Diary Of A Mad Voter: Jessica Peck Corry
Obama Is Not King
By Jessica Peck Corry, 6-05-08
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With reporters gushing from coast to coast, Barack Obama announced late Tuesday that he has finally—after a lengthy battle with Hillary Clinton—secured the Democratic presidential nomination. Media fawning has now turned to the prospect of Obama as the first black president and this generation’s Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In a speech designed to imitate King’s famous 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech, Obama was at his eloquent best on Tuesday night. King declared then, “Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!”
Obama also covered his geographic bases, expressing an eagerness in his speech to “thank every American who stood by us. . . through the good days and the bad; from the snows of Cedar Rapids to the sunshine of Sioux Falls.”
But while King dreamed of an America that could one day judge his children based on the content of their character—and not the color of their skin—Obama should not be seen as the dream of a color-blind America realized.
Obama has talked about expanding socialized programs for every major facet of American life, including higher education, health care, and housing. He aims to perpetuate—and expand—a welfare state that has made minorities disproportionately dependent on government while ignoring real opportunities for reform. He sees more government, and not less, as the solution to our problems. While Obama may have the flair of King, his recycled policies belong somewhere in Jimmy Carter’s stagnant 1970’s.
Obama attempted to draw a contrast between himself and Republican nominee John McCain. Calling into question McCain’s ideological similarities to President George W. Bush, Obama used his message of “change” to suggest that McCain is incapable of meaningful reform.
“It’s not change when [McCain] offers four more years of Bush economic policies that have failed to create well-paying jobs, or insure our workers, or help Americans afford the skyrocketing cost of college—policies that have lowered the real incomes of the average American family, widened the gap between Wall Street and Main Street, and left our children with a mountain of debt,” Obama said, while also attacking McCain’s continued support for the Iraq War.
But what does Obama offer? While his rhetoric is appealing, he lacks even a basic understanding of free market economics. First, it is not government’s job to create jobs. It is government’s job to cut red tape that prevents small business families like my own from creating jobs. Second, it is not the government’s job to insure our workers. It is the government’s job to cut red tape that prevents meaningful opportunities for working families to secure lower-cost and better-serviced health insurance. And finally, the government’s top priority should not be shelling out more money to help subsidize the rising cost of education. Rather, its first educational reform goal should be to take on the establishment, cutting the administrative waste that has allowed our campuses to become havens for wasteful spending.
And when it comes to the war, Obama may not like what he sees, but he has failed to provide a meaningful contrast—or vehicle for change—during his short U.S. Senate tenure.
Refusing to let Obama’s lack of facts get in the way, reporters continue to focus on Obama’s historic moment as the Democratic Party’s first black presidential candidate. A Denver Post report proclaimed that “Obama’s clinching of the nomination, which comes 45 years after Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, will probably be remembered as one of the significant moments in American political history, up there with the election of John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic president; women’s suffrage; the 15th Amendment’s guarantee that all men have the right to vote; and the civil rights movement.”
While it may be nice for a moment to pause to recognize the symbolism of Obama’s candidacy, we’ve got a lot of work to do as a nation to get ourselves out of the hole dug by a deficit-spending George W. Bush and a Democratic-controlled Congress. Obama’s empty platitudes will not take us to a better place. We know little about his economic policies other than the fact that he supports tax increases and bigger government.
As Hillary Clinton is now forced to pine for a vice presidential bid, it is her reference to Obama as “elitist and divisive,” that best describes his views on America. This is, after all, the man who condemned gun-owning and religious Americans as “bitter.”
As Americans, we all know Rev. King and his legacy well. And quite frankly, Sen. Obama, you are no Rev. King. Especially not in an era when the last thing we need in the struggle for freedom is more government, tax increases, and deficit spending.
Editor’s note: Jessica Peck Corry’s weekly blogs are part of NewWest.Net/Politics’ “Diary of a Mad Voter” feature, a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post’s Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the ‘08 election cycle. For more columns check in with www.newwest.net/madvoter. And for more information on each of the bloggers, click here.
"As Hillary Clinton is now forced to pine for a vice presidential bid, it is her reference to Obama as 'elitist and divisive,' that best describes his views on America":
Jessica Peck Corry is obviously not a fan of Sen. Obama, but one would still expect some degree of impartiality from semi-serious writers unless one is writing political propaganda or plugging for a specific political party. Labeling Sen. Obama 'divisive' vis a vis Clinton made me LOL.
Hillary is not being forced to do anything. There is life beyond losing. Ted Kennedy, Al Gore and John Kerry have moved beyond and prospered. As a woman, I would hate to say that they knew when to quit and moved on because they are men.
I don't know what Ms. Corry's political leanings are other than she favors Clinton vs. Obama. However...That particular race is over.
Her angry rantings about Rev. King and whatever merit no comment at all.
Sounds like Jess may be enamored with the ramblings of Ann Coulter...
Comment By Dean, 6-05-08What a biased and inaccurate article. It is not worth commenting on except to clarify one inaccuracy. "the hole dug by a deficit-spending George W. Bush and a Democratic-controlled Congress" should read "the hole dug by a deficit-spending George W. Bush and republican controlled congress" for it was from 2000 to 2006 that the greed and corruption of the republican party (that is no longer run by its good rank and file republicans) decided the US treasury was their's for the picking and ran us into a level of debt that our country will have a difficult time recovering from. If recovery is possible it will not be at the hands of a multi-national facist controlled republican party. So we are left with Obama and the democrats.
Comment By Ron Davis, 6-05-08King was for social programs...look it up.
Comment By Marty, 6-05-08Marion, thought you would like to read this
Comment By Andy Dabydeen, 6-05-08More on Jessica C. here:
http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/al/CLzj
This truly is another disgracefully venomous, but only amateurishly crafted, smear piece against Obama.
As for Ms Pecker Corry's credentials, she's a cute little blonde thing, trying to pass as precocious but genuinely just wet behind the ears. Her major claim to fame appears to be that she managed to get herself mentored by Tennessee GOP Senator Fred Thompson, not much of a feat given Thompson's well-known affinity for cute little blondes much younger than he and his position as the Derek Zoolander of the GOP, all posing and no real gravitas or intelligence.
What? You're protesting what you say is a pretty inappropriately slanted description? Well, how do you like it, sweetie pie?
What an absurd group of statements written from what was at best a biased position and at worst, and most likely, a pure delusional state of mind. This could have been distributed along with any typical militant extremist letters today.
It befuddles me that Google would link to this from their news page. Absurd.
"Personal attacks are not a debating point, nor are they an argument in a discussion. They are a diversionary tactic, indicating that the person is incapable of a rational discussion of the actual subject at hand."
--Greenpeace co-founder, Patrick Moore
mike, do you have anything of substance?
So the word is that McCain is wooing Clinton supporters and some may be interested - good luck with that. In the end, there is no way he is going to convince us to vote for someone who:
1.) Thinks the war in IRAQ is going really well.
2.) Thinks the war in IRAQ is going so well, war with IRAN might be worth a try.
3.) Supports war so much he does not think there is money left over to help GI's with education after the military - this REALLY irks me.
4.) Is adamantly against universal health care.
5.) Still believes that trickle-down economics will save us all.
6.) Supports CORPORATE welfare while being against social programs.
7.) Is for FAIR TRADE, but does not support FAIR COMPETITION (Trade, Labor Standards, Living Wages).
8.) SAYS he is against torture, then VOTES to allow water-boarding (torture).
9.) SAYS he is a world apart from Bush, but VOTES with Bush 95+% of the time.
10.) Can't think of good reasons for anyone to vote for him, but hey, maybe a mission to Mars will entice them.
Am I voting Obama? You'd better believe it.
Wow ... lots of angry reaction to a pretty reasonable little column. And I'm a liberal East Coast Democrat ... who happens not to be enamored of Obama either. Is it gonna be like this now? Anyone who questions Obama's cred is going to provoke incoherent outrage? The author raises some good points and interesting contrasts ... 'nuff said. Don't get your panties in a twist yet. What are you gonna do when he loses ? Save some outrage for November.
Comment By Craig Moore, 6-06-08Brian, instead of bombastic rhetoric, just compare and decide.
McCain: http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm
Obama: http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm
Unfortunately both parties and both branches of government are contributors to the financial mess this country is in. I read recently that our national debt is now equivalent to $440,000 per working American. What happens if China or Kuwait call in their notes? Those two countries own most of our debt. And, if we are foolish enough, will end up owning most of our infrastructure. We have to break the cycle of both tax and spend AND borrow and spend. Personally, I don’t care if the candidate is Republican or Democrat, black, white or purple, male or female, smoked dope in college or can’t keep their pants zipped. I’m not interested in Brittney Spears politics. I am waiting for both candidates to clearly articulate how their plan will begin to lead this country in a meaningful way.
How will they address estate taxes which are death to family farms? How will they deal with capital gains taxes fairly when 73% of all Americans have their pension plans/401k plans or other retirement monies in the stock market in one way or another and are not "wealthy"? What actually is their plan to get us out of Iraq and keep us out? How about pork belly project reform in Congress? (the only organization with a lower approval rating than Bush) How will they deal with illegal immigration? So far, I have not heard much in the way of actual plans from anyone, just fluff.
I would hope voters demand these types of answers before they vote for the eloquent speaker or the American veteran.
Win or lose, Obama's message has struck a chord with many people, John McCain included. McCain now is busy trying to fashion himself as an agent of change in time to win an election. No, Obama is not King. Nor is he trying to be.
Comment By jwscotch, 6-06-08Anyone calling for "economic equality," is damn scary!
It's No Bama for me.
jwscotch, you come to the nub that defines socialism, equality of outcome. Free enterprise depends on equality of opportunity and the incentive that comes from taking risk.
Comment By vagabond, 6-06-08Craig and jwscotch...you are both so right. Mandated equality regardless of individual effort equals mandated mediocrity.
Comment By Robespierre, 6-07-08It is hilarious whenever a conservative lectures others in a "gee, I'm just trying to help you, why won't you listen to my wisdom" manner.
Jessica has never been concerned about minority rights. As a paid staffer and shill of the Independence Institute, she's all about defending the rich and powerful and sowing seeds of discontent and confusion everywhere else.
Why do you think the Solid South switched from Democrats to Republican? The short answer is racism, because white, southern males couldn't stomach Civil Rights and Nixon's Southern Strategy gave them a new home for their bitter resentments.
Right now, there's not a single black GOP congressman or senator and zero black GOP candidates at a national scale.
The GOP resembles less a "wide tent" than a white robe and hood.
Obama's whole campaign depends on his speech writer, and his wonderful voice and delivery of....words. When he is asked a question that he does not have written out for him or has not already programmed into his head, he cannot give a very coherrent answer.
We need a great deal more in a leader than a good speech giver and black skin (or red or white or yellow or brown, etc).
One of the most amazing thiings I have seen is the big deal made out of McCains mixing up the Sunni and Shite versus the "ah shucks" of Obama refering to the 57 states he has visited.
I do hope we can get McCain off the environmental band wagon, and specifically off the global warming thing. I am still having to build a fire in the mornings to keep warm.
"First, it is not government’s job to create jobs. It is government’s job to cut red tape that prevents small business families like my own from creating jobs."
In part, this writer is right, most Americans don't work for the government. Most work for small businesses, and I can't imagine what red tape she is refering to unless her family is in the business of waste disposal and the damn gubmint said they had to lay off the "pour it into the river" guy. The part she left out of this analysis is that small businesses need customers, and those customers have the most money to spend if they have jobs at blue-collar union-backed middle-class-building manufacturing companies. And it IS the government's job to make sure it's advantagous for those companies to be located in the United States. It's not like cheap foriegn labor wasn't available before the 90's. Our government has intentionlaly written out all the incentives for any production of anything in this country. Indeed, most of us would be better off with a little MORE red tape at our borders.