Obama Speaks at Unity ’08, Part II
[Guest post by DRJ]
Following up on my prior post regarding Barack Obama’s speech at the Unity ’08 conference of minority journalists in Chicago, I wanted to highlight one part of the article in the Tribune’s The Swamp.
In a Q&A session with journalists, Obama said this about his recent European tour and meetings with foreign leaders:
“Obama expressed confidence that he was well received by foreign leaders. “If you talk to the people I met with, they feel confident that I know what I’m talking about and what I’m doing,” he said.
He said meeting with foreign leaders is “part of the job” he is applying for, so he should not be questioned on whether he showed too much audacity in making the trip.
“Now, I’ll admit we did it really well, but that shouldn’t be a strike against me,” he added.”
Some complained when President George Bush said he “got a sense of [Putin’s] soul” at their first meeting but I think that pales in comparison to candidate Obama’s audacious mind-meld with foreign leaders.
— DRJ
Obama is not audacious. It just seems that way if anyone makes the mistake of thinking his quotes are his own. They’re not. They belong to the mob. Along with the teleprompter, the jet and the presidential podium.
Vermont Neighbor (31ccb6) — 7/29/2008 @ 8:22 pmFeelings — nothing more than feelings
Icy Truth (4be48a) — 7/30/2008 @ 1:36 amThis is why he’ll pick a governor, rather than senator with foreign policy gravitas and experience, as his veep nominee. Obama thinks foreign policy is easy and that he’s already the master of it.
John Kennedy was never this arrogant and feckless at his very worst — not even before the Vienna Summit with Krushchev, and certainly not after the Bay of Pigs.
I don’t believe that in his heart of hearts, even John “Global Test” Kerry believed that just having meetings and conferences, and bringing everyone to the table, and involving everyone in the process, was going to suddenly reform America’s enemies— or for that matter, its friends who sometimes have competing interests. Surely he knew that was a bunch of Kumbaya nonsense, a pretense that would become the default value starting place, but which would generally be ignored in practice if ever he were elected.
But Obama, I fear, actually believes the whole spiel. “Everywhere is Barack Obama Country, once Barack Obama has been there.” It’s exactly as if he thinks Putin is going to get the same thrill running up his leg that Chris Matthews describes.
The man is an utter naïf, blinded by ego and too inexperienced to begin to grasp the limits of his own charisma.
Beldar (0bd1bc) — 7/30/2008 @ 1:53 am“Some complained when President George Bush said he “got a sense of [Putin’s] soul” at their first meeting but I think that pales in comparison to candidate Obama’s audacious mind-meld with foreign leaders.”
I always thought the complaint was that it was ridiculous and showed a misplaced trust of putin.
afall (23c2b4) — 7/30/2008 @ 6:45 am#4
Or too much religion on Georgie’s part. Religion’s a problem for Bush, Romney or anyone outside the radical black theology circle. Otherwise, no problem.
Vermont Neighbor (31ccb6) — 7/30/2008 @ 10:29 am“He said … he should not be questioned on whether he showed too much audacity in making the trip.”
Should not be questioned???????? If he says this now, what’s he going to be like if he’s elected? He’s just crossed the line into true hubris.
Jim C. (33af9d) — 7/30/2008 @ 9:31 pmafall #4:
I agree. Just as Bush expressed too much faith in Putin, I think Obama overestimates his impact on foreign leaders and believes they have more faith in him than they feel.
Recall that Obama said the foreign leaders he met “feel confident that I know what I’m talking about and what I’m doing.” Don’t you find that amazing? After only a few hours of meetings, Obama is confident these experienced leaders believe in him. I submit they were more likely complimenting him and professing agreement no matter what he said, because someday he may be the leader of the world’s most powerful nation.
DRJ (e4b6ac) — 7/30/2008 @ 10:02 pmWow. I’m beginning to feel embarrassed for Obama. Cringe.
*They also may have been complimenting him and professing agreement because it wasn’t the time and place to disagree…or roll their eyes in disbelief…
Dana (1cc5ab) — 7/30/2008 @ 10:08 pm