Now that Mitt Romney's dropped out of the primaries, we're left only with the Sturm und Drang of the Democratic contest for entertainment.
ABC's Senior National Correspondent Jake Tapper has two interesting posts on that topic. In one, he explains the biblical allusions in Huckabee's Super Tuesday speech – the widow's mite and the "small, smooth stone" from David and Goliath's battle, "in case you aren't the half of the country that automatically understands Biblical allusions."
Then he wonders at the messianic language used by Barack Obama followers. Quoting Obama supporter Kathleen Geier:
"Excuse me, but this sounds more like a cult than a political campaign. The language used here is the language of evangelical Christianity – the Obama volunteers speak of 'coming to Obama' in the same way born-again Christians talk about 'coming to Jesus.'...So I say, we should all get a grip, stop all this unseemly mooning over Barack, see him and the political landscape he is a part of in a cooler, clearer, and more realistic light, and get to work."
He also quotes Time columnist Joe Klein, who notes "something just a wee bit creepy about the mass messianism" he sees in Obama's Super Tuesday speech."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."Says Klein: "That is not just maddeningly vague but also disingenuous: the campaign is entirely about Obama and his ability to inspire. Rather than focusing on any specific issue or cause — other than an amorphous desire for change — the message is becoming dangerously self-referential."
And James Wolcott in Vanity Fair writes that "(p)erhaps it's my atheism at work but I found myself increasingly wary of and resistant to the salvational fervor of the Obama campaign, the idealistic zeal divorced from any particular policy or cause and chariot-driven by pure euphoria."
Actually this all seems to fit together.
Haven't the Democrats been looking or a counter balance to the values-voting evangelicals of the Religious Right? As Tapper points out, half the country is starved for meaningful spiritual allusions. Obama could fill that God-shaped hole in their hearts. A new messiah who, perhaps, gets "crucified" by defeat at the Democratic convention, could be the start of a powerful mythic storyline for secularists in need of a reason for being.
This will all last until Obama reveals himself as a mere mortal, which should come any day now. (See previous post on The Year of the Rat).
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2 comments:
And now... we conservatives are faced with a decision.
The talk of Pat Robertson endorsing Rudy Giuliani now means nothing (not that it ever did!)
Neither does anyone care about the wide evangelical support that Mitt Romney won over.
We now have, on the left, Senator John McCain whom Dr. James Dobson says "is not a conservative, and in fact, has gone out of his way to stick his thumb in the eyes of those who are. He has sounded at times more like a member of the other party." John McCain promotes amnesty for illegal immigrants, he called Samuel Alito "too conservative" (a good indication of the judges he would appoint), he supports embryonic stem-cell research, and he has little regard for freedom of speech.
On the right: Governor Mike Huckabee, with 10 years of experience governing, a staunch pro-life record, and a proven force for defending marriage and religious liberties. During those 10 years, he reduced welfare roles by 50%, returned $400 million to taxpayers, and was called "One of America's Best Governors" by TIME Magazine.
Governor Huckabee's platform calls for secure borders, supporting the military, and reining in the rising costs of healthcare and energy through practical, market-driven methods.
And today, there is finally justice as Dr. Dobson endorses Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Conservatives need to back Governor Mike Huckabee for the good of our nation. Or do we have Hillary or Obama fans out there?
The lack of enthusiasm for Huckabee is baffling and, frankly, a betrayal of a man who has faithfully served his country--with conservative principles guiding his every step.
Can conservatives of all stripes unite around what we're FOR, rather than what we're AGAINST? If so, our values just might be represented in the White House come '09.
If we just want to sulk on the sidelines of this political race, then forget it. Let the 4 years of disaster begin, as some commentators have put it.
Vote Huckabee! And support his campaign!
-joshMshep
www.myspace.com/joshmshep
www.mikehuckabee.com
Rev. Huckabee has a bad habit of schmoozing with questionable televangelists like Kenneth Copeland. He even said he'd back up Copeland against the Senate Finance Committee investigation. I'd be more excited about Huckabee if his campaign disavowed that exchange. (You can watch a video clip of it on the www.wittenburgdoor.com site). Josh, please remind Mike that if you get into the pen with the hogs, you get covered with slop.
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