Obama: The New Carter

-- by Micheal

Early in the campaign speeches cycle, all of the Democratic candidates were sounding highly socialist. The government should do everything, manage everything for the betterment of mankind. Teachers deserve a bajillion dollars, as does every other union worker. Everyone should have the ultimate best healthcare at no cost, etc. etc. Spend spend spend. Obama was right in there chanting the left's favorite songs.

Now, Obama is being touted as the great unifier. THE one who (unlike Hillary) can reach out to conservatives and help us all get along. This is a far different song. Which one is the real Obama? I do admit that Obama comes across as a nice guy. He's a smoother public speaker. He doesn't have, perhaps for lack of media exposure, Hillary's reputation for meanness. It is this nice-guy-ness that I could see appealing to the undecided and centrist Republicans (if the GOP opts for a rightist).

If Obama does get the DFL nomination, and the GOP puts up an unpalatable candidate, Obama could win the presidency. Given the last two presidential elections, I would predict him not winning any kind of "landslide" or obvious "mandate" as election spinners like to spin it. Obama would, indeed, have to build coalitions and be the nice guy.

The appeal for a change, for a fresh face, sounds mighty familiar. As the fresh face new-comer nice-guy, Obama would be the new Carter. A guy you could like, but ultimately ineffective. Consensus and coalition don't tend to accomplish much beyond the status quo. Consensus and coalition don't act quickly (if at all).

Republicans seem to worry about a Hillary presidency, because they recognize that she's not a consensus and coalition type. She's more guns-a-blazin' old school Democrat who would push for the leftist agenda and take no prisoners. Sure, the other old school Dems would like this, but the country as a whole would remain split.

I don't think Republicans worry as much about an Obama presidency. Carter didn't hurt them much and actually ended up helping them.