Republicans in Congress, it’s just not going to happen. Cooperation with Hillary would be political suicide for any Republican. The conservative base would drum any Republican out of office for even THINKING about working with Hillary—who they despise with an almost religious, CULT LIKE fervor.

We obama supporters as he said will “remake the world”, an american president with a muslim name,a minority and the most liberal record in the U S Congress cannot help but show the love to the islamic world and they cannot hate us,,,,,,,,Gott MItt uns

Joe Klein works for Time Magazine but moonlights for the Clinton campaign after hours. Joe – stop parading yourself as an objective observer, because you are not

“As a college student I am so relieved to see this article. Finally! A second look at a man who seems to walk on water.
This is politics, everyone is supposed to be scrutinized. Obama has zero foreign policy experience…he has barely been out of the country (2 days in London). And he says “hope” more than “policy” and that doesn’t get us very far. Why aren’t we talking about this? Because the media is in love with the pop culturesque, star studded, campaign of “CHANGE”.
Atleast with Hillary we get some substance. I am glad that the youth vote is finally coming out, but we need to use our heads before we jump on the trendy bandwagon. The ability to make good policy happen is the primary concern here.” thank you Helena!

Obama supporters are so touchy and “true believer” that they will strike out against other Dems. NO WE ARE NOT CONCERNED HE IS TOO POPULAR WE ARE CONCERNED HE AND HIS SUPPORTERS LOOK LIKE FANATICS AND THE REPUBLICANS WILL LITERALLY WIPE THE FLOOR WITH HIS “IDEALISM” AND “CHANGE”

Why does every Obama supporter in here write an over-wrought diatribe that’s about a half a page long, with no paragraph breaks?

LH says that Obama wrote approximately 890 bills plus either introduced or co-sponsored something more then a 1,000 bills. Now maybe I’ve misunderstood something but just focusing on the 890 figue that’s about 300 bills a year and I don’t think congress is even in session 300 days a year. Even if this is true then it becomes a quality control issue; i.e. that many bills – assuming they were written by Obama and his staff – can’t reasonably have met a standard of rigor that would be needed to serve the best interests of Americans in the event they were passed. Either LH has got his numbers wrong or congress is getting sandbagged. And if its all right and they passed are we just sinking in the mire of massive regulatory assault. I don’t really see this as a measure of what Obama has done.

I am SHOCKED that ABC NEWS had the guts to say in print. Kudos to them! For some reason people seem entranced and mesmorized by this man as their “savior”. I hope people are being “watchful” as to not be taken in.

I was creeped out the moment Oprah Winfrey said, “I do believe he is the one!”
Listening to Barack Obama speak and watching his audience with their glazed eyes, and bobbing heads, whenever he preaches in that evangelical tone, makes me wonder about people’s sanity. What has Obama accomplished, other than running against no one for a Senate seat? You don’t have a clue about him; yet you’re ready to sell your soul, send your money, and praise salvation! Just like evangelicals.
Get a grip people. We need a leader who will lead a government that works for the people of this country. If you want a savior, go to church.

I think this characterization of the Obama campaign is unfortunate. His story was about organizing in South Chicago — an event where no one but the organizers showed up, and they were all so demoralized they wanted to quit, including Obama. We’ve all been there. It’s sort of like historically low citizen interest in their government, because they’re convinced their voice can’t make any difference. So at this non-event in Chicago, Obama sees a couple of boys kicking around outside and says to his colleagues, ok, before quitting, just tell me what happens to them? It was a small spark, admittedly, but folks didn’t quit. That is hardly vague. It is real and it is human and it matters. I reject deriding such messages as “cultish.” It is a matter of the personal choices we make when we have the chance — to quit and let others shape our futures, or to reach out and believe that things can be different. Both Obamas have said that in our politics and culture there is a lack of empathy. We are a people divided and disconnected. We cannot feel the pain of ordinary Iraqi mothers and children, because they are not human to us. Empathy and openness are an approach that can transform the way people see themselves and their own potential. If Obama inspires one more young person like the boys he saw that day to dream of college, or running a business, or running for President, and then to make the hard choices to reach for that dream, it is an achievement that should be applauded, and not denigrated.

I am guilty of swooning over Obama myself. I’m surprised by myself too.. by my audacity of hope. I have been made cynical by politics and politicians. It is a sad commentary on the way things are that I am so enthralled by a good man. But goodness and moral courage is all too rare… maybe he can change that.

Yesterday, Barack Hussein Obama arrogantly stated “I have no doubt that I can get the people who vote for Senator Clinton. … It’s not clear that Senator Clinton can get all the people I’m getting,” This is the most racist and sexist remark thus far in this campaign. In other words, if Clinton loses, the majority of her women supporters will vote for me but If I lose, my supporters black people and men will not vote for her. This is such a telling comment from the great “uniter.”
Or in response to this article,” the people from my cult will not vote for Hillary if she is the nominee but her supporters will definitely join my cult.” Wow you vote for a guy once in the primary and now he says if he is not elected as the nominee you should not vote in November.
Again,Barack Hussein Obama would not be afforded the privilege to run for the most important position in the land if it weren’t for the politics and imperfect government he wants to change.
He has a total lack of respect for the old and it shows in his supporters!!!

This article is Round #99 in the Politics of Fear.
There’s almost nothing left to try so why not compare a campaign that has inspired millions into politics a cult?
Classic Karl Rove/Mark Penn tactics.
If this wasn’t on Abcnews.com I would have thought it came straight from one of them.

GREAT ARTICLE!

Many want specifics and policy outlined and defined long before a president even walks into the oval office for the first time. Well we’ve heard the empty promises before and been burned by their false convictions – “no new taxes” – “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” – “we are not in the business of nation building.” Hollow truths.
Obama has not changed his views. He has been consistent. He is realistic. He understands that specifics in campaign rhetoric are overused, over promised and rarely attainable. He realizes the challenges facing our country are icebergs – with the bulk of obstacles lying deep beneath public’s sight in a myriad of confusing and intricate details that is “government.” He believes solutions are possible but is honest about success requiring elements of patience, compromise and maybe even some mistakes.
He is a gifted leader. He makes the distinct realization (as Regan did) that a country first needs to believe in itself and its possibilities before it can achieve anything. He correctly understands that accomplishment is born from the center outwards, not from the bottom up. He speaks to unite, not divide. His social agenda is encompassing. His worldview is tolerant and compassionate, but not naive. He believes that only together can we find sustainable progress. He understands this is the people’s country, and though we have differences, he believes in our collective potential. He sees a new role for a leader in today’s divisive culture: a moderator, sanctioned to cultivate majority and compromise.
There is something spiritual about this approach. It is not literal, but represents something larger, something beyond us. We look back on our founding fathers as aspirational – why not look forward in the same way? It has been reported that people sometimes weep when he speaks. That is yearning – pure and simple; a reawakening to possibilities; a light in a dark place. To compare any person to an immortal figure is unwarranted. But, what’s wrong with characterizing him with inspirational, spiritual-like qualities. Speaking to our hearts and our minds; exciting us and daring us to dream of new horizons? It’s seems to be working. “Trust” seems to be a feeling we have not fully abandoned, but rather a stingy emotion we are more careful to distribute. To find so many willing to unlock their hearts and offer their trust in this man, over such a short period of time, is inspiring. To mock those who express such a joyful feeling in doing so is pitiful.

Could’nt agree more!! These Obama followers scare me. He some what reminds me of Jim Jones, the only thing missing is the Kool-Aid. As for his so called policies, if he belives they are so right for the country then why do we never here him talk about them when he is out on the stump? All you here is the same speech over and over!! Find it funny how he doesn’t want to debate Hillary in Ohio!! Could it be that even himself is tired of the speech? Never the less also find it interesting how he doesn’t want the people of Michigan and Florida’s vote to count! Granted their lawmakers broke the rules, but does that make it right for them to be disinfranchised…of course not!!! We should keep in mind that if the rules stay the same and those votes don’t count the democrats can hang it up in November. We need both of those states to win to take back the White House

I think that if you were to talk to Hilary’s supporters, you find the same “cultish fervor” that you will find in any candidates’ camp.
Now that Obama has this “cult” let it be.
For you to say Hilary would be much better
dealing with Republicans is so untrue.
With Obama there is a possibility, that is not
at all with Hilary.

Listening to anything Obama has to say about our future in America, is like listening to the girl relate her “Band Camp” experience from American Pie. It has no direction, it is vague and ambiguous, but it does exude buckets of tear jerking emotion and celebratory banner waving.
Obama supporters hate Hillary, Bush, McCain, Romney, Monday’s, color TV, small business success stories, underfunded social give away programs, logical arguments, facts, or anything else that does not promote their emotional argument of the moment. This hate runs so deep it reveals their self-loathing hate, and they become DLP projectors for the true color of racism. Now they have validated (in their on minds) their hate by wrapping themselves in the blanket of holier than though religiosity under a man made self-promoting false messiah.
I would even argue that these people are so racist and hate filled that they have become unjustly ashamed of their own skin tone, or anyone who visibly looks different then Obama. This would include women, Asians, Mexicans, Caucasians, Indians, etc.
This is one that will undoubtedly wink itself through many of the sheep’s minds who call themselves Americans, but it was Obama who played his card first in the poker came that has become the Democrat run for the White House, and that card called out his race. If we are to believe that we are all one people, and that race does not matter, why would this man who aspires to lead our country make an issue of it? Why does he constantly remind us that he is an African American man running for the office? Is this a “race for change” or “a change because of race”?
Personally I would love a shake up in the White House; Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton all but destroyed the gains made by President Reagan, and Bush Jr. nailed the coffin shut. What I don’t want is a change for the sake of change, because not all change is good. I would also love to see a return to a more sane and logical augment return to politics, and a turn away from the emotion of the moment politics that currently threatens life as we know it.

” was creeped out the moment Oprah Winfrey said, “I do believe he is the one!”
Listening to Barack Obama speak and watching his audience with their glazed eyes, and bobbing heads, whenever he preaches in that evangelical tone, makes me wonder about people’s sanity. What has Obama accomplished, other than running against no one for a Senate seat? You don’t have a clue about him; yet you’re ready to sell your soul, send your money, and praise salvation! Just like evangelicals.
Get a grip people. We need a leader who will lead a government that works for the people of this country. If you want a savior, go to church.”
Right on Brighid, that’s basically what I was going to say, and I couldn’t have said it better! Glazed eyes and bobbing heads! so true! Well, as David Letterman said, you been HYPOTIZED!

ABC continues to try and out fox Fox with their sleazy pandering to the Right and their snide biased “coverage” of Obama and Clinton. If only they used some of their skepticism when the President lied us into War. But War does lead to good ratings and chances to enhance your career.

We Obama supporters are not blathering on like we would kill for him, we are simply making some points that this article does not, and thereby attempting to raise the level of political discourse in this country from the trough water in which it has been swirling for the last, oh, I don’t know, 29 years (as long as I’ve been alive).
I insist, insist, that words are not empty, that they are not something we simply toss around willy-nilly without care. In fact, words distinguish human beings from animals, as the great poet Charles Olson once said, “Language is our proudest act as a species, sound is a dimension Man has extended beyond his animal nature.” So, let’s take another of Obama’s empty slogans, which I read as an instance of Olson’s understanding of sound, since it was used in parallel phraseology during the New Hampshire concession speech: “Yes we can.” “Yes we can” what? all the pundits and cynics ask. There is no predicate to the sentence, so the immediate assumption is that the phrase is meaningless, empty rhetoric. But it is not if you just think a bit. If you just use your mind, the phrase is open. Yes you can what? Fill in the blank. Yes you can pay your own mortgage. Yes you can finish your dissertation (what I’m supposed to be doing right now). Yes you can pay your taxes proudly and know that it helps another less fortunate than you. Yes you can fix the sink your bathroom without spending money on a plumber. Yes you can open your own business and be successful. Yes you can go back to school and get a better job. Yes you can take responsibility for your own actions. Yes, we democrats and republicans can work it out. The phrase is not empty, but open to all possible meanings depending on the specific viewpoint of the listener. As I said earlier, politics is full of rhetoric – “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself” – what the heck is that supposed to mean? Be afraid of your fear? ok, so. But whether you like it or not, that statement mobilized a nation, and now we revere the statement.

mona… you make a good point. As a moderate Democrat, I’m going to have to sit this election out, if Obama is the Democratic nominee.
I just can’t sign onto this sinking ship.

The most effective way to break this cult is to donate money to the Hillary campaign, now! please!

Can Obama supporters for one second step back into reality and ask the question “what governmental experince does this guy have?”. The only thing I see that Obama is good at is public speaking. Democrats-for once use your brains and look at who you are voting for! Don’t vote for a candidate based on race or gender! Vote for a candidate based on their experience in government. And for gosh sakes, look at what they have voted for during their tenure in Congress. I really question a person’s judgement if they are considering Hillary or Obama. Sure you are excited about a candidate. What are you excited about? I’d love to know. Because the only thing I see Obama is able to stand for is change! What change?This country will be remiss if it votes for either of these candidates. If they get into office, they will be absolutely clueless on matters of government and balancing budgets. For a second just think about if you are voting for Hillary. Would you think it absurd if the Greenbay Packers put Brett Favre’s wife in at quarterback because she has “heard” about the game and might now what a slant route is?

Let’s not forget the Clintons have been around for a long time. There name recognition alone gives them votes. Obama has to get his name out and he’s doing a great job getting young people involved.
Well there goes another 50$ to changing America.

His speeches ARE becomming increasing messiah-like, and people are attuning to him and not to him message — which is bascially socialism, the state supports all by taking the wealth of those who produce. This is the opposite of America’s founding principles. History shows this sham only works for a nation until the producers no longer have the capital to produce. Then, usually, the nation attacks it neighbors to acquire their wealth. Unable to do that, like the Soviet Union, the nation implodes.

While I agree that some Obama supporters can be a little out of hand. And they don’t always do a good job in describing their candidate’s stands on various issues but to say that Obama is a lightweight would be an inaccurate description his foreign policy stands are more progressive than Hillary Clinton’s. He also proposes a program to close the digital divide. Many of his approaches to poverty have a better understanding how poor urban communities are impacted by it. His economic stimulus package was praised for its seriousness and simplicity. When I hear people say that they don’t know what he stands for. I have a hard time taking them seriously because they can go to his website and check his policy stands.

The problem with America is the Americans. We have become so combative, suspicious, cynical, and self righteous. The real change in America needs to come an attitude adjustment in the populous. There are only two candidates, Obama and Ron Paul, who actually inspire a large number of people to get off their couch and get involved in something. The ‘right’ policies and ‘effective’ governance aren’t going to save America. We are going to save America, by demanding honesty and integrity from our Leader.

people, as David Letterman once said, you’ve been HYPOTIZED! And yes it pertains to the cult, the brainwashed cult of Obama supporters who are trying to brainwash the rest of us. NO THANKS! NOBAMA 08

you know folks, Adolph Aitler was a powerful communicator, had a command of his language, inspired millions by talking about change and was handed the highest position of authority in his country by the people he inspired. Now I am not saying Obama is Hitler or even comparing his policies, etc. However, to simply choose a candidate based on charisma, inspiration, dreams, hope and the like is no less stupid that electing an idiot mad-man like Adolph Hitler. People are easily manipulated and controlled. Study history and you’ll find plenty of “inspirational leaders” who lead their people into the abyss.
yes, we do need a president who can lead. Bush isn’t the best example for sure and he absolutely cannot speak. Slick Willy on the other hand was charismatic, bright, intellectual and a great speaker. However leading morally, with conviction in all areas of life, not just policy and taxes is something we must consider. Bill was a LOUSY leader when it comes to someone i want to have my kids look to as a role model. He was a great leader when it comes to the credit he received (unjustly in some cases)for the success of the economy etc. He got the credit because he was in office. The fact is that economic booms don’t occur overnight. they take YEARS. Look at where the DOW was when Carter left office. Look where it was when Clinton took over. There was something that happened during that time period too. 12 years of BOOM. Was it all their credit? Nope, a democratic congress and republican presidents. reverse that for the Clinton years.
Anyway, just don’t be naive in your considerations. How about we do some of our own research instead of just watching CNN.

what about the crying madonna? Anybody seen the fraud behind that?

Wil Moon – Get your facts straight buddy. Hillary has sponsored 352 and co-sponsored 1,713 bils as a Senator since 2001. Barack has sponsored 129 and co-sponsored 535 bills. Ted Kennedy for comparison sake, has only sponsored 335 since 1997 and co-sponsored 2,111. Your assertion that Barack has written 890 bills is as ludicrous as his campaign speeches. Why don’t we look at voting records? In 6 years, Hillary has missed 145 of 2396 votes (6%) since Jan. 23, 2001. In 2 years, Obama has missed 179 of 1088 votes (16%) since Jan 6, 2005. So while they sponsor and co-sponsor bills at the same rate, Barack clearly doesn’t have any interest in things that he is not a part of. Then you go back to his ‘present’ votes on decisive issues in the Illinois State Senate and you got a whole lotta nothin.

We are in an incredible era. Imagine a President who has never carried as much accountable responsibility as the person who owns a corner grocery store. People voting for people BECAUSE of their race or gender! Be careful what you wish for…

Oh No! They found out about our big secret cult.

Quite a lot Obama supporters are upset because someone have doubt about him. I don’t question about his intention, but I have doubt about his ability to carry out the change he wanted. And please don’t try to compare him with JFK. For better or worse, the Kenedy elder (Joe Kenedy) had a big ambition. He trained all his kids to be ready for President eversince they were little. JFK was not the primary goal yet. The original selection was the oldest son (I forgot his name) was a war hero, died in battle. That is why JFK was the choice.

“Oh No! They found out about our big secret cult.” it’s not secret, it’s blatantly obvious and costing you a lot of votes.

Cult? Yes it seems like a cult folowing to me. I am sure 95% of his followers cannot say one good this he has done for the state of Illinois. Anti Christ? Maybe? We will see if he gets elected. Do not be surprised if he wants us to wear ID tags. I for sure will not be one of those people. He talks about change,change,change but says nothing as to what he plans on doing. I believe either way he will be in power as President or as Vice under Hillary and he will find someway to get her out and he will take over. I have a feeling this man is bad news. As a Democrat I will vote for Mcain in 08!
I do not want muslims taking over our country. You can see it for the way he acts. No hand over his heart and no American flag pin? He is a Muslim in disguise. It is all a act to get us to believe in him! I for sure do not! Kingdom on Earth? Wow only one kingdom he could be talking about and that is Heaven. He wants world peace which equals a nuclear world war and the sign of end times! Wake up people!

I hate to break it to you guys, but this whole argument that Obama will get killed in the general election is a red herring. Not only is Clinton divisive on the Republican side, but look at what she has done to the democratic party in the last two months since she started slipping in the polls. Read some of the comments above. Race-baiting and divisiveness aside, Clinton’s name is synonymous with scandal (whether or not any allegations are accurate, they are nonetheless controversial.) I am a lifelong democrat, and I may stay home if Clinton is the candidate. Or even vote for Mccain if he doesn’t have Huckabee on the same ticket.
Bottom line, we are sick of politics as usual, and we don’t want the next years to look like the last 30. Time for a change.

Oh No! They found out about our big secret cult.

JOIN US -says the Obama website. IF it looks like a cult, acts like a cult, it is a cult.

right on Matt. We have to be very careful about this puppet. I hope like you say, he is not the Anti-Christ, but it’s time, we have to beware of these idiots who support him blindly.

Obama has grassroots, ground zero experience as a community organizer versus HRC’s ivory tower delegation; Constitutional Law professor and civil rights attorney versus HRC’s corporate, board room lawyering; and 11 years legislative experience over HRC’s 8.
Obama’s policies and plans to enact them are as detailed and moreso (SS and helathcare), than HRC and anyone who knows how to read could see that at http://www.barackobama.com.
Obama has been specific about his positions during rally’s, townhall meetings, MSM interviews, etc., and the reason he usually spends his time uplifting his audiences is because anyone with any sense would know how to research his policy plans and he’s trying to convey the larger need for Americans to get past the divisive nature of our politics, religions, race relations, etc., and seek common ground to get things done.

Obama supporters keep comparing the Bush years to the Clinton years, as if they were similar. It’s understandable being that the majority of Obama supporters were in elementary school during the Clinton years and remember nothing but ‘Monica’ about Clinton. Do a little research and compare the 2 presidents. Clinton brought prosperity to everyone, doubled the economy, balanced budget then surplusses, cut unemployment in half, on and on. Now compare to Bush, just say the opposite of the Clinton years and you have Bush.

Wow – it sounds like there are a lot sore losers on this page.
If Obama wasn’t in the race, then Hillary is a sure thing for me as well. But the reason I support Obama is because a politician with his talent only comes along once in a generation and I am not passing up the chance to support him.
One of his big visions is fixing the educational system in America. How can this be a bad thing or “cultist”? I can’t believe some of things I read on this page!

Yesterday, Barack Hussein Obama arrogantly stated “I have no doubt that I can get the people who vote for Senator Clinton. … It’s not clear that Senator Clinton can get all the people I’m getting,” This is the most racist and sexist remark thus far in this campaign. In other words, if Clinton loses, the majority of her women supporters will vote for me but If I lose, my supporters black people and men will not vote for her. This is such a telling comment from the great “uniter.”
Or in response to this article,” the people from my cult will not vote for Hillary if she is the nominee but her supporters will definitely join my cult.” Wow you vote for a guy once in the primary and now he says if he is not elected as the nominee you should not vote in November.
Again,Barack Hussein Obama would not be afforded the privilege to run for the most important position in the land if it weren’t for the politics and imperfect government he wants to change.
He has a total lack of respect for the old and it shows in his supporters!!!

FINALLY!! Someone else is saying in “print” what we here at work have been saying around the water cooler: Obama-mania is creepy.

It’s finally making the mainstream, but it’s what turned me off to Obama from the get go.
Obama’s appeal is rooted more in a religious context than a political one. I studied theology once upon a time – essentially, he’s a secular preacher masquerading as a politician. Since I already have my own religious faith in place, that explains why listening to him makes me uncomfortable. The language, gestures, audience responses, all remind me of being in church – and I believe WHOLEHEARTEDLY in the separation of church and state.
Hillary’s appeal is rooted much more strongly in the pragmatic. She reaches people who want to see someone who can just DO THE JOB. Ironically, though, I see her very clearly motivated by a call to serve. I’m not sure what motivates him.
The problem with Obama’s model is that he IS about himself – his ideals, his vision, his strategy, his candidacy.
The truly great preachers I’ve heard have always been about something larger and greater than themselves – justice, peace, truth, love for all people – you name it. They are incidental to the message – the message is what matters.
With Obama, it feels as though it IS a messianic sort of thing, that he, or, at least, his supporters, believe he is the One True Candidate who can bring a new Golden Age to America and all of our problems will just go dancing off into the sunset. It smacks of idolatry. (This is not to say that I think he believes this, but it’s difficult to avoid peoples’ projections). The anger I get from people who think I should support him is much like the anger I used to get when I was confronted with those whose theology is different (read “more narrow”) than my own.
It’s actually a major relief to finally figure out why this “movement” has been making me so uncomfortable.

Obama is just not a qualified candidate. I have heard his speeches, they were full of empty words, no substance at all. If you listen closely, his speeches were full of misstatements and incorrect sentences.
Obama is such a petty and ungracious man, how could HE unite the country? He is still attacking Hillary in his speeches now, but the media is okay with it.
We are not stupid; at least we people in Florida are not stupid! Before Jan. 29, no candidates came to campaign in Florida, except Obama ran his ads in CNN. Despite his ads and despite the medias biased reporting against Hillary for weeks (the media and Obama people had clearly twistsed Bill Clinton’s words), we people in Florida DID NOT vote for Obama! If Dem. party really wants to win in Nov., you must count our Florida’s vote to decide your nominee. Republicans are already uniting themselves now. The longer the Democrats fight within, the more likely we will have another Republican President in Jan. 2009. At least for me and many around me, if Obama is the Dem. nominee, we are voting for Republican in Nov. Obama is deadly wrong that all votes for Hillary will go to him in Nov. if he is the nominee.
It is so obvious that experience is vital for being the President, and Obama had none. Why doesn’t media examine him closely?? Why nobody investigate his connection with Excelon? Go read the recent article in The New York Times. We cannot wait until the general election to hear all ugly things about the candidates; we need to know now before it’s too late.
The media already helped start the war in Iraq. Does the media want to manipulate the outcome of this election and send another unqualified person into White House? Also, why does it bother the media so much to have a woman President, even though she is obviously the only qualified candidate for Dem. party right now??

Obama has stated that he was talking about the very likely fact that HRC will not get the Independent and Republican votes he’s gotten, especially against McCain.
How pathetically narrow-minded of some of you to think that Obama was speaking about other Democrats.

As a Canadian and interested observer in the US political process – this article is quite fascinating. And I would say that never has a point been made so abundantly clear than when you view the comments that follow.
Rather striking to me watching your primary process is to view the all the major US networks (as opposed to Canadian coverage) and political blogs promote this hysteria and divisiveness. The thing that is the most troubling to me however is that it seems that the frenzy and conflict is being implicitly encouraged by Mr. Obama himself and his campaign itself by not quelling it.

Wow, the hatred and the anger in Obama supporters here is so over the top. Don’t they realize that they are hurting their candidate’s chances in General election by doing that, because the undecided voters will definitely get turned off by this hatred and anger. Is this how they plan to “unite” this country ?
In terms of his voting record, he is no that far off from Hillary’s record.

WOW, the 2 term MORON and his cash collecting cheeny bird sure have the SOCK PUPPETS expectations real low, dont it…HEEHAW…HEEHAW…HEEHAW…

Once Obama handlers hear about this piece, they will advise him to scale back on inspirational poetic messages. I bet his stump will not even last a minute because he has nothing of substance to say.

So someone inspires people to actually vote and participate in politics and you call it a cult? I don’t understand. You constantly hear people wanting young people to get and vote, but they never do. Now that they are – and voting for someone else – Clinton supporters don’t like it. I don’t understand how the 17 year old Hillary fangirls on the internet are any different.
And the “all talk no action” talking point is becoming irrelevant. Or do you just mute when he’s talking during the debates? He is very specific about what he wants to do and has outlined it several times.
Go ahead and vote for Hillary and McCain. I’ll start the countdown to our wars with Iran and Pakistan.

Just remember, Oprah also gave us Dr. Phil and James Frey….

geevill – “How is he going to fix the educational system?”
Answer: Two words – TAX MONEY
He is going to use money from ending the war and pull funding from NASA. I am a huge NASA supporter and do not want to see funding pulled but if it means we are investing in a smarter America, I am all for it.
Give the man a try and don’t be afraid! I don’t give rip that he went to Islamic school when he was a child – he is a Christian now!. Whatever happened to religious tolerance in America, by the way? Jeesh
Like I said before, his natural leadership abilities only come along once in a generation.

I think it is great to see young people involved in politics… BUT… I agree that this whole Obama-mania is creepy and sad. We have lowered the bar on the Presidency that any guy with “charisma” is able to be voted in. I agree that Obama will be just like George W. Bush in that he will leave it up to his staff to run everything. He has no experience in an executive position, no idea on economic matters, etc. And it is naive of these young people, who are still forming their own convictions, to believe that a guy will “restore order to the galaxy”.
And it is also true in that if he didn’t have a “catchy name” or that he was half-black… he would never have been made the media darling…. and the messiah of the foolish & naive.
Obi-Wan Kenobi said it best: “Who’s the more foolish, the fool, or the fool who follows him?”

Obama’s popularity is a testament to the fact Americans are sick of looking at the same people and hearing the same tired messages with little or no results. The kooks who spin off on his name and say he lacks substance etc. wouldn’t recognize the aforementioned if it slapped them in the face.

Obama should’ve said, “As First Lady of California, Maria Shriver, said, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
When Maria Shriver said this at UCLA Pavillion rally with Oprah and Caroline and Mrs. Obama, the stadium roared. So if you want to blame anyone for sounding cultlike or coming to Jesus, which is a groundswell of difference because believing in Jesus is not cult, then, however, blame those words on Maria Shriver first. And, besides, give credit where credit’s due. Because you, the writer of this article, can’t do it or imagine it ever being done, having such a following, doesn’t mean no one else can. OBAMA ’08!!

I sincerely hope this new “cult” meme that has spread over the internet like wildfire over the last 48 hours wasn’t born from the Clinton election lab, because if so it’s very disappointing.
If Obama’s support is “cult” because some inspired young people to hand out some fliers and donate $25 over the internet, I would hate to hear what the Clinton campaign would have labeled Martin Luther King Jr.

“This man is bringing such joy into my life. I’m a dyed in the wool Republican and watching Billary’s world crashing down around her is almost more than I can bear. Tears of joy. I do have some regrets though. I was so looking forward to the “Long Knives” coming out and ripping her and Bill to shreds for an entire year! Like a gift that just keeps on giving and giving.” Posted above
These are the posts that prove Tapper’s well made point and is evident of why people have become uneasy abut this man. Long knives? Ripping people to shreds? If this is the way Obama makes his supporters feel, this lets us know (a) that he is infinitely more divisive than any person we could have in a position of leadership, and (b) there’s something very, very wrong with the message he’s sending. Thankfully, it’s very early in the campain season and Obama has an unusally big mouth. (Unfortunately, since he seems to speak only in parables and quotes rather than to issues and policies because of his extreme lack of experience, we’ll never hear anything different). He’s made some very disconcerting comments due to his own arrogance and the fawning of his supporters and some media backers over the past two days. He’s made the mistake of believing his own press.

Finally the media gets it! I was watching his rally too after Super Tuesday for about 5 minutes because that is all I can stand! His rhetoric is really creepy. Especially because you see all of these desperate people yearning for acceptance and so vulnerable. One young woman standing behind him looked like she was in a state of euphoria. He sure casts a scary spell on a lot of people.
He won’t even debate with Hillary. He has no plan, policy, or idea on what to do. At least she has the brains to articulate a plan and is prepared for the job.
He actually has some nerve to spend most of his first term as a senator out there campaigning for himself, instead of serving his constituents. What a rip off to the people who voted for him believing that he would “change” his state. They were merely a stepping stone on his way to greatness. You think he could at least devoted some time to working on their issues first. Whose to say he won’t do the same to our nation if he is elected. He may have his eyes set on a higher prize…like one world government.

Obama is extremely polarizing. When he became popular all the races separated and took sides. Obama has a lock on the black vote, but Hillary has leads in the white, latino, asian, and Jewish vote (along with a strong lead with all other minorities). Basically, Obama has the black vote and Hillary has all the other races. Obama is not a uniter like he says, he’s extremely polarizing. Now that we have a lot of data from Feb 5, the fact has been solidified. This can destroy the Democratic party. All republicans need to do is to bring up race and that will destroy Obama. This is a huge issue that the media is not talking about because they are afraid to bring up race again. The fact that Obama is clearly polarizing is a huge flaw for Obama.

Just to let you know.
Because of this article, thousands of Obama supporters are donating $25 or more to the campaign, just as we do every time we find evidence of the old politics of cynicism and fear.
So thanks for helping us raise money!

well, people do have the right to be stupid I guess. Half the people in the country voted for Bush, not once but twice. And half are voting for Obama.

This article hits the nail on the head!
I watched and listened to his Super Tues speech, and sat there thinking, this guy is starting to sound like a preacher! Inspiration is a good thing but don’t over do it, and say something!
he needs to be careful, lest middle America start lumping him in there with Jesse Jackson and crowd…. he is walking a very thin line right now. I still think that sooner or later he will play that Race card due to desperation while fighting off the Clintons. then it will unfortunately be all over for him. I am not a Democrat, but he seems like a decent honest man. The next few months will show just how smart and politically savy he is!

sounds like another clinton hit job to me. dont be fooled.

thank you for the realistic blog on the obama campaign…
The Bush years have lest americans so hopeless that they have irrationally projected their hopes on a man that has no substance only style….
Even Obama’s most passionate speeches are a farce given that he reads them from a telePrompter….
His oratorical skills, his lack of temperament and substance is obvious in the debates….
Its no wonder that the Obama campaign is running clear of any proposed debates….
The clinton campaign should push for the debates … so americans can see that this man is afraid of his bluff being called….
He can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but he can not fool all of the people all of the time.
Hopefully americnas will wake up and choose the real deal soon — Hillary 2008 !!!

Have you forgotten the photos of the fawning young women who followed Bill Clinton around during his campaign? I heard a woman on NPR say that she was almost out of breath every time she heard Bill speak.
Even now, the Clintons can do no wrong in some people’s eyes. Sounds a little cultish to me.

Are you serious with this article?
Did Mr. Clinton give you the addresses for these listservs and blogs? I seem to recall at least one woman literally worshiping at his feet.
Obama is an inspirational speaker. So what? Some people get carried away with their enthusiasm, but that hardly justifies painting all his supporters with the same broad brush.
If you want news, why not talk about the fact that Hillary is about to spin all of you media fools into believing that she is the underdog because her campaign is out of money (yeah, right).
Hillary knows she is about to get her clock cleaned in the next nine contests and needs to blame it on something other than her inability to derail Senator Obama.
Shine the light on Obama as much as you want. If he can’t take it, he’ll lose. If you can, he will be our next president.

I guess if you’re not drinking the Clinton cocktail then you’re part of a cult?
Nice try, but the Clintons are nothing but dirt and deception personified!

What does Hillary actually stand for? She won’t admit Iraq was a “mistake”, but she’ll say that she wouldn’t vote for it again knowing what she knows now. She says she just “authorized” Bush to go to war, but she didn’t know he would actually use it?
How disingenuous can you get?
The blood doesn’t wash off the hands, no matter how hard you try scrub.

Obama is our savior of poltics. Becasue he is transcendednt he wil gt things done. His detractors will seem samll minded, littel people in comparison. Folks, a new wave is coning. How mighty the big sleaze fat cats fall.
–YES WE CAN! OBAMA 08.

Is this what it was like in the Roman Empire’s last couple of centuries?

its ok when republicans use religion in politics but god forbide democrats use it he must be the antichrist

Hmm – if you change the time from today to 1980 and the name from Obama to Reagan – what’s different ?

Wow. I just realized the ignorance of the general public. I haven’t read blogs on sight as huge and generic as ABC in a while, but the lies about Obama on here are amazing. I personally know of 5 life-long republicans that voted for Obama, and my personal libertarian views were set aside to vote for him not because I think he is the Messiah but b/c I think it is the JOB of the president to inspire the nation and the world. I have seen plenty of smart managers that were horrible leaders. People want and need to believe in something. If you choose to live your life in fear and believe he is the anti-christ, go for it, but I am a bit more reality based and judge the world by what I see. I see clearly that Obama is the right president for the country and the right leader for this world in these troubled and disturbing times. Besides, you republican liberal bashers, why don’t you keep quiet until you can learn to govern by your principles. Take a look at the deficit, our world involvement (remember Bush in ’00, “America should not be the policeman of the world), small, unobtrusive government (Terry Schiavo, wire tapping), and they didn’t do anything about immigration. BOTH houses of congress and presidency and they didn’t do anything but make the country more liberal. NICE RECORD.

Was Kenya part of the British Empire in 1961? Was it under British Colonial Rule?
Did they have dual-nationalship at that time?
Curious

Just to let you know.
Because of this article, thousands of Obama supporters are donating $25 or more to the campaign, just as we do every time we find evidence of the old politics of cynicism and fear.
So thanks for helping us raise money!

Every time some one shows a little healthy skepticism (and it’s alarmingly rare, particularly in the media, where it’s part of the job description) Obama or his followers dismiss it as cynicism. This article gives me the faintest glimmer of hope that perhaps journalists are gong to start taking their responsibilities seriously and begin to ask Sen. Obama the tough questions that they’d ask any other candidate. I, for one, am eager to here the answers before we

“HIS CHURCH’S STRONG FOCUS IS ON BEING AFRICAN. IF OBAMA/OSAMA IS COMMITTED TO AFRICA HE SHOULD BE PRESIDENT OF AFRICA SIMPLY PUT! WHY DOESN’T IT SAY THAT THEY’RE MAIN COMMITMENT IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? WHERE IN THEIR 10 POINTS DOES IT STATE OUR COMMITTMENT TO BEING “AMERICAN.” WHY WONT THEY STATE THAT WHY? BECAUSE THEY’RE STILL STRUGGLING AS A PEOPLE? BULLSHIT! THERE ARE MORE BLACK MALE CEO’S THEN FEMALE THEY ARE NOT STRUGGLING ANY MORE THEN THE REST OF US “AMERICANS.” RACISM OCCURS TO ALL RACES EVEN WHITES (I’M MEXICAN AMERICAN)” right on poster, why isn’t this being brought up and examined on MSNBC. Oh, I know why, they promote Obama and don’t look at anything.

This article is SHITE.

>>Unlike you and most of your other fellow Obama supporters, we weren’t born yesterday like you. So go “change” your diapers, it’s getting really stinky in here. That kind of change would be really refreshing.<<
Yes, nothing indicates maturity like personal ad hominem attacks and potty humor on an anonymous internet blog.
Point well taken, oh wise one.

Just to let you know.
Because of this article, thousands of Obama supporters are donating $25 or more to the campaign, just as we do every time we find evidence of the old politics of cynicism and fear.
So thanks for helping us raise money!

Hilarious. And who is Kathleen Geier? Not a serious person. Evangelical Christianity is not a “cult,” although occasionally adherents to a particular strain of evangelistic Christianity exhibit behaviors that are indeed cult-like–for example, a zealous and unquestioning commitment to the leader whether he/she is alive or dead) and regards his/her belief system and ideology as absolute Truth; in which questioning, doubt and dissent are discouraged or punished; the group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is seen to be is on a special mission to save humanity, or the nation-state. The evangelical Christianity so many liberals today detest is responsible in part for such world-changing actions as the abolition of the slave trade, the emanicipation of African-Americans, the fight for women’s and children’s rights, universal education, prison reform, the institutionalization of philanthropy, creation of medical mssions with a global reach, to name but a few.
The language of religious enthusiasm has, for better or worse, always been a part of our politics. However, that this seems to be more apparent today reflects the polarization of our political culture and and of a political system driven largely by fear–fear that causes people to herd together for protection and all too often to demomonize their opponents.

Obama may envision change, but he doesn’t have the means to bring change about – the connections, the knowledge, etc. Yet, Hillary has all these things, plus the charisma and intelligence. Hillary is for change, and with the chance, she will bring change!

Obama is in no position to win neither the Hispanic nor working class vote, because he’s too elitist – he appeals to those who are too rich to worry about what normal people do. But Hillary considers and inspires the majority of us.

Thanks for the debate geevill -
As I’m sure you know, you can find the details of his plans on his website – as to what happens to NASA employees – I don’t know but I DO care – how about they turn to teaching/educating for a few years? We can’t have it all, for true progress, there always has to be sacrifices, but its ok as long as we have our priorities straight!
Instead of trying to further engage me in meaningless debate questions, what is the real message you want to get across? What point are you trying to make?
Thank-you.

Tina,
I’ve been to his church’s website many times. So what’s the big deal? Let’s see: their proud of their African American heritage? So what. big deal. Good for them. to suggest otherwise seems questionable. They say on their site that they are “unapologetically Christian” and “unapologetically Black.” So, what’s wrong with that. Check out their Christian education classes and outreaches. It definitely falls within the boundaries of orthodox Christianity. If anything it is more so: imagine that! They actually take care of the poor, sick and needy! These accusations of the church are remarkably like Clinton’s smear campaigns. We won’t fall for them again. Her time is done.
And I’m a white Republican who thinks, aside from anything else, that it would be good for our country, for our people and minorities to see an African American as President. Remember, he is also half white. He is a man of the people who dares to be different, dares to a be a Democrat who actually holds genuine traditional family values and a real put in action Christian faith! Go for it Barack. I will not vote for McCain, that’s for sure! If I’m going to get change, I’m going for real change with an honourable good person who actually has a real marriage (not just for power and politics like the Clintons), and has remained married to the same woman. Those alone speak volumes about his character. Michelle will make a great 1st Lady too.

Hi Jim Goran ! Agree with your statement
“Scenario 1: Obama get the nomination. He will lose a lot of older white votes. Also, he will lose a part of the Hispanic vote. And some more because of the Hillary backlash.
So the Republican wins.
Scenario 2: Hillary gets the nomination. She will lose a part of her black votebank because the clinton-black president facade will be off. She will cause the morality pushers to rally and vote in greater numbers against her because of the bad taste of the past.
So again the Republican wins.”
How about others:
Scenario 3: Obama-Clinton.
Democrate got all their base. They are out number. Democrate win. I can live with that. Too bad I don’t see that happened. Let’s faced it, being VP has no substant historically excepted Dick Chenney. It is the post to prepare for Presidental running. Clinton already 60. After all, she is a politician.
Scenario 4: Clinton-Obama: same above, democrate win. Seem a bit unfair for the Obama camp. After all, they got the momentum and a strong desired. But I still hope that at the convention, the super-delegate will step in to unify the party. Obama may have to accept the arrangment in exhange for the party nomination in the future. Lost 8 years, but gain more experience and acceptant. But Clinton may have to send Bill to live aboard.

No point. I should not have to go to a website and read prepared rhetoric. Is it that Obama can only give prepraed speeches via teleprompter and ask people to look at his website? I did log in and the home screen says JOIN US and asks for personal information. Nothing about what he would actually do as President. I choose not to join this movement or cult whatever it is. I will either vote for Hillary Clinton or John McCain in November. That’s what I have learned from this blog today.

Can you people not READ? If you want more detail on Obama’s life and platform, read his TWO BOOKS. I read “The Audacity of Hope” on a trip to Asia in 2006. His website features details on the issues. You can also link to videos on various topics. The Obama website is constantly updated. Anyone who says they don’t know anything about him is simply lazy or lying.

Throckmorton, good points! Thanks.

All I see when I hear Obama speaks are my hard earned dollars being ripped away from me and handed to people who believe they are somehow entitled to it.
Hold on to your wallets, folks!

This is such an important topic. The media hasn’t even begun to dissect Obama. Obama is extremely polarizing. When he became popular all the races separated and took sides. Obama has a lock on the black vote, but Hillary has leads in the white, latino, asian, and Jewish vote (along with a strong lead with all other minorities). Basically, Obama has the black vote and Hillary has all the other races. Obama is not a uniter like he says, he’s extremely polarizing. Now that we have a lot of data from Feb 5, the fact has been solidified. This can destroy the Democratic party. All republicans need to do is to bring up race and that will destroy Obama. This is a huge issue that the media is not talking about because they are afraid to bring up race again. The fact that Obama is clearly polarizing is a huge flaw for Obama.

geevill: Anyone who thinks Barack offers no concrete ideas, you’re disagreeing with nearly every professional pundit, all of whom say he and Hillary have basically similar ideas. The website? Try again! Obama’s website has very fine detail.

This is the first time since I began voting (2000) that I have had a democratic candidate that I feel good about voting for. Before they were mearly votes against the corporatocracy that is republicanism. But now I actually feel like we may have a leader that can actually inspire people on left the way Reagan inspired people on the right (not his policies by any means mind you). The youth vote is educated and we know there isnt much difference between the policies of Clinton and Obama. We choose Obama though because he has a quality we have never seen in our politicians. People want to inject race and gender into this election I say do the opposite… forget Obama is Black and Hillary is a woman, just ask yourself who can inspire and bring this country together? That’s why I support Barack Obama. What you see is not a cult its just something that hasnt happened for many many years in America… A wildly popular democratic candidate.

To the young poster who compared Obama to Reagan. Ronald reagan served as Governor of California. he ran for President at least three times before winning the nomination. Most importantly he had a platform. Strong defense, supply side economincs, and anti-communism. Obama is no Reagan, no Kennedy. Closer to a Jimmy Carter except he is unable to micromanage.

Is this blog paid for and maintained by the Hillary Campaign? Obama is just being sincere about uniting the country – what’s wrong about that?

Thanks Jake for the article and getting a very important conversation started. No one else in the media has been gutsy enough to question ANYTHING about Obama. It gives me hope that maybe there are some credible journalists out there not wearing blinders or rose colored glasses. Thank you! I’ve been so perplexed with the media, especially MSNBC. At first I thought it was because they so badly didn’t want the Clintons back in the White House. I’m beginning to think it goes beyond that though. I think there is going to come a day when Chris Matthews, Tucker, Olberman and the gang look back at their behavior and think, “What was I thinking? and Why doesn’t anyone watch my show any more?”

I will NEVER vote for this man. If he gets the Democratic nomination, I’m voting for McCain.

Obama may be to presidential politics what Tiger Woods is to golf. There’s nothing evil about that.

Joe Klein is wrong when he says this is all about Obama. The wave Obama is riding is the same wave that Dean was riding 4 years ago. The wave is a generational change about forming a new ruling coalition in the Democratic party.
The scope of this change is unclear and what the results will be are unclear. But this change will occur regardless of whether Obama wins or not.
The author complains that Obama supporters do not talk a lot about specific policies. I agree that this is true because the difference between Clinton and Obama is not primarily about policy; it is about integrity. I don’t trust Clinton to do even what she thinks is right under some circumstances. Her vote for the Iraq war is an emblem of this lack of integrity. Before the war Clinton, Kerry, and Edwards and other presidential contenders all lined up to vote for war because the common wisdom was that no one could vote against the war and become president. And they thought there was no stopping it anyway so we had better vote for it. Obama who was certainly thinking of higher office, possibly even the presidency, went out of his way to speak out against the war because he thought it was the right thing to do. That is the kind of leader I want for president.

Not only does Obama hide his voluntarily chosen muslim middle name, but he basically presents himself as holier than thou in politics while he’s media-pampered, mainly because Hillary is so farm from the status quo, she’s killing the media guys. Meanwhile, Obama is status quo!

People who vote for Obama are doing it for one reason only…he is black, period. That makes them feel good. They think that they are showing that they are not racist.
These are the same people who say that skin color doesn’t matter. I guess it does, doesn’t it?
All he ever says is that he represents change…what changes? He never clearly says. He just preaches platitudes with pregnant pauses and grandiose, pompous oratory.
This fools only those who want to be fooled.
A thinking person who cares about this country should know better, or at least be smarter, than to vote for a man because he is a charismatic black guy.
Our enemies respect only strength, will and action. They will take us all to the woodshed under a cowardly peacenik like Obama.

Up until now I was undecided between the two candidates. I think Clinton has a better grasp of the issues but Obama is more inspiring. And I honestly was not sure which would be better for America and the presidency. I am grateful for this piece about the cult of obama. I have been feeling that way as well. And then when I read the comments below–I become even more concerned. It becomes clear to me that most of Obama’s supporters do seem to be responding only to a feeling (mostly negative about the other candidate) and not policies and plans. And when I read their comments I realize they seem naive and angry. I don’t want to support that. I live in Ohio. Thanks for helping me make my decision.

The posts on here today are at least better than they have been. The sincerity of people is evident and a bit refreshing from last week.
Here is my two cents.
- First of all Obama is not a muslim, but please remember his slum landlord friend who helped him buy his house and contributed mightly to his campaign is a muslim and a supporter of Nation of Islam which is Farrankhan’s racist organization.
Here is what happens to the Democrats in the next few months. Two million democrats voted in primary elections in Michigan and Florida. By any measure Hillary won both those elections with large majorities. If you do not seat those delegates, the Dems can write off Florida and Michigan in November.
The Obamaites will not like this, but with a true War Hero running in McCain and a man with the name Barrack Hussein Obama running on the other side, the Dems will get zero votes from the military, the veterans and their respective families. That is a very, very large group of voters. That same group kept Kerry out of the White House.
Hillary supporters who have seen Obama go negative will not vote for Obama. The jewish population will not vote for Obama. The hispanic population will not vote for Obama. With either Romney or Huckabee as a running mate, the south other than large black populations will not vote for Obama. McCain will win Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, easily. He will Texas and likely New York. California could even be in play.
Do you get it yet………Obama has no chance of beating McCain,,,,,,,,none

MESSIAH or SANJIAH: If Obama is so
principled shouldn’t he give a detailed speech on the economy, then vote “No” on the Stimulus Package, because under his leadership we can do better than election year pandering?
African-Americans from the start were mostly against the Iraq invasion. And likewise, any Senator from New York is going to vote for the authorization… And now Obama consistantly votes YES on additional funding.
So lets see Obama take a stand, where we say, “Wow, that guy should be president!” Or is he’s just a one-hit-wonder who’s being hyped as the next American idol?
Yes, people are over-exploited. With Clinton/Obama we might get better healthcare coverage. Otherwise, without campaign finance reform, it would take violent revolution to alter the status quo. And Obama said he ain’t looking for a fight.

Not only does Obama hide his voluntarily chosen muslim middle name, but he basically presents himself as holier than thou in politics – two reasons why the republicans will rip him to shreds if he became the democratic nominee. But they won’t destroy Hillary because she’s very strong. I’m a supporter of Hillary. She is change!

Finally, a writer who echos my very concern about Sen. Obama. Folks! We don’t know this man! This fact does worry me a little. While I think he is probably a good person, I would like cooler heads to prevail as we rush headlong into an important decision.
We do know Hillary and we know what to expect from her. Sen. Obama would be a great choice in four to eight years assuming he vets well and as we get to know him better. He’s young and can wait. It also disturbs me that the “right wing” seems to want him as the Dem. candidate. Ever wonder why?
I’m sure there will be ample dirt piled on him should he be the nominee.

JFK and Reagan have huge cult followings also.

Let us not forget that the Communist Revolution in Russia was “change”, and many people were eager to support it after being promised a New Way. What did they get? Change alright: Millions starved, tortured and killed; economic slavery; mental slavery; limited freedom to travel; no freedom of religion…etc., etc. Shall I go on? Until Obama gives you a complete platform, and tells where all the money to pay for it all comes from, he is not a candidate….he is merely a cult leader for the masses who are looking for a Messiah to save them, not realizing he is just a man….a man with no experience running ANYTHING, a man who belongs to a black church which owes its allegiance to Africa (no the USA), a man with a very questionable youth, and a man with a 100% liberal voting record (when he actually decided to show up in vote) in his very short term in national office as a Senator. The blind are being led….hysterics. Truly, this “bread and circus” show is showing the dark side of Democracy — MOB RULE.

HERE HERE!!!
as an athiest i’ve been turned off by the direction of this campaign.
he doesn’t need to accept contributions from lobbyists – he just passes the basket around the church of obama and everyone puts in some $. talk about constituents… or should i say congregates…

did you see Obama’s wife looking over his shoulder when they voted the other day? Good message to young people, let’s cheat at the voting booth. Or maybe she couldn’t remember who she was supposed to vote for?

this whole article is such a waste, but, there is some truth to it though, I remember being young and knowing Latinos that had Saints and a pic of JFK surrounded by candles. As a christian I think back now at how wierd that was, but that was just thier way of showing respect. And the whole part of being vague in his speeches, I drove 3 hours about 2 weeks ago to see him speak and was pleased at how he laid out detailed plans, and his website has a blueprint for change that is very detailed. So so don’t listen to what the media feeds you, seek out the information on your own then make your argument.

Interesting article. It does seem cultish. Obama is clearly engaging and bright. He may even be capable of being a good President–now or in the future.
That being said, the Presidency is a huge job. Obama–as well as the remaining viable candidates–needs to be subject to a high level of scrutiny and vetting.
If national media’s acceptance of spin that Tony Rezko (first ever contributor to an Obama campaign, fellow whose wife spent several hundred thousand dollars to help effectuate the Obama family’s home purchase and who–at Obama’s solicitation–became a client of Obama’s law firm) was “just one of hundreds of contributors” and
“Hillary’s being in a photo with Rezko demonstrates she’s tied to him too” is any indicator–then that scrutiny and vetting simply is not occurring.

I’m sick of the media giving Barack Obama a pass. They have done this since he began his campaign. When is the questioning going to come? There is a strong anti-military streek in the black community and that’s why he voted against the Iraq war. No one in the media dare say that (not even Chris Matthews) for fear of being called a racist.

This blog and many of these ignorant comments are all typical of the media and all that surrounds it. They love to take things in a direction that gives them new stuff to jump onto and rant about. First, for those who don’t know Obama’s positions he has clear positions, go to his site and read them don’t just whine. Use your brain people. Think for yourselves. Use Google, use CSpan. Messianic? I think not. Inspirational? Certainly. Change? The “Beltway” needs to go, no question about it. The sooner the better, and Jake Tapper, you, my dear, are part of the “Beltway”. Joe Klein? Beltway, for sure. This country has needed to have a complete governmental shake-up for a long time, as long as I’ve been voting which has been well over 30 years. Failing a military coup, Obama is the next best thing.

Allow me to make a few translations from Clintonese to English:
“Obama is afraid to debate Hillary”
translates as
“I’ve forgotten the DOZENS of Democratic debates that have occurred in the past year.
“Obama is all style and no content” =
translates as
“I get all my information on politics from snippets of victory speeches and find it inexpedient to actually READ up on a candidate’s positions, LISTEN to an interview or WATCH a debate.
“Obama will only carry the black vote”
means
“I fear people with more melanin than me and can’t read a statistic to save my life.”
“Obama is divisive/racebaiting/yadayadayada”
means
“Karl Rove taught me to analyze the candidate I support, collect their biggest faults and and try like hell to stick them to the opposition.”

Perhaps the fact that half of America is rallying behind Obama the way they are showes just how desperate Americans are for change. Times are tough in America right now (for many)-like it or not, many people are disatisified with the direction this country is heading.
Politicians need to take heed of this Obama fervor and realize just how anxious Americans are to take this country in a new direction. Although, I have no idea what direction Obama plans to take us. I do feel like he listens and will represent the masses, who quite frankly feel like they have been muted by the current administration.

Tom in Ma, Please enlighten us about his “plans”. Another empty “phrase”. An “empty” suit!

I am so offended that this article would actually compare Obama supporters to a cult. That comparison is wrong on so many levels. I would exspect this kind of article from Fox News, but not abcnews. I guess there is really no differences between the two news stations. I support Obama, people should just stop with the negative comentary and just focus on the fact that Obama is inspiring people to vote again, he is bringing out the youth vote and inspiring us that we can make a difference, that is a good thing.

Perhaps the fact that half of America is rallying behind Obama the way they are showes just how desperate Americans are for change.
Posted by: Fleahman | Feb 7, 2008 5:21:46 PM
Fleahman,
We should all remember that the US is divided aprox 1/3 Dems 1/3 GOP 1/3 Independents… 1/2 of the Dems are rallying behind Obama.. that is aprox 1/6 of the American voters.

“You don’t know the man”, one says. “Hope, what’s political savvy about hope,” another cries? My questions to you is………What man do you really know?
Did you know Bill would have sex with Lewinsky in the oval office? Did know Bush would bankrupt our country and rewrite the constitution to justify his greed? Did you know thousands of American in New Orleans would beg for our government to send water? Did you know Bush was going to eliminate the reorganization mechanism called, bankruptcy right before Americans began loosing their property? Who do you know?
Close your eyes. Now, does Senator Obama’s hope message sound nonpolitical? Hope is politics and politics is hope. That’s why thousands of young people rally around the only winning message……..the message of hope, the message of yes we can.
YOU……….and the rest of YOU………..did nothing to give our young men and women hope. These are your children, and my children begging for help, and the ONLY candidate who answered their call is Senator Barack Obama. This man is giving our young people hope they can save a dying America. Afterall you won’t be here. Hope they can see a color-blind America. Hope they will have jobs. Hope they will be able to travel the world without fear. Hope they will not have to continue to live in fear. Hope you will eventually come on board and become a blessing to their lives.
Now, what do you know? Not much………………..but, you know you can have HOPE, the closest reality to spiritual intervention and hard work.
Senator Obama is not an idiot. Actually he’s a brilliant man, who is not afraid to excite change. Oooooooooh a bad word, that change. Change is difficult, and even you must admit it takes a man to even want to tackle the idea of change.
I only ask you to be an American just ten minutes out of your day everyday, and with that alone you will have hope and may possibly begin to chant………..”YES WE CAN.” Stand behind a man who ony wants the best for a dying America.

The media started this love fest and all the excitement junkies jumped on board. I once saw a riot get started during the course of a peaceful protest. Obama’s campaign seems to have taken on a life of its own just like that riot. All the crazies on the fringes seem to have joined in and are creeping out the Non-Obama supporters. Now the republicans are feeding the crazy fringe Obama supporters with their mantra of Clinton hate and most of them are drinking it in along the rhetoric of hope and unity. Very, very scary! Obama is not a bad option, he just isn’t the best and if the fervor gets any greater, it might turn potential supporters away.

Heh Rufus, I know exactly what I “sacrifice” for the “non-producers” in America, “MY” paycheck.

What is wrong with having passion for a candidate? JFK supporters felt much the same way. I think you’re going a bit to far with this article. Obama is inspiring people to take part in politics, and I can find no fault in that. The mere fact that people seem to adore him is not odd at all. Americans have been waiting a long time for a candidate worth voting for, and their passion is understandable….we’ve had an idiot in office for the past 8 years!
To all the posters who said he will never get to be president, please prepare yourselves to be dissappointed!

What a perfect description of the Obama following. When Obama raises 5 mil after Tues — ooh he is so great !!! when Hillary raises 4 mil in 24 hrs after Wed — ooh she is sooooo bad and its a ‘stunt’! Obama supporters can’t trash her enough !!!! go figure.

and if cult members can’t convert you, they get angry and wicked, and try to use any form of pyschological propaganda they can to get their way. Don’t fall for it, let them expend their venom and waste their breath. It’s the same old rhetoric from them anyway. Bash the Clintons, hate the Clintons. Everyone who doesn’t vote for Obama is ignorant and uneducated. Same old, same old. Don’t fall for it, stay strong.

It’s great that Obama supporters want change…but WHAT change is it that you want? Change for the sake of change is not necessarily good. And PLEASE don’t act like no other candidate loves America and doesn’t want to fix anything.
I can’t stand either Hillary or Obama but I will give Hillary that at least she has made some plans clear unlike Obama.
So have passion for politics, it’s a good thing. But please understand what is driving your passion and make sure it is well placed because if not it can be very dangerous

Maybe it’s cute to refer to Obama’s supporters as a cult. Maybe you don’t think of the word “cult” in its most insidious form – the brainwashing, the breaking of will, the manipulation to do reprehensible things in order to please the “leader” or “Messiah.”
But when you throw “helter-skelter” out there, you’re drawing a correlation between Obama and Charles Manson, a mass murderer. Do you think Obama is brainwashing his supporters? Do you think we’re going to have riots in the streets if he’s not named the Democratic nominee? Do you think Obama is planting the seeds for mass murder in his name?
He’s not perfect, he’s not Jesus, he’s not infallible. He is a good candidate and he is inspirational. It is shameful that you would see those inspirational qualities and connect them to something so horrific and misguided as Charles Manson’s murder spree. You owe Barack Obama an apology, not to mention the millions of good and decent people who find themselves inspired by him.

18 to 40 year olds are flocking to Obama because, unlike the greatest generation which actually did something positive for our country and the world, the baby boomers (led by Bush & Clinton) have totally screwed everything up and we’re tired of it!

Mark Robinson: FANTASTIC post! Thank you for your contribution.
SeeTheLight: It strikes me that your knowledge of Barack Obama is likely limited to a few clips you saw once of his rallies or victory speeches. I say this because that is the only way I can imagine that you’d feel comfortable calling him a charismatic, “empty suit.” You’ve clearly never seen his addresses to the Chicago Council on Foreign Affairs, or his talk at the Google headquarters, or his interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, or bothered to read up on his many stances on the various issues on his site. If all you’re watching is his rally speeches where his main goal is to rally support, then you’re not going to see those hour+ long addresses where he fully articulates his stances and plans on issues such as foreign relations, education, healthcare, technology, and more.

Methinks the Obama supporters need to develop a thicker skin if they want him to run for president… if this is the worst that’ll be thrown at him, it’ll be a cakewalk. If you can dish it out about the Clintons or other candidates, you’d better be prepared to take it. From what I’ve seen from these comments, I’m a bit leery of his supporters now, too.

Why is it surprising that his followers are like a cult? Look at Obama’s eyes, they are pure evil!

The point is Obama has not defined himself in any way except to say “change”, and how his followers seem not to care about this. I will be harsh and define Obama followers as morons. Please you are the people who should just stay home, PLEASE.

Yes, I understand what you are saying Jake However whilst there seems to be a certain cultish quality to what’s going on in America right now, is it really such a bad thing? Obama preaches hope, he urges change and he arouses the interest of the youth in politics again. Surely, if there were a cult with similar aims – would it be such a bad one? I have read Obama’s answers to the issues on his website whilst I’m not an American citizen, I have a limited understanding of what the country and world needs. From everything I’ve seen and read, I can say that the world needs Obama. Maybe I too have become brainwashed, but I’m willing to bet that it won’t do me any harm!

What is a dual-national? British, US or otherwise

OBAMA HAS STAYED POSITIVE AND FOCUSED ON HIS CAMPAIGN, BUT GREEN EYED BLOGGERS WHO REVEL IN THE NOTION OF DIRTY POLITICS, CAN’T FIGURE THIS GUY OUT. HE IS SPEAKING TO ALL PPL W/ HOPE AND INSPIRATION; HE IS TALKING TO THE INNERMOST PARTS OF THE AMERICAN PPL. HE KNOWS THAT EVERY GREAT BATTLE WE ENJOYED IN AMERICAN HISTORY STARTED W/ A DREAM AND HOPE AGAINST HOPE AND OPPOSITION, AND PEOPLE REMEMBER AMERICA’S GREATNESS WHEN HE DOES IT. Haters don’t be jealous b/c he is speaking the truth and inspiring America to be greater, and your candidates are stuck in the past where dirty politics and WHO DID THE DIRTIEST OF ALL WON THE RACE is DEAD. People follow leaders who inspire; not degrade, lie and engrain fear in the hearts of Americans… SI SE PUEDE’

The democrats, party of godless renegades, needs something to worship. Why not something or someone like Obama? The mindless masses know nothing about him other than his color. If we are all equal, why are so called, “African-Americans” in the 80 percentile rushing behind the empty suit Obama? Obama appeals to black racists. That little hyphen between African and American is what is dividing America along class and race lines and is the antithesis of the genius of America. e pluribus unum “Out of many…ONE” A nation divided cannot stand.

People born to British subjects any where in the world in the late 50′s & 60′s were dual-nationals? or not?

Just came from Hillary rally in northern Virginia. Great people. Then, there three guys there who did not belong and wasted 3 seats. Later outside, another of BO’s supporters shouting some nonsense. But, we supporters of Hillary are like Hillary and treat all people with respect. BO’s arrogance that he has displayed to Hillary time and time again has infected his supporters. To Hillary supporters I say, ignore them for Hillary is on her way to Victory.

Let me help all of you that want to attend an Obama speech like I did.
Hope”…. blah blah blah blah…. “Change”….. blah blah blah… “Poor” …. blah blah blah blah…. “Change” … blah blah blah blah…. “Disenfranchised” …. blah blah blah blah “Hope”…. blah blah blah “Change” …. “Change” … Blah blah blah blah “Change”!
“Yes We Can!”
“Yes We Can!”
“Yes We Can!”
“Yes We Can!”
“Yes We Can!”
“Yes We Can!”
“Yes We Can!”
… fin
There you go ZERO substance all fluff. The guy has no real accomplishments that would qualify him for President of the USA. It’s like promoting the file clerk to CEO.

It is obvious that the bloggers and ppl against change have failed in the desperate attempts to stump the Obama campaign w/ dirt. Let’s see first him being Muslim, then his middle name, then him not pledging allegance to the flag, then his church (oh, but wait I thought he was suppose to be Muslim), then no plan, then Rezko (oh wait, he gave to the Clinton campaign), then the youth want get to the polls, then he only won b/c it was South Carolina (so did Jesse Jackson), throughout it was he can’t withstand the CLINTON MACHINE (oh wait, he took on both HRC and Bill and still standing and the numbers keep rising). GOSH DARNIT, IT MUST BE SOMETHING ELSE W/ THIS GUY LOOK AT THE CROWDS HE IS ATTRACTING, AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO THE POLLS AND VOTING… THIS HAS TO BE A CULT… IT HAS TO BE. OBAMA IS ONLY SPEAKING ABOUT CHANGE, HOPE ASPIRATIONS OF A BETTER AMERICA – WHERE IS THE DIRT SLINGING, BACK BITING. THAT’S IT HE MUST BE A CULT LEADER…. —- SI SE PUEDE’ 2008

What exactly is up with Americans these days? Is it something in the water down there? Are you guys trying to win a collective Darwin Award?
People are excited about Obama, because he speaks intelligently and sincerely and he doesn’t sound like some coked up hillbilly. I don’t blame them for being excited. He can’t possibly do any worse than the current batch of twits peeing in the pool down there in Washington.
Any hayseed who was sucked in not once, but TWICE by the current 2 bit bible salesman should probably just sit quietly while the smart folks figure out this mess you’ve created.
Get a grip.

Gavy, thank you for speaking up and setting the record straight! Yes, as I mentioned earlier, Obama’s church is unapologetically black and Christian. Other churches are Polich Catholic, or Korean Evangelical, or Hispanic or whatever. And there’s nothing wrong with that! I’ve read your programmes. They are great. If I was ever in Chicago I’d want to visit. Your church is placed there for a distinct purpose, to do what I (or most of our churches around here), as mainly whites, could not do. Keep it up! :)
–Yes WE Can!

As a conservative I must say that there is no one running that gives me “hope” or a promise of real “change” except from one person to another.
When Clinton was first elected there was also a cultish euphoria as there was when Carter was elected.
The best the Dems have is a Marxist and a Muslim.
By the way, JFK won the ’60 election when paper ballots got “lost” on the Chicago freeway and did not show up untill after the California polls closed. And now there is another “JFK” coming out of Chicago?? NOBODY gets to be a Senator from Chicago without the mob behind him.
I am 59 and to thoes who think we screwed things up; well, it’s your turn and so far the best you’ve produced is “Jackass” the movie & Bevis and Butthead. Go for it!!!!

obama scares the hell out of me! someone jokingly said a few months ago that he was the antichrist and now i’m starting to believe it. he doesn’t really have a clear stance on anything…he just keeps using his buzzwords of “change” and “we can do this together”. are we all a bunch of dumb blind sheep?

WOW!! This article really hit home with me! I am so glad somebody else said what I’ve been thinking! To me it seems like this Obama has these fools brainwashed or something! All he talks about is “hope and change” with no substance whatsoever!! He thinks he’s God, his “followers” thinks he’s God and the pundits/media thinks he’s God. Well, I love GOD (the REAL one!) but we don’t need a “god” leading our country!!

Obama also says that Hillary’s supporters will all vote for him, but he is not so sure that his supporters could vote for her. His own wife says she isn’t sure she would vote for hillary if she is the nominee. More cult-like assertions–WE are the only ones with the truth. (Not much of a uniter here, eh?)

“obama scares the hell out of me! someone jokingly said a few months ago that he was the antichrist and now i’m starting to believe it. he doesn’t really have a clear stance on anything…he just keeps using his buzzwords of “change” and “we can do this together”. are we all a bunch of dumb blind sheep?” – Liz
Just go to his website. He elaborates on his positions on the issues there (all the candidates do the same thing).
It isn’t rocket science.

doesn’t this tell you something about the public’s concerns about Hillary? The country been on a spiral downhill for some time and so many see Obama as the person who can save the country they love from furthering that spiral by being sentenced to 2 more terms w/ the Clintons!
At what point will the media stop simply reporting what Hillary wants it to report and actually ask some probing questions? I guess if they had any intention of doing that, they would have during Bush’s and Clinton’s run-up to war in Iraq!

Sounds like the Party Elite are getting scared. Obama isn’t trying to relate to you. He’s trying to relate to the disenfranchised in fly-over country. The very same people abandoned by the Democratic Party a decade ago when they became a regional party.
He appeals to those who were carpet-bagged and huckstered by the Bush Doctrine. This isn’t EVANGELICAL at all. This is honoring and respecting all Americans. Not just those that share your political beliefs, love of cheese/wine, and regional superiority.
This is just good ole’ fashion church talk. This isn’t a revival tent. A president shouldn’t be a policy wonk, he should be a compassionate leader who is not first concerned with his elitist friends. Most importantly he should believe in his abilities and those of America.

This kind of story Jake- says more about your intention to provoke than it does about Obama’s or anyones “supporters”.
To use the fringe of any activist movement as a way to paint the whole of the movement is in a word, dishonest. It leaves an impression for folks that it is a cult. And thats what you seek to do in a “oh I am just reporting what someone said” way!. and of course you know it isn’t a cult. People prone to cultish behaviours are everywhere.Probably when you walk outside and sign autographs you see it.
Are there activist fanatics that find/attach themselves to groups- of course. Should we judge The NY giants today by the silly guys who painted themselves blue at the super bowl. No- It is about THEM not the team.
Obama has moved people to see a new face and a new way to be a politician. There is soooo much hunger for that because people care about their country and their world and because they want meaning. He is providing that for the first time in a long time. If that becomes a religious experience to some then interview them and write a story about peoples hunger for meaning..
To tar a campaign by the fringe crazies just breeds more divisiveness. shame on you
At the core of it all is new found enthusiasm.. there’s your story..

“Obama supporters, please don’t be fazed by these blog. I guess when people don’t understand what it means to stand up for something you believe in, they interprete it as whatever . Much work needs to be done, more delegates to be won. Let’s get to work.
Posted by: Reasonably So | Feb 7, 2008 6:48:48 PM
”
your right sir. for all their garbage, they are losing. the gop is done. They are riopping themselves toshreds. Clinton would have the dem’s do the same so her real party has shot.
you right. Mccain has zero shot. and clinton is loaning herself money. Just trying to reach out to the “dark side” and save them. Screw em. They are beyond that. Sad pathetic little creatures.
continue. Lie spin and discredit. It’s really produced dividends up to this point gop (clinton included). Keep up the good work\
And to the peanut gallery here. I know my posts must really be on point of all you can do is wisecrack. you cannot touch the substance of my posts. Just like you cannot touch the substance of obama’s message. this sad existance is all you have. Angry bitter powerless hopeless. Enjoy it. You made the bed you sleep in. Enjoy you rirrelevance

Yes, Obama the “community organizer”…. Too bad he was wasting time organizing people to demand jobs instead of building businesses that would give them jobs. The empty suit Obama can do little but talk. Point to any real accomplishments, especially any that led to his community improving.
Talk is cheap. I haven’t heard of anything Obama has ever done in his life other than talk, talk, talk…. He belongs in the Senate with Clinton and McCain. This is the worst set of candidates ever — all a bunch of talkers…. No action. No implementation. No management. BS is all they know.

thanks Jake Tapper, for having the courage to buck the media who is so blatantly trying to get Obama elected. Thanks for calling him and his followers out on this.

t looks like the MSM is already looking ahead. They know that the turnouts for the Democrats have been huge, and the turnout for the Republicans have not been. On top of that it is obvious that McCain will be the Republican candidate. It is also clear that Republicans aren’t all that excited about McCain. And then you look at how great of a speaker Obama is compared to McCain. So there is going to be a two candidates, one with excitement that has voters paricitpating in politics like never before and some old washaed up guy that isn’t even well liked by his party.
The MSM needs to start balancing out McCain and Obama to make this election seem like it is going to be a competition. The only way to do this is to demonize the Obama supporters. Start disengaging these people or people that may think about voting for him. To attack Obama would only energize Obama’s supporters more, like they are energized when Clinton attacks Obama. Clinton obviously can’t attack the Obama movement, because she is trying to get these supports to move to her side.
I think we should look at how this attack is going to play out. This must be some sort of trial balloon, and we shall definitely see more of it. What we should remember, that when people see what Obama has and understand him, they are doing something that no polititian has been able to do for over a generation. It is not that the Obama supporters are wacko, it is that no one has been able to engage them, no one has made them feel that they must be a part of the political process or politics fails.

The Republicans are the only chance to save this country.
There is a 90% chance IMHO the following will happen if Obama is elected.
All illegals will be legal, probably 20 million people. The 12 million figure from the Pew HISPANIC Center needs real updating. 85% of the newly legal invaders will register Democrat shifting the delicate Red/Blue state balance totally Blue. Spanish will become a 2nd language equal in status legally to English.
The military will be defanged, taxes will rise, free speech will be silenced (slowly and over time of course) and these are the things the Democrats tell us they will do!!!!
Vote Republican and save America.

On MSNBC, after a Bush/Gore debate Chris Matthews (& Peggy Noonan) gushed about how well Bush held his own. It was like Dubya had just fallen off a turnip truck, when in reality, high-office politics & corporate p/r was his whole life. And now Chris is an Obamaholic…
“Hey Matthews, keep this in mind; You hate the Iraq war!”

“I just love these fake comments by Republicans allegedly supporting Obama. “Dennis,” a self-proclaimed “white Republican” who supports Obama, writes that “I’m going for real change with an honourable good person.” Honourable? Go back to the UK …you phony, you’re probably not even an American! Just some random guy from overseas pretending to be supporting Obama. I’m a Republican and I don’t know any Republican who is supporting this faker.”
–JB1979, actually I am very genuine! Yes, I grew up overseas, London to be exact, but I am an American (dual citizen)–happened to be born here and have American relatives. I don’t know where you’ve been but I can tell you though, at least in my Western state I know many conservative Christian Republican (friends) who honestly admire Obama (and, btw, don’t particularly like McCain), but yes, don’t necessarily agree with all his political positions since we are still conservatives, but we like his character, integrity, and leadership abilities.
I just think that we need real change. We need a candidate who can break out of the status quo, really reach across the aisle, and I believe Obama offers that very real chance. I think he is personally honourable, committed and honest..unlike most politicians.
As I’m conservative, I will not vote for McCain since a vote for him is taking the party in a a direction I do not agree with. I’d rather vote for someone I can at least admire personally. (Well. I would force myself to vote for McCain if it’s Hillary on the other side, god forbid!) So, if Obama is the candidate, and the country is going to go a different direction, then I’d rather vote for Obama! I think it will be good for America, and especially good for minorities and race relations in general–showing peopl ewhat a man liek Obama, even with his name, can do! It shows how truly democratic the Sates is. You may not believe it, but if you read my comments throughout this site from several months back you will see I am who I claim to be. And there are also other Republicans who are considering Obama, as evidenced on this site from other comments. Has it ever occurred to you why Obama beats McCain in a match-up but McCain beats Hillary? Have you ever wondered why Obama (rightfully so) claims to have the support of many independents and “even” some Republicans? Well, guess what, smell the coffee, we are real. GO OBAMA!

“The Republicans are the only chance to save this country.
There is a 90% chance IMHO the following will happen if Obama is elected.
All illegals will be legal, probably 20 million people. The 12 million figure from the Pew HISPANIC Center needs real updating. 85% of the newly legal invaders will register Democrat shifting the delicate Red/Blue state balance totally Blue. Spanish will become a 2nd language equal in status legally to English.
The military will be defanged, taxes will rise, free speech will be silenced (slowly and over time of course) and these are the things the Democrats tell us they will do!!!!
Vote Republican and save America.
Posted by: John Romano | Feb 7, 2008 7:13:54 PM
”
Really john. Well, why did the gop do nothign abou tthat issue when they had a chance? Who offered the last blanket amnesty? Was it regan?
the gop is in no position to get high and mighty about immagration. I to want to end it and send them home (if they consider mexico their home), but make no mistake. this is a republican issue. The dem’s just want the votes (which is bad). But your party had twenty years to stop illegal immagration. What did they do other than prosper off it?
Illegal immagration helps the gop and hurts the dem’s.
1. social programs are flooded
2. Schools and hospitals are flooded
3. Job market is flooded wages lower
4. housing market prices go up for all rentals.
so yeah it is an issue. But you can’t point the finger and blame the left for everything. Zero accountaiblity and credibility is what destroyed yoru [arty. not obama

This is in response to the note posted by: Nasir Feb 7, 2008 12:12:03 PM. My dear friend Nasir you are using my article Posted by: Color Blind Feb 7, 2008 12:04:15 PM to support your hatred for Jews. Unfortunately, you did not really read the article and therefore missed the point. All you were able to focus on is Abrams, Kurtz etc… Read the article again; I actually congratulated these people for having the courage to speak against the wave of unfairness against Hillary and the incredible bias for Obama. My dear friend Nasir not only am I COLOR BLIND and proud of it but I am also NOT antisemitic; which you seem to clearly suffer from. Nasir, if this is your real name it means “helper” (I happen to be fluent in Arabic) in Arabic. From your comment you sound more like a HATER than a HELPER and for that I am truly sorry. I don’t know what makes a person like you, who lives in the greatest country in the world, to use a conversation about the democratic primaries between a black Christian man and a white Christian woman and turn it into an antisemitic tirade. If you knew our American history, Jews were at the forefront of the civil rights movement.Remember Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman? they were killed along with James Chaney because they were members of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) dedicated to non-violent direct action against racial discrimination. That is the problem with hate Nasir, it is BLIND. I hope you find peace in your heart; because what you wrote reflects a lot of what you are feeling about yourself. Salam! Peace!

Obama’s campaign seems like a cult of personality, feeding his Obamatons ethereal notions of “change” and “hope” and “unity” but very little substance. Real ideas may lurk underneath, but they seem tangential rather than central to his campaign. It’s the reason I ultimately voted against him on Tuesday. Finally, the media is catching on.

Lisa, so very well put. That is it exactly!

The Obama list of executive decisions: Sign into law, veto, and ‘present’.

What is it with you Obama Haters?Is it
that hes bi-racial?He is a man with a purpose that is to bring us all together
regardless of race,rich or poor,we all
deserve to be treated fairly.Hes different in that he stands up for the masses.Maybe you Republicans want 60 to 100 more years of war which you will get with McCain.I hope you could sleep at night as the soldiers take their own life for the misery that Bush put them in.

So many of the ‘anti-Obama’ comments are false. The muslim thing, his church only supporting Africa, the not putting his hand over his heart etc. Please check out these links.
you’re right Newsweek will know better than me a fellow Christian – i’m sorry but i don’t need Newseek to tell me anything other then the news i don’t need them to tell me how to define and recognize DECEPTION this is what i’m talking about DECEPTION MEANS IT seems ok it seems true BUT IT’S NOT! COME ON TINA YOU SEEM SMARTER THEN THAT WHERE IN THE TOP 10 COMMITMENTS ON HIS CHURCH’S “ABOUT US” STATEMENT DOES IT RECOGNIZE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA??????? WHERE?

Great article, I thought it his a lot of really good points.
for this upcoming election, i think there are many things at risk and 2008 will be a huge year of voter turnout to dig America out of the trenches of 8 years of Bush.
but Mccain, just another white male who is war hungry, tempestuous, and war-hungry is not the man to get us out of this mess. he’s not all bad, but not enough good or change that will put american on the right path.
any independent or 3rd party candidate will not have a real chance in this election.
so that leaves the democrats–clinton and obama.
i’ll come out and say that i’d be happier with either of the democrats (both of which have their good and bad points) taking the house of more republicans.
all of that being said though, i definitely think that the better and smarter choice for president would be hillary rodham clinton.
HRC is a better and smarter choice than obama for too many reasons to count.
HRC (compared to Obama, and in some ways Mccain) has raised more money, has more delegates pledged, more superdelegates within the party, more endorsements, more experience, and more of the ability to get America headed in the right direction and prospering again.
now lets tackle what the HRC haters would throw out. first, that she’s too polarizing and she can’t win elections. well, that’s dumb. she’s a twice elected senator from a state that’s never had a female senator, and she’s the first First lady to ever hold an office.
people say she can’t win the nomination. well that’s dumb. she’s beating obama in money, delegates, experience, and campaigning, she’s just winning. now the little tiger Obama is trying to close the gap, but even with all of his efforts and the media, he can’t.
people say she can’t be the republican. stupid. look at some polls, some themselves on RCP, which show Clinton beating Mccain (CNN feb. poll where she won by 3% points). also, clinton is more centrist and at times to the right of both mccain and obama, so letz get off the too liberal horse. clinton will run a better campaign than either of these two boys, and she’ll win.
beyond that, people say hillary is too old-school. stupid, she’s not too old-school, she’s experienced with wisdom under her belt, a hell of a lot more than obama. she will know how to run a better white house and get elected again, um she’s been through it all with her family before. and by the way, obama isn’t so “new,” per his years in dirty Chicago politics, Washington, Rezco scandal, and his complete catering to Oprah and the “oldest” dynasty in America, the Kennedys, which by the way don’t all support Obama. Clinton at least is real, obama is faker than a knock off Gucci bag.
and for those obama people out there, get real. his politics of hope is false hope. he doesn’t know what the hell he’s saying. the obama movement is fake like obama–full of a lot of talk but no action.
obama has never really been tested, he doesn’t have that much experience. so how the hell is he supposed to somehow win the nomination, run a campaign against a veteran Republican and win, and then go to run a white house, and get re-elected? That’s putting a lot of hope into something that’s never been tested, and that’s just stupid.
let’s not forget that democrats might make things more painful by giving obama more false hope going into the Democratic convention, where Clinton will totally take the nomination and go on to make history. even without counting Michigan and Florida, which Clinton totally won, and the superdelegates, which she’s winning, Clinton will win and make history, so just get over obama now and save yourselves the grief.
that’s it.

Our country is in serious peril.The economy is in a mess.The housing crisis isn’t over yet and several more people are going to lose their homes.The other shoe is ready to drop with an impending credit crunch or the mortgage insurers going down.The budget deificit is setting us back decades and we are being bailed up by the chineses and the arabs.We have a health care crisis and 50 million and counting without coverage.There is a an unnecessary war going on while there are jihadists waiting to strike.The environment is going to the dogs.GWB does not care.Do any of you care or you think an american idol would do the job.For crying out loud, this is not a beauty pagent.This is the race for presidency of the US and the free world.WE are in a crisis.Elect Hillary or go bust.This is no time to take a chance.Don’t waste time on pettiness.Elect someone who knows, is strong and will get the job done.Go Hillary

The Republicans say they want Clinton, because it unites their party, the fact is they want Obama, because it will divide our party, because there are a lot people that will not vote black within the DEMS, White ,Jews and Hispanics and no Rep will jump ship. They want to fool us and they are doing it.

Obama 2008: Change you can regret!!

“Betty for Obama” you write”..I hope you could sleep at night as the soldiers take their own life for the misery that Bush put them in.”
Although I totally agree with you about what’s good about Obama, I have to take note with your last comment here. Let’s not forget Bush got the support of congress…including Clinton and other Dems on what ‘almost everyone’ thought was legitimate intelligence, including GW, and at the time why doubt it? Hussein had indeed had WMD (poison gas, etc) he had used on his own, the Kurds to the North and was in blatant disregard of the no fly zone and inspections etc.. Whether it was a mistake or not, this bought light to the fact how incredibly damaged our systems of spy intelligence network were, mainly in part, I might add, from Clinton’s dismantling of much of it! (Clintons do nothing defense of America after the Cole bombing, first WTC bombing and the like only emboldened the enemies of democracy!) The question is now, if we leave and there is genocide, will we have to go back as McCain states? I don’t know. That is something to discuss elsewhere. I can respect your decision to the US to leave but none of us know for sure if that’s going to be better in the end. (Even Obama is just trying to define some difference for himself here.) It’s easy to play armchair quarterback after the fact.

It’s amazing how many people have drunk from Obama’s kool-aid. His pie in the sky, let’s hold hands and sing Kumbaya, let’s heal the world, come together, post-partisanship, “yes we can” soaring, empty rhetoric is utter nonsense. This guy is either hopelessly naive or a slick huckster.
How can someone running for president be this clueless? American politics is rough and dirty game. It has ALWAYS been this way since the foundation of the republic.
There has never been a sustained period of time in this country’s history where everyone just got along for the sake of feeling good. America has always been too big with too many people protecting and/or pushing their interests and points of view for that to happen. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

We have a very unique situation here. We have Clinton, a woman, Obama, a black man and McCain a white man going for the highest office in the world.
We have Clinton who, with or without her doings, brings a lot of baggage to the table.
We have Obama who brings no particular history, but hope to the table.
And, we have McCain who brings a strong military history but a weak domestic program.
We have Clinton who will continue to have partisianship in her program.
We have Obama who has a record of bipartician.
We have McCain who says he is a Conservative, but leans Liberal and tries to be bipartician.
We have Clinton who says she will get our troops out of Iraq within six months.
We have Obama who says he will reduce are military presents in Iraq at a controlled reduction.
We have McCain who says that we will be there for a very long time.
We have Clinton and McCain who represents the same old political ideas.
We have Obama who seems to have new ideas.
We have Clinton who wants to give you every thing that you want. All you have to do is ask for it.
We have Obama who whats to help you but you must help yourself first. You have to earn what you get regardless who you are. Kinda sounds like someone else about 48 years ago.
We have McCain who whats to continue unrealistic tax cuts to areas that shouldn’t have any.
That is what we have to choose from.
Obama is not acting like a Southern Baptist Preacher, but a person who ignites peoples passion to do the right thing. He seems to want to give all Americans the right to change the way Congress has been doing. Voting for anyone else is voting for the same BS that we have seen since Reagan. More Partisianship, more Port Barrel politics and more status quo.

Obama is right about his followers not voting for Clinton. Remember once you go Obama you can’t go back.

So unnecessary and irrelevant. Columns like this – an attempt to ‘shape’ current events, rather than report them – are a big reason people dislike the news media.

It’s about time Tapper and the media started calling a spade a spade – all the blogs from the Obama cult followers simply confirm everything the article says about them – they are nothing more than mindless sheep

I wonder if this is an effect of the over-mediation of everything. I’m sure JFK had rock-star status and swooning but maybe it just wasn’t covered as much. So, instead of writing about Obama’s positions you speculate on the psychology of his supporters. Easy enough, ask a few Obama supporters at a rally, reuse some trite quotes from pundits, and throw it on a blog. Done.

IT IS ABOUT TIME SOMEONE IS OBJECTIONAL ABOUT HIM. I WAS GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM. BUT I GOT ONLINE AND DID RESEARCH. WOW. WHY IS NOONE TALKING ABOUT ALL HIS NEGATIVES. THE MEDIA LIKES DIGGING UP DIRT ON PEOPLE BUT NOT HIM. HE TAKES A SHOT AT HILLARY ABOUT WALMART. HE IS NOT CALLED OUT BY ANYONE ABOUT HIS WIFE BEING ON THE BOARD OF TREEHOUSE FOODS WHO JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE WALMART AS THEIR #1 CUSTOMER. READ THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES ONLINE. JUST PUNCH IN BARACK OBAMA AND READ FRANK NOVAK AND LYNN SWEET COLUMNS. THEY HAVE SO MUCH STUFF ON HIM.

This cult is like the one used by radical islamic cells to recruit young people by offering hope.

What’s new? The end of the world comes every four years. Calm down. Don’t be afraid of cult followings or dramatic shifts in government. The political mechanism here is well established and predictable. Take a vacation from it all if it upsets you so much. It won’t miss you.

Obama fever (fervor) is in part a result of eight years of oppression by a dictator. Of course we’re happy when someone listens to us!

Obama is a force that you cannot stop, no matter what you do! Obama has consistently reeled out his stands on issues and yet some distractors don’t wanna acknowledge that. Not only is he good in rhetorics, he is equally full of substance!! He is the force of the moment and you better believe it. He is very real!!!

Chocolate Jesus will be the Vice President. He will wait his turn after Clinton. Thats the reality Dems

I wonder if the roles were reversed and her “thighness” was enjoying this love-fest, if a similar article would be written about her? Ofcourse it wouldn’t. Its only because it is Obama and it goes against the media’s narrative of how this election cycle was supposed to go.
I am a registered Republican and have voted party lines for a long time. I know of atleast 4-5 moderate republicans including friends, family and co-workers of mine who are seriously considering voting for Obama should he make it to the top of the democratic ticket.
Why?
For one, everyone is tired of the vitriol and rancor that has divided the country.
Two, because the economic times we find ourselves in are a product of the “consume, consume, consume, because it’s patriotic” crap that our party has fed us for 7 years now.
Three, because while we are principally opposed to killing babies, that we recognize that overturning Roe v. Wade would only serve to make it more difficult for a woman to get an abortion, thereby increasing the likelihood of injury and death to her.
Four, because our governement and big business has lured illegals into this country. And because of that we are not willing to stand by while swat teams storm homes and businesses tearing families apart in the dead of night. These people need to be naturalized and we need to fix the border.
Finally, because when my friends and I look at Obama we see a sincere man who doesnt seem to have been bought off by special interests yet. Imagine that! The power of integrity! <> This country is ready for change. Times are changing. People’s long held beliefs are changing. What if everyone said “We can do this”? Instead of being a cynic?

“Obama is a force that you cannot stop, no matter what you do! Obama has consistently reeled out his stands on issues and yet some distractors don’t wanna acknowledge that. Not only is he good in rhetorics, he is equally full of substance!! He is the force of the moment and you better believe it. He is very real!!!” damn that is precisely what I mean. If this isn’t psycological propoganda cult mantra, I don’t know what is. This kind of stuff makes me vote for anyone but Obama.

Jake:
I wonder if you read the responses to your articles. If you do, I wonder if you are now questioning the article you wrote? It is one thing to doubt something that seems good. As a nation, we have had to learn, all too well, that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. Still, why would you ridicule those of us who, many for the first time ever–at least where politics is involved–have hope? Yes, I’ve cried more than once about Obama’s chances or the lack thereof. Hope is a frightening thing to have but is cyncicism a better alternative? In any event, is it right to demonize the hopeful? Are you presuming that the millions who support this man are doing so because they were susceptible to messianism or cultism? Seems like a cheap trick to gain viewers to me. Hope whatever the Clinton’s paid you is worth it.

Being a libertarian who tends to lean Republican when I’m in a pragmatic mood, I also see the developing “cult” of Obama.
But I think this is partially due to the electorate getting sick and tired of the way political campaigning has developed the last two decades, and perfected by the Clinton “machine.” In part, the Obama phenomenon is a slap in the face of the Clintonian politics, and for this I am glad to see it develop.
Certainly I’d like to see political campaigns which stress issues, political philosophy, and proposed solutions to problems. And although the Obama “cult” is not doing this (except in the most ethereal way), it is a step in the right direction.
Should Obama win the Democratic nomination, I believe that the Obama campaign will have to move from the ethereal to the “real” plane.

Faced with global climate change and global hyper-poverty, this man, Barack Obama, is impurtable.
As people, we’ve begun to grow forgetful of the stories that we’ve always collectively woven together to create hope. We’ve become barren through forgetfulness and cynicism.
He’s just Our mirror, which is what this author holds contemptible. And we’re beginning to recall who we really are. Because WE’RE the ones who are audaciously hopeful.
I say don’t make a god out of Barack Obama. But do welcome him and thank him for his high fidelity.

right on Tom, yes the shine is fading from that star, I think Oprah needs to take him to the car wash. The same stuff gets old fast. How much farther can he go past Super Tuesday with the same old speech!

People, people, people, enough aleady! Aren’t you tired of being divided? We asked the candidates to cool it on the negativity and they did, why can’t you? If you are for Hillary fine and if you are for Obama, fine again. Why all of the attacks like you know these people personally? Are you perfect? They both have limited experience and they both have flaws and so don’t YOU! So just stop all of this vicious behavior. My Lord you make me ashamed to be an American. Good luck to the best man/woman that wins! We are supposed to be a united party not a bunch of sheep that feed into this idiotic garbarge! Barak nor Hillary are a cult and they both have good platforms it’s just a matter of who the people choose. Stop trying to speak for everyone it just fuels the flame. Before you continue all of these attacks on each candidate, I urge you to go and look in the mirror at yourselves and then decide if you are worthy enough to have such opinions of people that you do not know and you will never know. GIVE IT A REST ALREADY! Ridiculous!

Jake Tapper, don’t listen to the Kool aid Kult. This is the best article yet on ABC News. Finally someone called him out! Congratulations.

LOOK I AM NOT FOR HIM OR AGAINST HIM. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE CLINTON AND I AM JUST SAYING TO LOOK THINGS UP DO RESEARCH ON ANYONE YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT VOTING FOR HIM TO JUST LOOK AT HIS NEGATIVES. EVERYONE POLITICS GOT WHERE THEY WERE BY PLAYINTHE GAME HE IS NO DIFFERENT. THE PRESS IS JUST NOT COVERING IT.WE ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS OUR LIVES IN THER HANDS AND OUR POCKET BOOK. SO DON’T LET THE PRESS OR ANYONE TELL YOU HOW TO VOTE BUT DON’T VOTE WITHOUT CHECKING THEM OUT. SOME ARE DIRTIER THAN OTHER.BUT THEY ARE ALL SMUDGED

okdokethen, stop using my comment!! If you don’t have anything to write, you better log off. America is in its current bad shape because of people like you.
If Obama is a cult leader, then i’m willingly his disciple!! If you don’t like that…..

You in the media are just now noticing this? Guess the honeymoon must be over. The Obama cult has been creeping me out for some time now. His speeches and rallies have taken on the timbre of revival meetings complete with the “amens” and a new group of slaves to free. Next we’ll all be crossing the river Jordan into the promised land of government goodies.
I’ve engaged with a fair number of the cult members. They range from starry-eyed, matinee-idol groupies to Kool-Aid drinking worshipers who would follow the Chosen One into the jungles of Guyana if need be. One particularly enraptured young lady fully expects President Obama to force Steven Spielberg to throw open his house in the Hamptons to the masses so that we, too, may enjoy the privileges and opulent lifestyle of the rich and famous. And have you seen “Yes We Can”?
One thing the Obamaramans have in common: if you ask them to tell you something concrete about his positions or proposed policies, you get the cyber equivalent of a blank stare. And then they go back to talking about the Rapture. It’s going from creepy to downright scary and if they and their candidate don’t knock it off, Democrats will be flocking to Hillaryland in droves.

Barack Obama is clearly a passionate man that inspires people to believe in things that have never happened in our government.
And he is a great orator. But talk is cheap, especially in american politics, and delivering the good is an entirely different matter. It requires more than a loyal electorate. Indeed, it depends on the cooperation of the entire American government. I must admit….I am a bit skeptical. And I believe that, if anyone can deliver the goods, substantially, it is going to take a woman to do it.

Oke– Would you criticize “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”?
Both sentences say the same thing.
Obama has been criticized all along: He’s not black enough, he’s too black, he’s a muslim, he doesn’t have enough experience… It’s not that he isn’t criticized. He just happens to be much more inspirational than anyone in politics for the last 40 years.

Amen! Thanks for haveing the guts to say what I have been thinking for weeks now. Creepy and cultish is only the tip of the iceburg. Some of his followers almost appear to be zombies spreading the gospel of Obama as if their salvation depends on it. EEEK, give me Hilary. At least I know what she is a human being, fallible, yet in need of God’s grace like the rest of us.

So, I guess I’ll add my voice to the several giving you specific policy driven reasons for voting for Obama. I fully expect to be mocked by the couple of Clinton trolls who have posted six times on this one thread. Once I’ve said my piece, I’ll go watch a movie with my wife, go to work, maybe send my candidate another $25 since it’s payday, and basically go on with my “cultish” life.
I approve of Obama’s sincere call to service. He has a program specifically designed to find volunteer opportunities for baby boomer seniors that are retired, but still very active. He beleives that all college students should be eligible for a reasonable credit in return for service to their country, including and especially military service.
I approve of the fact that Obama has disclosed his “earmarks” voluntarily, while hillary does not. He has provided full disclosure of his financial assets, while Hillary does not. His experience is on the public record, while Hillary’s experience is still locked up in Bill’s library.
Need more rational, factual, substantial reasons to vote for Obama? How about 60?
So, Hill-trolls, please mock away. The movie’s starting.

Hillary is great, the problem Men in the U.S.A. are afraid of woman. Germany, Argentina and other countries are more progresive. Give a woman a chance to fix this mess, their brain works better, they can think about a lot of things at a time. Another man will screwit up!

Spock are you a bible scholar???????
If you really know Jesus Christ for yourself then you would not be scared of Obama. Or are you simply scared because you see a black man who can be President of America, the super power country of the world?

I am so tired of the bias that the Media portrays period. I started to believe that Barack Obama pays all the major networks for the very biased attention of him. A responsible TV station should put out positive reports concerning two Democratic candidates.
I have to agree, Barack Obama really has nothing to say. On Super Tuesday, he gave a very poor acceptance speech and seems to know very little about our economy and what to do in a recession.

I couldn’t agree more with this article. The Obama craze is starting to be a little too reminiscent of the fervor over Hitler. Not that I mean to be comparing the two – but there is certainly something amiss, if not down right whacky about the whole Obama thing – and this is a very strong, intuitive gut feeling that I cannot easily dismiss. I’m so concerned over this situation that even though I’ve been a registered Democrat for 30 years, I may actually change my registration and vote for McCain if Obama becomes the Dem Nominee.

Voting for Obama. Not drinking Kool Aid. Well educated, upper middle class woman, who believes we need to fundamentally change the way our government is run. Nothing wrong with change when the system is broken. With Clinton we know we will get four or eight more years of scandal and Bill doing god only knows what in the White House. With McCain we get multiple years of nation building in the middle east. Obama is a smart guy. Smart enough to run a stellar campaign and have the American people stand up and pay attention to politics, smart enough to raise huge amounts of money, smart enough to write speeches that move and inspire people.
Cult….no…not a cult..perhaps we have moved so far away from being inspired and caring it just might seem like that to some who have lived in a cynical world for a long time.
So we can vote for the people who will keep everything the same. Go with the status quo…or we can turn over the reigns to a guy who is brilliant enough to surround himself with people based on their resume and not on their wallet…
Hmmmm…you be the judge….resume or check writing ability or political favor. It is about time we had brain power in Washington and got rid of the cronies.

.I hope you could sleep at night as the soldiers take their own life for the misery that Bush put them in.
Posted by: betty for Obama | Feb 7, 2008 7:31:34 PM
Come on Betty, We cry for the soldiers, but you know as a Party we pull for the terrorist.

Obama Hussein and Jesus Christ comparisons are popping up all over the place. People are writing that they ‘ve been waiting for him for 50 years. That’s crazy man. It’s one thing to be inspired another to wear rose colored glasses to the voting both. Obama is not the Messiah, but people are sure acting like he’s the second coming. Careful folks read what the bible says about the anti-christ. He’s inspires, he makes people feel hope and promises them salvation. Kind of like an Obama speech. Stop the sixties preachy MLK talk and talk to me like a person. If I want a sermon I’ll got to church on Sunday morning.

Obama constantly talks about creating change for America, but how will he do this? I’m sorry but McCain won’t let Obama fly through the election without being attacked.
Do Obama supporters feel that he can’t be called out about things? Do you Obama people have a problem with one media article saying something non-positive about him? Heck, the whole media is on your side and its about time someone said something critical of him.

Ask not what your country can do for you… unless your asking for Universal Healthcare or Tax Rebates. Both parties pander to their cults, whether they be tree-huggers, cross-huggers, or new-bloods. Government as a whole is bigger than the presidency… it really doesn’t matter who gets in. Might as well be the Queen of England with vito power.

I grew up around enough revival preachers that the whole Obama madness has given me the creeps for some time now. The similarities to the whole “pentecostal experience” are darn obvious, and completely freaky.
For those who say that his supporters are highly educated – so are most Scientologists. And ANY stage magician will tell you that the highly educated are easier to fool than the hard-nosed working man.

WOW, This is my final comment about this article. Now Obama supporters are writing they are willing to die for this country. WOW! SOUNDS LIKE A CULT TO ME.
The way to change Washington is to have a female president. Obama Hussein is just more male energy, he’s just one of the boys. It’ll take the sensitivity of a woman to fix this mess and change the way people look at this country.
HILLARY IS THE ONE! THINK ABOUT IT.
ANOTHER MALE PRESIDENT IS NOT CHANGE.

People, please do your research.Believe it or not, there are Obama suporters like myself who are actually voting for him because of his policies. It really is easy to find out what they are: BarackObama.com. …but hey even googling his name will do.
To say that he does not have a stand on issues and to suggest that he is vague and does not have any substance is inaccurate.
I must admit that it is a bit surprising so see this man seemingly come from out of nowhere that inspires the nation in such a manner….Dems, Reb and Ind. Do not, however, form an opinion unless you have done your research.
The interesting thing is that Americans are soooo tired of the crap that many are swooned by Obama. It is an indication that people are ready for someone different. This may give Obama an edge, but what will make him our President are his policies. Please, CNN, CBS, NBC are not sufficient to qualify as research.
Lastly, even those that are swooned by his oratorical skills, his charm, charisma…please research the man you will vote for so that you can answer the skeptics and the ignorant.

The fact that he targeted the youth, just like advertising does since they are the big boom of the Baby Boomers; is the real creepy part of it. He went to them first. He tried targeting women through Oprah. Gee, I wonder why that didn’t really take. HMMMMM….

Senatorial support of Obama helps explain why the McAuliffe plan failed.
In addition to habitual Democratic resistance to being controlled, many colleagues simply do not trust Clinton. They complain that in Thursday’s debate from Los Angeles she repeated that she opposed the Levin amendment to the 2003 Iraq war resolution because it would “subordinate” U.S. decision-making to the United Nations. It did not, and Clinton made no such claim until her presidential campaign. That kind of performance has helped build the stalemate.

Shanzy; do you realize that in all those paragraphs you don’t mention one policy. You don’t even mention your own beliefs of philosophy; it’s all about how wonderful Obama is.

I have read a lot of ridiculous things in my life, and this article is at the top of the list. I tried to resist responding but two things have to be said:
The name is: Barack Hussein Obama (not Obama Hussein for all those who are so well informed here but can’t get the name right)
Well, if this is a cult, then you have to admire his orgainzing abilities – over 7 million people voted for him on Tuesday alone (and of course, many of us independents and republicans could not vote in those primaries)
I can’t believe this garbage is being spouted on ABC – glad all my favorite shows are on CBS and NBC so I have absolutely no reason to watch them – especially if this is representative of their Washington Correspondents.
YES WE CAN! YES WE WILL!

Anyone read George Orwell 1984. One of the ideas put forward in that book is that the intellectual can easily become deluded as the evangelical. Messiah Obama will end wars, save the economy, save the planet from global warming, this is their religion. You just have to believe, ‘yes we can’, is their calling.

I definitely disagree! I think Obama is exactly what this country needs to make a change. Calling him Jesus, or even comparing him to Jesus, damns you all, not him. He is very sincere and an inspiration to all the young (especially ethnic) students who were told they could never do something. No one calls these boy bands and rockstars cult leaders, ehy Obama? Give me a break… So if a person of color holding this much power scares you, then you better be scared, because Obama is here to stay!!!!! Barack the vote!

Thanks for being honest. I have respect for Chris Matthews. He is stating his opinion based on emotions… I want facts.
Obama is a divisive figure. How can he lead a nation based on emotion?
He has promised too much to too many groups. He will not be able to please everyone. God doesn’t even answer all prays. Is Obama more supreme than God?

I vote for you “plain jane”. Whatever you wrote is perfect.
thanks
——-
Thanks for being honest. I have respect for Chris Matthews. He is stating his opinion based on emotions… I want facts.
Obama is a divisive figure. How can he lead a nation based on emotion?
He has promised too much to too many groups. He will not be able to please everyone. God doesn’t even answer all prays. Is Obama more supreme than God?
——–

I agree that the Obama campaign looks more and more like a cult as the days go by. After listening to his speeches, he offers no real evidence to where he stands on the issues, which is typical of a person who has a record of voting “PRESENT.”
Simply chanting “YES WE CAN” over and over, while it certainly inspires many,is simply a way to get people excited because he is a great orator. The chanting does little to ease my concerns that Obama does not have what it takes to lead the military or the country.
His campaign is a bunch of smoke and mirrors and his cult followers are delusional if they really think that Obama will be ready to work on January 20th. It’s too bad that Obama’s poetry and “YES WE CAN” chanting seems more like a hallucinogenic rather than a believable message with actual substance.

Seems like a nice guy, seems like a smart guy and certainly gives a good speech but no way prepared for what will face him in the white house (maybe that’s why the endorsement? – he’ll sure need experienced dems around him in the Oval Office0.
He has absolutely no experience in dealing with complex foreign policy. Can you imagine him sitting across from Putin or Musharaff? Think he’ll “inspire” them to quit their mischief? Scares me to death.
Absolutely no understanding (how could he?) with the complex levers of the economy.
Entering a recession, competing with China, losing influence in all parts of the world – let’s select someone who has been in the legislature at the national level for 3 years. Logically/rationally – does that make any sense at all? No, it doesn’t.
I am a lifelong democrat and have never voted for a Republican for any level office but if Obama is the nominee, I will vote for McCain (remember Reagan Democrats – we’ll have McCain Democrats in hordes with an Obama nomination) simply because I couldn’t, in good conscience, turn our country over to such untested hands in such perilous times.

A few weeks ago I was debating a “friend” about Obama vs. Hillary, and all she kept saying was “yes we can!” and I thought – wow, she sounds like she’s in a cult.
And then I read this and feel totally relieved that I’m not the only one a bit freaked out by all this!
I’m sorry, but for any Obama supporters out there, listen to his speeches – it is totally lacking in substance and is all rhetoric. This reminds me of the polar opposite of Bush but same idea (at least in 2000) – a very likable guy that you want to sit down and have a beer with but definitely not someone you want running our country.
Wake up!

“when all else fails…rip senator kennedy, cry, play broke, play a cult…
nice hillary…”
Where have I heard before about there being an element of paranoia related to cult behavior???

I am on both of the Hillary and Obama mailing lists, and I can say that I have NEVER seen an anti-Obama blurb on their emails to me, however I routinely see anti-Hillary blurbs on his emails! So that is just crap that she is the divider – he’s the one saying things like she is not as electable as he is. He keeps saying it, people believe it!
Did you see how he took up almost twice as much time as any other candidate on Tuesday during his speech? And what did he really say? Where is the substance?
As a highly educated person who wants to see the most qualified candidate get in (not the one with the most rhetoric again, even if it is “my” side of the rhetoric), I am just saddened that our country is (okay I’ll say it) as stupid as to just buy into this fanaticism.

“Does it strike you as creepy that Hillary is starting to channel Obama? She’s picking lines from the speeches of Barack and Michelle Obama and making them her own. She’s taking voice lessons to try for better inflections in her voice. !!!!”
Ha! This is classic! Anyone who’s actually paid attention to American politics for more than a millisecond (so, this would leave out most of Obama’s followers) would know that it’s actually Barack Obama who has been trying to “channel” another famous Clinton (in the form of Bill) all along. The speeches he gives today sound like brushed off copies of those President Clinton gave 10 years ago.

This country is ready for a man or woman of any race to run this country. Its just probably not ready for either one on the democratic side. Its kinda funny, but I don’t know anyone personally who plans on voting for either one of these two this fall that hasn’t already voted for one or the other. Every time that I hear Obama sell his snake oil I think of Mark 13:14, which to paraphrase it says, When you see ‘the Obamanation that causes desolation standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in America go to the voting booth and do their duty.
:-)

If you’re going to try and bring religion into this, at least try and make it funny.

For every person that says that they have NO IDEA where Barack Obama stands on the issue point your browser to his website and take a look for yourselves. Go to the website for the Senate and look up his voting record. You all must be computer savvy. How hard it is to self educate yourselves on the choices we have to make?
You Obama worshippers just don’t get it. The ordinary people of America –and not some internet freaks–wanna hear from the man himself. You just can tell’em go to the website! Is that all you got when it comes to substance? I also refer you to Obama supporter Kathleen Geier: The Obama campaign’s instruction to their volunteers to steer clear of policy questions. How can we truly bring about real political change if the movement the Obama people are building is devoid of ideological content, content merely to mouth gauzy generalities about “coming together” and “yes we can”? Such a movement becomes a cult or personality rather than engine for social justice and political transformation.

Well, it seems like HRC gets the Obama message because she has revamped her campaign so you can barely tell it from Obama’s. I guess she wants to win pretty badly, but we all know that. Maybe if she held onto a position for more than a couple of weeks she could retain some supporters as well.
Perhaps God and the hopeful people in America are on Obama’s side, but HRC has Bill’s bank account and we all know which is more important.

I do not hear any of these people giving detailed policy speeches. It is so easy to go and read these things – read it online or in the library. Democracy is a responsibility. If people are very excited about Obama and that makes them want to participate that is great. I worked for his campaign on the street and on the phone. No one ever said not to discuss policy for heaven’s sake. Where are you getting this nonsense? The one rule we had was not to be negative or attack other candidates. I talked to people on the phone who have not voted since 1990. Poor people that live out in the countryside in Republican country who see that he can lead and they want a leader to represent them. Yes, he has charisma – but that is a tool for getting people’s attention. The details are all in order – go check it out… barackobama.com or read the Congressional record – see his speech on the Senate Floor against the bankruptcy bill -

james Wolcott………..a US journalist very excited with your own words a believer in the religion of your writing CANNOT have educated himself on the Legislative abilities of OBAMA. Both in his home state and in the US Senate……..the record is their of his sbilities in ‘Legislative maneuvers and horse-trading’. Its also a shame that a supposedly hard working journalist writing of a presidential candidate has not really done proper reasearch……..OBAMA HAS MORE LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE THAN HILARY………..the USA ……….please guys do make good use of the internet age and ..the Library especially if you are a journalist.

The scary thing about Obama is that little is demanded of him. His message of hope may be inspiring, but his track record as an agent of change in his own district was less than exceptional. He didn’t even notice those 11 slums that were being condemned by the city at the same time that the slumlord was contibuting to his campaign through surrogates.
I don’t want to join a movement. I don’t need to be saved. I want a President that has policies that work and understands that it may be difficult to implement them.
I saw George Bush get elected based on his empty promises and charisma….
I wonder if the power of the media and Obama’s gifted oratory are going to push this guy forward. If so expect the Senators from MA to be running the government. How interesting that 2 guys that couldn’t get elected will replace Rove. How scary is that?

Take the teleprompter and make him answer some questions for once. Preferably something besides “present” will come out of his mouth.
Hope don’t pay the rent….

Clinton’s people are the truly delusional. “Obama’s all talk,but Clinton’s a workhorse, 35 years of experience, she’s gotten results, real solutions for the middle class, blah blah blah…” What has she done? Seriously, other than being elected to the Senate after a nationally televised 8 year audition, name one accomplishment that sets her aside from Obama. As an ardent Obama supporter, I’ll be the first to admit he doesn’t have the typical stacked resume, but he has accomplished as much in his 46 years as Hillary has in her 60+(?)…all on his own, mind you.

Anyone who thinks Obama will unite and Hillary divide is out to lunch. She has been fully vetted by the Republican machine for decades.
HE HAS NOT.
The media and the Republicans have not given him a thorough shake – in fact most Republicans I know didn’t realize he had done drugs in his youth (I don’t care, but tell that to a right-winger). In fact they said they would rather run against him because of all of the stuff just waiting to come out – that and his lack of experience.
Don’t get me wrong, if he gets it, I will vote for him any day over a Republican. But the fact that he is neck and neck with McCain, when they haven’t even sent their attack dogs at him, scares the heck out of me. Hillary is also neck and neck but as so many people have pointed out, they already have tons of what they call “dirt” on her that’s been out there.
Think about it!

Obama has consistently given press releases on the details of his policies, but they are seldom published by the media. In addition, he has participated in many debates, but the questions posed to all candidates lack substance and in no way lead to meaningful debate that provide useful information from which Americans can make decisions. In every speech he talks about what he wants to do when he is President.
We can judge Obama’s integrity by the way he has run his campaign. It is a clean, grass roots funded campaign. He doesn’t take PAC money or money for corporate lobbyists in this campaign. This is just one example of his model of integrity. I hate what has happened to my country, and I do not want my descendants to pay the cost. Change is not a buzz word, our government is being run by Corporations and only individual Americans one by one can change that. I believe Hillary and Bill Clinton have shown they are willing patriots of the corruption and have run a down and dirty campaign against Obama resembling Rovian tactics that put Bush in office. Attacking on policy is useful and fair, but the Clintons have shocked and disappointed me by attacking with misinformation and attempted smears.
Obama’s appeal is to the basic principles of the Constitution, a reminder that our government is of the people, for the people and by the people and the way to change our government is to believe we can change it, unite, and form a majority. Thats what Senator Obama is talking about when he says we are the ones we have been waiting for – individuals have to think in terms of possibility, get involved, and use the voice the Constitution gives us. Hardly a cult.

Have you seen those shreeking women at the the Hillary rallies?
People go to a rally because they are excited about a candidate. They scream and cheer and throw money because they identify with that person in some way.
If you don’t want to go, or scream or cheer, or donate….YOU’RE FREE not to but don’t rain on others’ parade.
It just makes you look ENVIOUS! Pitiful, dsigruntled…
I don’t tell you how to sit around and grumble and be a pessimist!
Let me be me! and you be you and who cares.
Get on with your own life and stop worrying about how others experience this election!

John McCain will obliterate HRC in the general. Her mere presence on the ballot will cost Democrats Congressional seats as well. The Democratic party risks losing millions of new voters. Remember, Clinton 1.0 was what made Bush 2.0 possible. Why are you Clinton supporters hellbent on brushing aside the most promising Democrat in 40 years? To go back to the glorious 90s? To prove that women can be just as vile and morally bankrupt as men? You’re doing everything you can to set the party back 10 years, and that’s why I hesitate to call myself a Democrat anymore. It’s the party that can’t stay out of it’s own way.

Great write up. Thanks to somebody for finally saying something. I thought for sure the way the media has made Obama a poster boy that they too had been caught in the rip tide. It’s nice to have some reality here.
Facts on Hillary are starting to surface, not just the MSM who try to take her out. Community organizing in the black community, Hillary did it before obama. Because of her, more than half the adults in Arkansas actually had a better education than what was in the cards before her. Health care, education, vets, 9/11 survivors, she stepped up to the plate. Facts are starting to surface, the frenzy of the slogan and oprah gushing filled campaign of obama are coming into the light… how’s that for a little religiosity?
Peace.
Hillary in 08′
A woman in the House!

Bill Clinton’s behavior and style of politics led to a Republican controlled Congress and the election of George W. Bush. We all know what happened next, so no, Bill Clinton was not good for the country. You people act like this hayseed huckster is getting carved into Mount Rushmore. His perceived successes were much more a result of time and place than any policy. Politically, his administration was a trainwreck that ended up bringing disastrous consequences to the country. Or was it all just because of the big bad Republicans picking on the poor defenseless Clintons? (For the record, I used to be fooled by them too…then I got all growed up and realized that both of them are actually reprehensible human beings who lie with an astonishing ease and sense of purpose)

Jesus could have very well been in his time just as Obama is today. It is likely that much of the deifying of Jesus happened much after his execution. Admittedly, many present-day followers of Jesus get a little creepy. However, in his own time, he was only trying to get people to wake up and recognize what we all know in our gut: that it’s better to work together.
I, for one, am grateful to have such a man come to national attention within my lifetime. The positive change he has so far made is impressive and far-reaching.

What a bunch of crap! So if I happen to not want Hillary as my president and I do support Barack Obama I am a member of a cult? This is the kind of crap that makes a lot of us pretty sick and tired of some of the Clinton people. This approach is not winning Mrs. Clinton any friends. Give it up!

It’s good to see the “Barack Hussein” guy followed up by the guy who reiterates Clinton’s lies about Obama’s Reagan comments. You’re great representatives of your candidate(I can only assume). The education gap between Clinton and Obama supporters becomes clearer and clearer every time I turn on the computer.

I’m sorry but I don’t understand why people think that Obama’s campaign is like a cult. I’ve been volunteering on his campaign for nearly a year now, and not once have I ever heard anyone say “come to obama.” Everyone I have met is dead serious about what they are doing and why they are doing it-most say that it’s the first time in a long time they’ve actually cared (myself included). Shouldn’t we be encouraging this kind of passion instead of criticizing it and calling it “messianic”? I may be too young to remember JFK but from everything my parents have said, I don’t recall anyone saying that either JFK or his supporters were somehow “messianic.” His supporters know he isn’t they (or others) perceive to be negative or just plain stupid. Not everyone agrees with him on every single issue-if they did they would REALLY be crazy. In terms of the kinds of emotions he brings out in people, it’s that he seems to speak directly to what people think and feel and want out of society these days. It’s that FINALLY someone is actually talking about ending the genocide in Darfur, and ending the partisan gridlock that paralyzes DC and the other issues that you’ve wanted the democrats to speak out about for so long, but haven’t. That is why you will see grown men (and women) cry at his rallies. He speaks to their hearts and seems to touch something inside of them and brings out their better angels. Go into any Obama campaign office or gathering of Obama volunteers and you will witness this firsthand. For all who like to criticize the passion his supporters have-wouldn’t it be nice if more Americans felt that way about government and politics? We should do more to encourage that, not call it cult-like. For all the complaining everyone does about low voter turnout, finally we have a race people care about that is generating record turnout, and you want to call one candidate’s supporters crazy. If I were you, I’d congratulate Senator Obama on his ability to get people involved and make them care. If only everyone could generate that kind of enthusiasm. If they did, would they be considered messianic and cult-like as well?

let me preface this by saying that I voted for Bill Clinton twice, would’ve voted for him a 3rd time if I could’ve and would support Hillary IF she got the nomination but I’m for Barack just for the simple fact that the next president is going to have to get something done and there is no way I see Hillary being able to put any kind of a governing coalition together to get anything meaningful done, not entirely her fault but the Clintons will do anything or say anything to win this election with the consequences to the Democratic Party be damnned. It was totally classless of President Clinton to mention after the South Carolina primary “well Jesse Jackson won here in 84 and 88″ I notice he didn’t mention “well I won here in in 92 and 96 and it worked out pretty good for me.” There is nothing wrong with voting for someone that speaks to about what can be good and right about this country. If you buy the experience argument of Hillary which amounts to 4 more years in the U.S. senate than Barack I suggest that if you are a Democrat you start a “draft Robert Byrd campaign” or if your’re a Republican start a “draft Ted Stevens campaign” because they are the two longest serving Senators of their respective political parties and therefore they are the most experienced which means that they would be the best to lead on day one. Give me a break on that!!!! I have to correct something that someone posted earlier in an anti Barack post when they were referring to President Kennedy, President Kennedy didn’t serve three terms in the Senate, he served 8 years, he was first elected in 1952 and was re-elected in 1958, he did serve 3 terms in the House from 1946-1952. Robert Kennedy by comparison was elected to the Senate in 1964 and served for 4 years and then ran for President, incidentially Barack Obama has served exactly 4 years in the Senate as well, not saying that Barack Obama is Bobby Kennedy but they had the same experience when it came to service in the Senate. If you want another example of the hogwash of Hillary’s experience argument try this resume on for size; no formal education, wasn’t much of a business man, the store he was a clerk at went out of business, later he became a small town lawyer and then served 4 years in the Illinois House of Representatives, after that he served one term in the U.S. House and then was defeated when he ran for re-election, later he ran for U.S. Senate twice and was beaten both times. Not a whole lot there to suggest that this person would be ready to lead on day one either; Any ideas on who this individual was? It was Abraham Lincoln. I’ll take the guy who speaks about hope and about what this country should and needs to be over someones perceived experience as first lady or what they did in the Senate in the 4 years before my guy got there and just to recap those 4 years included the Bush tax cuts and the Patriot Act, where was the experience and wisdom to stop those great ideas from becoming law?