Ok. Stop with the "Obama rally = Cult" BS already.

[mckeown1128]

This message is for those who refuse to give Obama an ounce of respect.

I am so sick of Clinton supporters screaming about Obama supporters being a cult. I am sorry your candidate doesn't inspire you, but don't take it out on my candidate. If JFK or FDR were here today would you be saying the same thing about them. Also, stop with all of that BS about Obama not having any substance when he talks. I bet 99% of the people who say that Obama doesn't have substance in his speeches have never actually listened to a whole speech. Sure it is fluff for the first 10 minutes...but he DOES talk policy. If you spent ANY time at all actually trying to listen to what he says.

I think I can speak for many Obama supporters here when I say that those critics that criticize Obama about such things are idiots. If you guys who troll on and on and on about this cult BS only new how ignorant it makes you look. I challenge any of you to actually go to Obama's site to read his detailed policy positions. Or go to youtube and listen to one of his speeches. You may not like him but you would be lying if you said that he doesn't talk about his policy positions.

It is getting old. You need to ask yourself why he is able to pull so many people into his campaign events. It isn't because he gives a good speech. It is because of what he says in the speech. He is pulling in young voters, independents, and even republicans INTO the Democratic Party and some here think that is a bad thing. Well, you can mock the age of Obama supporters, you can call the independents cult followers, and you can call the republicans(pukes) but they are all finally getting behind progressive ideals. Don't push them away because you can't take a challenge to your candidate of choice.

It is time to stop the bashing, because even if Obama loses the nomination he is going to be a permanent fixture in the Democratic Party for a long time.

[BootinUp]

1. Ok, but he is always scripted, lol.

[Bicoastal]

4. Even MLK Jr. had a speechwriter...

...and he (the writer) just endorsed Obama.

[IndieLeft]

22. And Clinton Isn't? All Politicians are Scripted.

[AX10]

2. Will the Obama supporters stop...

attacking Hillary and using right wing talking points against her.

[gasoline highway]

5. I think the moderation can go for both sides not just Obama or Hillary

Both sides are using dirty tactics.

[stevietheman]

8. Again, Hillary ACTUALLY SAID she's "going after their wages"!!!!!

It's not "right wing" to hear Hillary's words coming out of her actual mouth!!!!!!

[IndieLeft]

25. I just heard it on MSNBC! Just 5 minutes ago.

If you do not buy HER insurance, she will garnish your wages. And she said it so cavalierly, like it was no big deal.

[rodeodance]

50. And Obama said he would FINE parents who do not buy health ins. for kids.

[ErnestoG]

39. When she stops licking right wing ass, sure.

[mondo joe]

3. He'll be on the scene. He'll probably win the nom. But it's still cultish.

Just like the Tom Cruise scientology vid.

[mckeown1128]

6. Obama's campaign is not cultish.

Do you have any thoughts on how you can link his campaign to a cult?

[mondo joe]

9. Sure.

But you won't be able to see it.

[billbuckhead]

13. Slate editor calls Obama speech style 'fascistic'

Slate editor calls Obama speech style 'fascistic'
Michael Roston
Published: Monday February 4, 2008

While the speaking style of Barack Obama has been called inspirational by many observers, a top editor for a major opinion leading publication in Washington issued a serious criticism of the senator's public persona last Friday. The deputy editor of a major online magazine spent time in a weekly podcast explaining how the style of Senator Barack Obama shares much in common with the speech of fascist dictators like Benito Mussolini.

"That's slightly fascistic," David Plotz, the deputy editor at Slate.com said in the magazine's weekly podcast when one of his fellow editors brought up Obama's style. "That's a very, like, let's rally the nation. I don't want to be rallied."
----------snip------------
<http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Slate_editor_calls_Obama_speech_style_0204.html>

[VolcanoJen]

20. 'Tis a sad day on DU when DUers use David Plotz quotes to attack a candidate

What's next? Mickey Kaus? I thought the Slate crowd was hangin' around waiting for news of the blessed delievery of the fabled Edwards Love Child.

[ErnestoG]

40. Yeah you already posted that thread.

And it makes Slate no more of an authority on things "fascistic".

[GoldieAZ49]

58. Wow, campaign rallies for a national election sounds like a "rally the nation"

A stunning perception of the obvious! There must be a hidden agenda...could it be that he wants to rally the nation to win the election and make the changes the people that voted for him want? YES! That is what he is doing, it is his alterer motive...alas you have discovered it, almost went right over your head...but you caught it and have exposed it for what it is, a national campaign.

Hats off to you genius!

[rodeodance]

52. cult--religion-like--blind faith followers--you get the picture.

[1corona4u]

65. Yes, it is a cult...

the fact that you don't see it means it's working;


Cult;

An instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

The object of such devotion.

A group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

A religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

[BlackVelvet04]

7. We know why he pulls people in...

we've seen it right here on this forum. You like rock stars. You like chanting and goosebumps. People aren't getting behind progressive ideas they are following a rock star leader and the first time he reaches across that aisle and COMPROMISES you guys are going to be raising holy hell.


You all know damn good and well he hasn't been vetted and he will be by the republicans. Look around the internet at the skeletons in his closet and you'll get a little idea of what's to come. It's irresponsible to ignore it. You guys want to feel all warm and fuzzy but you're gambling with OUR party, too. It's not just yours.

I don't think Hillary Clinton is perfect. I support her in spite of her shortcomings. You guys refuse to admit Obama even has any shortcomings and THAT is what is so frustrating, irritating and indicative of your complete immaturity.

[Occam Bandage]

10. Failure to believe the bullshit smear-of-the-day is not the same as failure to believe

Obama has any shortcomings. Obama has plenty. You rarely if ever hit on them.

[BlackVelvet04]

30. Not once have any of you addressed a

criticism or concern about Obama. You snark your way around it or point your finger at what someone else has done. Grow up.

[Occam Bandage]

32. Not once? Please don't make me go a googlin'. Here, let me just recap:

McClurkin was stupid. His K-L duck was lame. I wish his health-care plan was single-payer. I wish he went beyond civil unions and backed gay marriage. His economic stimulus package could be more comprehensive.

I've addressed dozens of "concerns" or "criticisms" of Obama. Failure to accept smears is not a failure to address criticism.

[BlackVelvet04]

34. I think you are being obtuse.

you know what the possible scandals are and there's more.

[Occam Bandage]

66. You mean Rezko? When you show me evidence of illegal or unethical action, sure.

[stevietheman]

11. GOP commercial: going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages,

going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages, going after their wages..................

[twenty4blackbirds]

15. k&r

(Obama supporters) refuse to admit Obama even has any shortcomings and THAT is what is so frustrating

yes, it is that.

[arewenotdemo]

24. If by "vetted" you mean approved by

the AEI and AIPAC, no thank you!

On to Damascus, anyone?

[thoughtcrime1984]

33. You guys, as in millions of Obama supporters?

mkay.

[TexasObserver]

12. Those comments about Obama are sour grapes.

Jealous of him, jealous of his superior speaking ability, jealous of his vast support.

[BlackVelvet04]

31. No, aware of what's to come that you guys are too childish,

and immature to realize. It's not support, it's childish engagement in a pep rally.

[nonconformist]

14. I read The Audacity of Hope. I've read his website. I've seen some speeches on Youtube.

The man is light on substance and details... HE IS.

He's also not progressive, if you ask me. He's getting Republican voters because his policies aren't very liberal. Plus, he's committed to negotiating with them, so you can believe his policies will be adjusted to accommodate that. And frankly, anyone who is attracting Republican voters seems like a bad idea.

And all the chanting, the rock star stuff, the rabidness of his supporters... it's creepy. Sorry.

[bidenista]

17. AMEN

The meme arises from experience of his supporters' behavior.

[mondo joe]

18. ...

[thoughtcrime1984]

not worth it

[mondo joe]

27. You're sure, are you? I'm not.

I think 0bama will win.

That's politics. Grow up and deal with it.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CTLawGuy]

36. so he both has no policies

and has republican policies...

THAT makes sense...

[nonconformist]

38. No, he has weak and vague policies.

That are not very liberal.

[CTLawGuy]

41. ending the war,

universal health care,
tax relief for the middle class,
foreign policy based on diplomacy and open communication,
ending guantanamo (torture) etc.,

sounds horribly conservative....

[nonconformist]

43. Whoa... did you say universal healthcare?

WRONG. Do you even know what Obama's policies are?

[CTLawGuy]

47. his goal

is to create universal health care through reduction of premium costs, and increasing efficiency. Hillary's goal is achieving universality though mandates.

Neither will be completely universal. Empirical evidence shows that mandates do not achieve true universality. ONLY single payer is truly universal. I call them both "universal" becuase theoretically they could be.

[nonconformist]

53. Read this.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/opinion/04krugman.html?_r=1&oref=login

[rodeodance]

51. I read A. of HOPE---lots of ME< ME stuff. got bored with it.

[Triana]

64. It IS creepy - and it's that same kind of blind fawning that garnered us...

...George W. bu$h

Think about it.

[Sulawesi]

16. Huzzah!

[Straight Shooter]

19. It's getting harder and harder to tell if he has supporters or followers.

It's going to reach a tipping point where the majority of people are going to be appalled, not impressed, at the hordes chanting, "Yes we can, Yes we can, Yes we can!"

[madfloridian]

23. Well, at least his supporters are not arrogant.

.

[Straight Shooter]

26. Maybe not you.

Have you looked around?

[madfloridian]

35. Not a bit worse than the Hillary supporters. It is like 2004 all over again.

[Straight Shooter]

37. Yeah, but we're tougher this time.

And I will ALWAYS support Howard Dean. :)

[madfloridian]

21. That was the attack theme here in 04.....Dean worship.

It just went on and on.

[ErnestoG]

42. Right. And Dean came back to help the Dems win Congress.

Some cult. We need more of those.

[Straight Shooter]

45. But Rahm Emanuel claimed all the credit. That little weasel.

You know, Axelrod's good friend, that Rahm Emanuel, the one looking to get Barack's seat.

[madfloridian]

57. And some of the credit for the huge Dem turnouts in primaries

should got to his outreach programs in place in all 50 states. That is being totally ignored.

[cboy4]

28. I think treating any politician the way some people treat

Obama is just a little bit cultish.

Some treat him as though he's the second coming of Christ, and that's a bit much.

He's a politician who says lots of things to draw people in so he can get elected.

I just think there's a difference between enthusiasm and treating the guy like Jesus.

[Jed Dilligan]

44. It's just inspiration envy

They need to grow the fuck up or call a waahmbulance, to quote them.

[RandomKoolzip]

46. Everybody hates a winner.

And by "everybody," I mean 97% of DU.

It doesn't matter if it's Obama or anyone else - if they're winning, it's a sure bet DU will hate them. Why would we want to belong to a club that would have us as members?

[Indenturedebtor]

54. Bwahahahaha

Personally I follow the money.

I have YET to have a Clintonite respond the the fact that she is the most bought and paid for candidate. It's like they don't want to see it. The 90's are not coming back. And frankly they weren't that good anyways.

I'll take Kucinich over Edwards, Edwards over Kucinich, and Obama over Clinton.

First comes the money trail

Second comes policy

Third comes that ever so important and ever so hard to quantify - leadership ability. Obama, Edwards, Kucinich inspire. Clinton wonks. Save the wonking for the website. The American people don't want to hear wonk... they dont even speak wonk. They want to believe! How in the hell do you think Bush got elected? By wonking?

And that's not something new that Bush brought to the table... he inspired on hate. For the 45% that he probably actually legitimately won he did manage to inspire them in one ugly way or another.

Obama inspires on hope. So I compared the two... so what. Human beings still inhabit this country, not wonklings. Look how much Bush was able to change. Want it to swing the other way? I do. We need a LEADER who is free of PAC/Lobbyist money, and long on wonk (on his website, policy statements). Don't fear the charisma simply because you wish we all had massive bulbous foreheads that vibrated at the sound of wonk.

And don't call me naive for thinking so. I think it's naive to think that the American people will ever respond to wonk. You have to fix the education system before you expect to sell that fix through wonkety wonky wonk.

[RandomKoolzip]

67. You got all that from my post? Weird.

Please show me where I called you naive, or even addressed you at all. You must have X-ray reading glasses or something.

[jlake]

48. Sorry. Obama is the one who promotes the image. Gotta call him on it.

[rodeodance]

49. Inspiration is highly over-rated by you and the press--and Kool-Aid drinkers.

[Indenturedebtor]

56. Hah

"We choose to go to the moon..."

"I have dreamed a dream"

"Four score and seven years"

"We hold these truths to be self evident"

etc etc.

Oh but don't forget

"What America Needs Is A CEO"

that one's a keeper :P

[TexasObserver]

55. Snake Handlers ...

... for Clinton are accusing Obama of having a cult.

[Bluebear]

59. 'You shook his hand didn't you?" Happily the guy said "Yes." I then said, "give me some of that"'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4057783

"You shook his hand didn't you?" Happily the guy said "Yes." I then said, "give me some of that" and the guy shook my hand with the same hand he had just clasped with Barack's. A woman friend of mine who was standing next to me saw me shake hands with the guy. I turned to her and said "He just shook hands with Barack," to which she responded..."Hey, give it up." We then shook hands. She then turned to the person next to her and shook hands. This chain of hand shakes went on for about five or six more persons....

No, no cult behavior here.

[rodeodance]

60. Too bad Obama didn't shake Clinton's hand instead of being afraid of her.

[depakid]

61. Trouble is, the shoe seems to fit....

and that observation has little to do with a choice of candidates, but with a pattern some of us see with the organization and its supporters (followers?)

If you were to step from out of the American media fray, you might see some of the charicteristics as well.

Something to think about-

[Perry Logan]

62. It's the glassy look in their eyes. And the tendency to lie about their opponents.

[Triana]

63. nacissistic millenials have deified an equally narcissistic politician...

...ain't an ounce of reality in it. And they refuse to look at any. If THAT isn't the def of a cult, what is?

The idealism is admirable - but come down to earth - or fall down.

I have nothing against Obama per se and would be fine with it if he wins, but he's a friggin bought and paid for pol like Hillary and most of the rest of them. The ones who ARE NOT were forced - by the corprats who own and control this country AND YOU and OBAMA - OUT of this race.


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