A reader sent this to me and since she hasn’t blogged about the election on her own blog, I’m not going to identify her (unless she wants to do so herself).
From The Obama Temptation. Bold mine:
I honestly never thought we’d see such a thing in our country – not yet anyway – but I sense what’s occurring in this election is a recklessness and abandonment of rationality that has preceded the voluntary surrender of liberty and security in other places. I can’t help but observe that even some conservatives are caught in the moment as their attempts at explaining their support for Barack Obama are unpersuasive and even illogical.
There is a cult-like atmosphere around Barack Obama, which his campaign has carefully and successfully fabricated, which concerns me. The messiah complex. Fainting audience members at rallies. Special Obama flags and an Obama presidential seal. A graphic with the portrayal of the globe and Obama’s name on it, which adorns everything from Obama’s plane to his street literature. Young school children singing songs praising Obama. Teenagers wearing camouflage outfits and marching in military order chanting Obama’s name and the professions he is going to open to them. An Obama world tour, culminating in a speech in Berlin where Obama proclaims we are all citizens of the world. I dare say, this is ominous stuff.
But beyond the elites and the media, my greatest concern is whether this election will show a majority of the voters susceptible to the appeal of a charismatic demagogue. This may seem a harsh term to some, and no doubt will to Obama supporters, but it is a perfectly appropriate characterization.
Unlike past Democrat presidential candidates, Obama is a hardened ideologue. He’s not interested in playing around the edges. He seeks “fundamental change,” i.e., to remake society. And if the Democrats control Congress with super-majorities led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, he will get much of what he demands.
The question is whether enough Americans understand what’s at stake in this election and, if they do, whether they care. Is the allure of a charismatic demagogue so strong that the usually sober American people are willing to risk an Obama presidency? After all, it ensnared Adelman, Kmiec, Powell, Fried, and numerous others. And while America will certainly survive, it will do so, in many respects, as a different place.
Read it. It’s very good.
Thanks to the person who sent it to me. 🙂
I don’t know anyone who leans conservative who is voting for Obama. His strongest supporters are over-the-top though. Although, I actually think that they have lionized him to the point that he is going to disappoint them badly if elected.
Sallie, I admire the fact that you are posting on the election too.
Ann – Thank you. I also commented on the election posting in a comment here to Lura. I appreciate your kind words. 🙂
I agree. Everyone is talking about how inexperienced Sarah Palin is, but Barrack Obama is just as green.
Mod Girl, exactly. It’s ok if you disagree with Sarah Palin on the issues, but the way people have criticized her for her lack of experience, considering Obama’s experience, is just intellectually dishonest. I think sexism plays in.
I wish the folks heading up the fear-mongering would take the plank out of their own side’s eyeball before throwing a fit over the mote in their neighbors.
Under Bush and Ashcroft, we experienced the most invasive act (the “Patriot” act) against our liberties as Americans. But, since they were “good guys” (because if you are a conservative and a Christian, you get a good guy pass and we’ll follow you like blind sheep), we don’t blink an eye. The writer of the above article can even say something like, “…what’s occurring in this election is a recklessness and abandonment of rationality that has preceded the voluntary surrender of liberty and security in other places.”
It seems odd to me for the writer to chide Obama supporters for not being rational. How rude, first of all. We assume that anyone who likes Obama is doing so for foolish reasons, because anyone employing logic wouldn’t like him!? Goodness. That is arrogant and divisive argumentation. The author brushes off the idea that people may have well-thought out reasons for agreeing Obama, and broad-brushes Obama’s supporters as weak followers of charisma. How insulting. The message comes across loud and clear: “People who use their brains would NEVER vote for Obama.” Arrogance to the extreme.
What happened under Bush administration (and the relative quiet acceptance from Christian conservative America) does NOT give us any room to boast about our powers of rationality. And while someone may not like Obama, let’s not stoop to promoting arguments that are based on fear-mongering and arrogant dismissals.
From someone who will not be voting for Obama but is really frustrated by the anti-Obama stuff going on,
Molly
Sallie,
I just wanted to let you know that I JUST REALIZED that I forgot to give your blog a full “name and link” on my post today, and it was TOTALLY not a purposeful slight—-just a really bad edit job on my part (hey, what’s new). I’m so sorry for the bad blog etiquette and want you to know that it was not, and I repeat NOT, on purpose.
I know we differ in this area (and probably in others, too), but I really enjoy popping in and reading your thoughts and musings (though I don’t comment much), and plan to continue to enjoy you in the future.
I really hope you knwo that, and know that I didn’t mean my post today in ANY ANY ANY way against you in particular. Some of my fav bloggers are shooting out anti-Obama posts right and left and, well, I’ve just had it. But we all have the right to differing viewpoints…and, Lord, save me from surrounding myself with only people who agree with me! lol…
Anyways, all that to say that I hope there are no hard feelings and that you know that I think you are one great blogger!
Warmly,
Molly
Molly,
Hey, you know I like you so you would have to be really inflammatory for me to take offense. I welcome dissenting opinion here as long as it is nicely said. I could hear the frustration in your comment and that’s fine. We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this topic. But that doesn’t change the fact that we are sisters in Christ and share a lot in common.
As for the link, don’t worry about it. You said I was a friend in the link. Now if you had said I was a crazy Obama hating loon, well… I might have said something. 😉
Sallie, I know this is after the fact but wanted to say that this was a great article and in all the years we have voted or been involved in elections, I have been the most grieved over Christians and their support of Obama than over any past candidate. On the flip side, my oldest children have been really engaged in this election more than any past one and I think it is because they are seeing first hand what we have taught them to recognize all these years. I have a lot of hope in the future because I am seeing young Christians questioning their peers over their insane support for Obama. Let’s keep hanging in there. BTW, I wrote my own post-election commentary last week and it is pretty upbeat so stop by and be encouraged!