Where did folks get the idea that the Obama campaign is some kind of cult?

[Apollo11]

There is an interesting photo gallery about Barack Obama on the website of Rolling Stone magazine.

This photo was taken on the very first day of Barack Obama's Presidential campaign (February 10th, 2007).



Here's the link to the photo gallery:
www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/19066990/barack_obama_a_photo_history/photo/30/large

[Tennessee Gal]

1. From the behavior of his supporters.

Based upon my observations.

[backscatter712]

7. Yeah, how dare a leader be able to inspire...

Why, they might get enough popular support to change the way things are in the Beltway, and we wouldn't want that no, would we?

[Tennessee Gal]

23. You misinterpret my post.

Inspiration is a great thing based upon a logical thought process with substance and experience to back it up.

There are many Obama supporters, based upon my observations, who are looking at things emotionally rather than logically.

[backscatter712]

36. Maybe...

but in my personal experience, Obama's a person with both style and substance. Sure you probably don't agree with the substance - hey, this GD-P and we can shout at each other all day. But Obama's a guy who recognizes that in order to sell progressive ideals, you can't just be a policy nerd and rattle off position statements - you'll put your audience to sleep. Obama knows that to sell to a very large portion of the audience, you need emotional appeal. That's why he talks about hope and says "Yes, we can!" It's emotional appeal, not logical, but it does sell. And Obama's very good at it.

As for supporters, well, welcome to the Internet. There will always be idiots shooting their mouth off, be they Obama supporters, Hillary supporters or Republicans or fringe nuts.

[blues90]

88. your first paragraph defines a cult . nt

[backscatter712]

90. No, it defines successful politics. n/t

[blues90]

91. Glad you think so , nt

[aquart]

109. So elect the used car salesman? Elect the televangelist?

You're voting for the man who would win Insurance Salesman of the Month every month? THAT's your criteria? HE DOESN'T PUT YOU TO SLEEP??????

And he plays on your emotions AND YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA????????

Why don't you just wear a sign "Manipulate Me"? Talk about a cheap date.

[olkaz]

37. googley moogley

"based upon my observations, who are looking at things emotionally rather than logically."

That's what Rush says about women, who are mostly voting for Hillary.

Your sample size is probably too small. And I'm curious as to whether your observations are strictly web-based.

[Tennessee Gal]

46. My observations are not strictly web-based.

And I don't care what Rush says since I do not listen to him.

I watch Obama, listen to what he says, and read his positions and policies.

I also observe Michelle Obama and I am not impressed.

[olkaz]

52. /facepalm

"And I don't care what Rush says since I do not listen to him."

That may be. But look what kind of person says those things (accusations of emotionally-driven action). Good company. That was the point.

"I watch Obama, listen to what he says, and read his positions and policies."

I thought we were talking about his supporters, not Obama himself. Are you saying that Obama is emotional about his own campaign? Shame on him!

"I also observe Michelle Obama and I am not impressed."

Are you trying to change the topic? Or just flaming?

[OhioBlue]

If Hillary supporters were logical

they would realize that going against agreed upon DNC rules for FL and MI is unethical.

[olkaz]

28. I love you guys.

Never change.

Anyway, I was at the Obama's campaign announcement rally (it was in my hometown and I lived four blocks away), and I don't remember anybody holding those signs.

But there were thousands of people there (in 20 degree temperature). Does that make them "kahraaaaazy"?

There were some wild christian fundies there protesting abortion too. They were completely normal though.

[aquart]

40. Scary, isn't it?

[EmilyAnne]

75. I guess it doesn't take much to get some people skeert. Different opinions, different personal

histories that support those different opinions, etc. Not much more to it then that.

[dchill]

59. "Based upon my observations."

You obviously have no time left for "observations" of the life and times of Hillary Clinton. The truth of HRC's life and times is enough for me to for for "Anybody But Hillary". It's just pure luck that there is an alternative who actually has some ethics. I won't bother you with facts, because I can just see that you aren't interested. Based upon my observations.

[libbygurl]

98. "...there is an alternative who actually has some ethics." Well, I'll bother you w/ facts, then.

Meet Obama, the 'New Politician' = just like the 'Old Politician'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted by citizen_jane:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4901539


From a reporter who knew Obama back in Chicago:

=============

"Obama and Me"
(It was the year 2000, and I was a young, hungry reporter in Chicago with a young, hungry state legislator on my speed dial)
By Todd SpivaK

"It's not quite eight in the morning, and Barack Obama is on the phone screaming at me. He liked the story I wrote about him a couple weeks ago, but not this garbage.

Months earlier, a reporter friend told me she overheard Obama call me an asshole at a political fund-raiser. Now here he is blasting me from hundreds of miles away for a story that just went online but hasn't yet hit local newsstands.

It's the first time I've ever heard him yell, and I'm trembling as I set down the phone. I sit frozen at my desk for several minutes, stunned.

This is before Obama Girl, before the Secret Service detail, before he becomes a best-selling author. His book, Dreams From My Father, has been out of print for years."

MUCH MUCH MORE - http://dallasobserver.com/2008-02-28/news/obama-and-me


============ AND THEN THERE'S THIS, TOO:


http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A3015


Some African-American colleagues who served with Obama during his seven-year tenure in the state legislature are now also grudgingly supporting him after they endorsed other candidates or remained neutral in the primary.

"Anybody but Obama," chimed one prominent black legislator, who asked not to be named, a week before the election.

Surprisingly, one such reluctant Obama supporter is state Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago. A 17-year veteran legislator, Davis sponsored a pair of significant bills -- one designed to track incidents of racial profiling, and another that mandates the taping of police interrogations in murder cases -- that were central to Obama's campaign platform.

Though she worked closely with Obama to pass the bills into law, and says she toiled to keep the bills alive before he became their Senate sponsor, Davis claims her efforts were largely ignored.
"I was snubbed," says Davis, who endorsed Hynes in the primary though she belongs to the same church as Obama on Chicago's South Side. "I felt he was shutting me out of history."
State Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, the original Senate sponsor of both the racial profiling and videotaped confession bills, likewise felt overshadowed by Obama.

"I took all the beatings and insults and endured all the racist comments over the years from nasty Republican committee chairmen," says Hendon. "Barack didn't have to endure any of it, yet, in the end, he got all the credit.

"I don't consider it bill jacking," Hendon clarifies. "But no one wants to carry the ball 99 yards all the way to the one-yard line, and then give it to the half-back who gets all the credit and the stats in the record book."

Senate President Emil Jones, who endorsed Obama from the start of his campaign, aided the candidate by yanking Hendon off the high-profile bills and appointing Obama their new sponsor.

-----------------------------------------------------

[Fresh_Start]

2. great photo gallery

especially like the one where the little girl has her hand on his face

[OhioBlue]

63. yeah - I saw that too. So Cute! n/t

[alphafemale]

66. Obama looks more natural in a cowboy hat than * does.

Of course Obama probably isn't afraid of horses.

[Apollo11]

68. Is that one of his worshippers doing a "devil" sign on the right?

While Obama the Marlboro man is asking "Anyone got a light?" :eyes:

[alphafemale]

77. Hook 'em Horns. It's some college thang in TX.

As if you didn't know this.

[Autumn]

86. That is an awesome

picture of him. Absolutely love it.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Pictures of Obama??? How skeery! They'll need deprogramming!!

[Hepburn]

20. OMG...........

.......pictures of Obama on his website!?!?!?!?!

Run...OBVIOUSLY that is determinative evidence of a cult!

:rofl:

[bunnies]

4. *sigh*

Yep. 3 people holding the same photo means its a cult. You got us.

[Apollo11]

6. Yep. It's a slam-dunk!

Which gives me a lame excuse to post another photo of Barack Obama ;-)

[EmilyAnne]

81. That's exactly how Jim Jones was able to convince all those little old ladies to sell all their

earthly possessions, give him the money, move to South America and commit suicide. He showed them three photographs of himself all at THE SAME TIME. It was creepy as all hell.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it illegal in some states to show three pictures of oneself all at the same time?

[bunnies]

114. ...

showing 3 pictures of ones self is strictly forbidden in NH. Shit. We cant have a cult war going on round here.

Its like saying "candyman". Three times and you're screwed!

[azmouse]

5. Anyone that thinks that needs a brain transplant.

:wtf:

[jobycom]

17. What if they have one, and their new brain tells the same thing as their old brain?

:rofl:

C'mon, if you've been around politics at all, you know that every candidate tries to create a cult-like atmosphere. Obama is modeling his campaign after Reagan's, as has been pointed out--almost by Obama himself. It's a smart strategy, it definitely creates cult-like emotions in some people. No big deal. I've met Clinton and Kucinich and Paul (especially Paul) supporters who acted more like worshippers than supporters, too. You win some votes with facts, and some with emotions, and every candidate tries to employ both options.

A friend of mine, who is voting for Obama, calls Obama supporters "Moonies."

[azmouse]

22. So why are the Hillary Cult members so obsessed with it?

It seems to me they're just grasping at straws.

[jobycom]

41. Because that's exactly what we are doing.

Grasping at straws. :rofl: Hoping something works.

Look, Obama, contrary to what many of supporters want to believe, has run the dirtiest, most hard-nosed, most negative campaign any Democrat has run in my lifetime. I say that almost with admiration. From his misrepresentation of Clinton's Iraq vote (not to mention his shifting position on how he would have voted) and her LBJ comments, to his attacks on her for special interests, NAFTA, tax records, whatever, he's looked more like Rove and Atwater than like any previous Democrat. (Don't bother arguing with that, I know you disagree, I'm just saying how I see it). He attacks in ways that can't really be countered, either because they have become "conventional wisdom" (Like the claim that the "Iraq War Resolution" was a vote for war), or because there's just no real way to counter ("What's she hiding by not releasing her income tax statements? When did she stop beating her wife?"). And he's smooth enough to make it look like he's taking the high road. He has no record, so Clinton cannot counter in kind.

So when a Clinton supporter debates an Obama supporter, and are hit with all the "Obama is about hope and change!" we get frustrated. Logic and reality shows the opposite--he's just another hard-nosed politician, with a very smooth message. It is like trying to argue against a religion, so we burst out with "You're just fanatics!" That's why my friend has started calling himself a Moonie. He's sharp enough to realize that his support of Obama is way beyond logic, that normal rules based on facts would favor the candidate with experience and training. He admits it's more about a feeling, more about a belief in what Obama can do, than about any facts he can pull up. Not to say there aren't factual reasons to vote for Obama, just that he's aware of his own emotions in the matter.

He accuses me of the opposite, of course. My nickname is "Cynical." (He's a salesman, and I'm more the academic type, so you can see I'd be more analytical and he'd be more instinctual from the start.)

Typical politics. I can't remember a campaign any different, although this one has lasted longer. Much, much longer. The trick is to get both sides to let go of the anger after the convention. Until then, it's a barroom brawl, and the winner won't have facts, just the best punch. :)

[azmouse]

70. ahhhh.... so you are saying he IS tough enough to compete with the Reps.

That's not what most Hillary supporters assert.

[aquart]

42. That's so...childlike.

You've been caught. Everybody rational notices what's going on. Sane people are more than a little frightened.

But your response is not just denial, but to accuse the people who noticed of doing what you are doing. Trying to make your actions normal. Well, they are normal. Many religions began this way.

It's just a horrible thing in politics is all.

[libbygurl]

8. Not hard to think so...when people cry, faint at rallies, and he talks of 'a light descending...

...upon you...blah, blah, blah', the ultraviciousness of some supporters who will brook absolutely no criticism of his holiness, etc.

[mmonk]

9. The Clinton campaign most likely.

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. You may wish to look up "cult of personality"

Here is Wikipedia's article to get you started: Cult Of Personality

[jefferson_dem]

[Skidmore]

11. So much better than being associated with the BCFEE

or the Bush-Clinton Family Evil Empire. Now see how easy that was. Two can play this game.

[TexasLady]

12. OMG!!! *pant pant pant* WOOOOHOO!!!

hubba hubba!
:crazy::silly::loveya::woohoo::applause:
WHAT a MAh-YUN!

[smiley_glad_hands]

13. I blame the exuberence of his younger supporters.

Its misunderstood. If I was younger I'd be the same way. I'm just too cynical, but a supporter.

Hilliary needs to drop out now, btw.

[aquart]

48. "Exuberance"?

What do they believe in, other than the wonderfulness of Obama? What does their "movement" consist of, except Obama?

[EmilyAnne]

84. Obviously nothing. Young people are just so damned stupid. Good thing they are good enough to die

in droves in Iraq. Why do you think that you have a monopoly on rational decision making? You really are discrediting a lot of intelligent people. Come on.

[Dogmudgeon]

14. All mass movement develop cultish aspects.

Obama has exploited this, but recently he has been pushing hard in the direction of a firmly rational approach.

I have to admit, I found the early behavior of some of his followers quite unsettling. These days, it tends to be the bile and hatred that some of the Obama supporters have for Hillary Clinton that creeps me out.

About Obama himself? I like the guy. I will have no trouble whatsoever working for him if he wins -- though I'm still fighting for Hillary.

--p!

[jgraz]

15. Scary. Thank god Hillary supporters are so much more sensible.

http://graphics.boston.com:80/resize/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2007/08/30/1188530216_6609/410w.jpg

[Beausoir]

16. It's not a cult. But they do applaud him for blowing his nose. That's kinda weird.

[Ichingcarpenter]

18. Exit Polls: Obama Supporters Aren't Cultish but Hillary's supporters

More Clinton supporters would switch to McCain if Obama is the nominee than Obama supporters would if Clinton is the nominee: "A quarter of Democrats (25%) who back Clinton for the nomination say they would favor McCain in a general election test against Obama. The "defection" rate among Obama's supporters if Clinton wins the nomination is far lower; just 10% say they would vote for McCain in November..."


Buried in the poll-taking, however, was a surprising figure among those who identified themselves as Obama supporters. While 73% of Obama supporters felt that Clinton should drop out of the race if she lost both Texas and Ohio, nearly half of them (46%) felt it would be perfectly appropriate for Clinton to remain in the race, had she only won one of those states.

This percentage was far less than the number posted by "all Democrats" who felt Clinton had justifiable reason to remain in the race in the "win-one, lose-one" scenario by a 67-29 margin.

Still, there's been a lot of hand wringing in the past week about media fairness in the Democratic race. Who was the media treating unfairly, Clinton or Obama? My thought: neither! The most unfairly abused party in the race has been Obama's supporters, who are widely derided as a glassy-eyed cult of personality whose support is insincere, naive, and based on their propensity to faint dead away when they are in Obama's presence. I say "most unfairly," because unlike the two candidates, they don't have a voice in the media. They don't have an avenue to defend themselves. No one is writing SNL sketches for them.

These poll numbers indicate that Obama's supporters aren't quite the scorched-earth, anti-Hillary Kool-Aid drinkers they've been made out to be. On balance, the Obama support registers in the numbers, but a clear sign of fair-minding comity is also indicated.

Credit is due to the eagle-eyes over at 1115.org, who also note that the recent Pew poll shows that Obama's supporters are more likely to stay in the Democratic camp if their candidate doesn't get the nomination:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/05/exit-polls-obama-support_n_90018.html

[Apollo11]

24. Half of the Obama supporters here on DU will not vote for Hillary if she is the Dem nominee.

At least according to the results of this poll right here:

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4908800

[Ichingcarpenter]

34. Oh, that's relevant

You take a DU poll as more reliable than a national poll?

[rodeodance]

56. so Obama was wrong--he said he would get Hillary supporters

[Barb in Atl]

102. Thanks for the info! (n/t)

[NightWatcher]

19. you want to see a response that is "cult like"...insult Hillary and take cover

I've been called a fucking asshole on three occasions, none of the times was it warranted.

Reminds me of the Jim Jones people who shot at the Senator and his group as they left for the airport before they returned to the camp to brew the koolaid.

[bicentennial_baby]

21. !

:rofl:

too true...

[Hepburn]

25. Yep....

....today I got called FREEPER, REPUBLICAN ENABLER, and other names because I do not bow down and worship at the throne of Queen Hillary.

:puke:

[DemGa]

26. I predict a wave of embarrassment -- in former Obama followers

Few will want to admit they were part of this silliness. This will become evident during the long summer.

[otohara]

57. I Predict A New President

a skinny multi-racial guy who fought against all odds and becomes the 44th POTUS.

[DemGa]

87. No, actually he used a scripted "hope and change movement" first ran with Duval Patrick

But we shall see how the fad holds up.

[NYCGirl]

112. Actually, Patrick took it from Obama's 2004 Senate campaign. NT

[blocker]

27. YOU WANT CULT..go to hillarys blogs, you'll be scared!

[backscatter712]

29. The cult meme comes out of Karl Rove's playbook.

Attack your opponent's strength.

Obama's an inspiring, gifted orator. Spin it with the Rove attack-the-strength tactic, and the gifted orator becomes a creepy cult leader.

Is anyone shocked that Clinton's using Rove tactics? *crickets chirping*

[Apollo11]

35. Oh brother, you just *had* to mention Karl Rove

That gives me an excuse to show you this photo from the same gallery ...



Is it just me - or are they looking kind of friendly? :eyes:

Here's a link to the photo at RollingStone.com
http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/19066990/barack_obama_a_photo_history/photo/17/large/

[backscatter712]

44. The inner circles of the Beltway are a small world.

I'll bet that someone here could find a similar picture with Hillary and Rove.

Just because they're pictured together doesn't mean they're collaborating - even today, Republican and Democratic Congresscritters, even when they disagree vehemently, will discuss their disagreements in the bar over a few beers.

And just because Hillary Clinton won't do business with Karl Rove doesn't mean she won't use his tactics...

[parasim]

30. You mean like this cult?

[Tennessee Gal]

31. Obama is no JFK.

Stop insulting his memory.

[backscatter712]

38. I think he has the gift.

No, I don't think it's an insult to JFK to compare Obama to him.

Both JFK and Obama are or were great leaders and orators who have it in them to inspire millions to make the world a better place.

[Apollo11]

39. Or as Oprah would say -- "I think he is The One"

But of course there's nothing even remotely cultish about it ...

[Tennessee Gal]

47. Obama is a great leader as compared to JFK?

I don't think so.

:eyes:

[Binka]

94. And You Are?

Jesus EGO much?

[libbygurl]

97. Okay, just attack the person and not the argument when you run out of ammo. Classy.

nt

[parasim]

45. Well, it's an apt comparison when you're talking politicians with huge followings...

... and who inspire scores of people. I'm sure back when JFK was running, many people thought his followers were cult-like.

I'm sorry if you find the comparison insulting.

[Tennessee Gal]

49. I lived it. I watched it. I know what I am talking about.

I don't recall anything cult-like about JFK's followers.

[aquart]

43. Not even close.

I remember we were all kinda pleased and upbeat about JFK. (Okay, not my mom who knew Joe Kennedy was pro-fascist.) But it was nothing like the hysteria involved with Obama. I know you want it to be. And the Kennedys think it's cool. But Kennedy wasn't billed as a savior, EVER. People got nostalgic AFTER the murder, but before was a whole other story.

[Guava Jelly]

32. Because when you call a movement a cult you write off the message.

Cult typically refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture considers outside the mainstream, with a notably positive or negative popular perception. In common or populist usage, "cult" has a positive connotation for groups of art, music, writing, fiction, and fashion devotees,<1> but a negative connotation for new religious, extreme political, questionable therapeutic, and pyramidal business groups.<2> For this reason, most, if not all, non-fan groups that are called cults reject this label.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult

According to this every one here is a cult member

[aquart]

51. This "movement" has only ONE message: "Elect Obama."

There is NOTHING else to it. The day after the election, whatcha all gonna do?

[Guava Jelly]

89. The same thing I would do if Hillary was elected president

What do you think

[aquart]

108. So much for the "movement."

Sorry. A movement has things to do. Obama's cult has one goal only: get him the presidency. Then everybody goes home. That ain't a movement. It's a fan club.

[Guava Jelly]

115. Oh grow up.

You want to see what a cultist looks like pick up a mirror

[mrreowwr_kittty]

33. I'm sure we'd never find photos at a Clinton rally of ardent supporters.

Obama's campaign is the first in the history of the world where that has happened. :eyes:

[aquart]

53. Denial, denial.

Hillary has supporters. Obama has worshippers. It's a hell of a difference. But it is really scary that you don't notice that.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

61. LMAO

"Enough with the big RALLIES, and the SPEECHES!!" :cry:

Damn kids. How dare they get excited about a candidate who is not Queen Hillary?!?

[rodeodance]

60. I have not seen a Hillary crowd of supporters hugging her photo have you?

[OhioBlue]

65. I've never seen a crowd of Hillary supporters. n/t

[rodeodance]

69. Then you are not keeping up with news. --out of touch you are.

[OhioBlue]

95. huh... I thought it was a good line. n/t

[Apollo11]

73. There aren't any Hillary supporters in your state, OhioBlue?

Man - that proves the primary was stolen! :crazy:

[rodeodance]

78. HA HA

[NYCGirl]

113. A crowd of supporters like these? Boy, can she fire up a crowd!

[rodeodance]

50. Sacramento Bee first wrote about it--a story of his campaign training camp in CA

[Sulawesi]

54. The link has 64 photos...why select this one? Just stop.

[rodeodance]

85. tsk tsk

[AtomicKitten]

55. Wow, I guess HOPE peaked in 1992 when Bill Clinton ran on it.

[bigtree]

58. aw, c'mon

that's cute.

[NashVegas]

62. Because People Have Confused Culture for Cult

Here's an essay I wrote in 2004 when my Dean love-on was still going strong, right about when he pulled out.

Obama's campaign has taken strong advantage of internet culture, that Dean's 04 campaign tapped into, and attempted to replicate it offline. What Obama is doing, I think, is trying to play both games. Sometimes it works, sometimes it backfires and his peeps look nutty.

[OhioBlue]

64. It's the propaganda of the HRC campaign

They can't compete with Obama on inspiration so they have to belittle it. They have to "make fun" of it. It is like when you were in school. The kids that were not good athletes made fun of the kids that were really good at sports, the kids that didn't get great grades made fun of the kids that did, etc. They make fun of and belittle the things that they are jealous of. So Hill makes fun of Barack's gifted ability as an orator. She's jealous. She is a mean girl.

[rodeodance]

67. ha ha--blame it onto Hillary. typical typical. You forget it was the Sac Bee

that first wrote about his phenomena ---author described an obama training camp in california--got goggle it. Spreading lies makes you look foolish at best!

[Apollo11]

71. Either foolish or ........... cultish?

Everything bad that happens in the world is part of some vast Mark Penn conspiracy? :eyes:

[OhioBlue]

72. Are you denying that Hillary

stood on stage and mocked Obama's oratory? It's a freakin' fact. We've all seen it. Her campaign feeds the "cult" BS.

You're the one that looks foolish. maybe you don't have a TV or you live under a rock or something, but there is no refuting what HRC has done.

[Apollo11]

76. When they played that clip back on the MSNBC debate, Obama said "Sounds good!"

He obviously enjoyed Hillary's little tribute to his stump speech more than you did!

Maybe because Obama doesn't take himself quite so seriously as his supporters? B-)

[OhioBlue]

80. he bailed her out. she looked like a fool. n/t

[rodeodance]

83. Barack Obama: " "... a light will shine through that window, a beam of light will come down upon

Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject that is because as Obama said on Jan 7th........
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4660716#4662505
4662505, that is because as Obama said on Jan 7th........
Posted by ElsewheresDaughter on Tue Feb-19-08 01:07 PM

"... a light will shine through that window, a beam of light will come down upon you, you will experience an epiphany ... and you will suddenly realize that you must go to the polls and vote for Obama" - - Barack Obama Lebanon, New Hampshire. January 7, 2008

[rodeodance]

79. She dissed the cult like behavior. She did well also:-)

[rodeodance]

82. Barack Obama -"you will experience an epiphany .."

Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject that is because as Obama said on Jan 7th........
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4660716#4662505
4662505, that is because as Obama said on Jan 7th........
Posted by ElsewheresDaughter on Tue Feb-19-08 01:07 PM

"... a light will shine through that window, a beam of light will come down upon you, you will experience an epiphany ... and you will suddenly realize that you must go to the polls and vote for Obama" - - Barack Obama Lebanon, New Hampshire. January 7, 2008

[Bongo Prophet]

93. Some people refuse to see that was a joke. Self deprecating humor, just like "sounds good"

If people weren't such ASSES, we could actually enjoy the good and bad in each candidate.

It would be fun, and we could enjoy this great historical moment in our democracy.
But instead...

[Barb in Atl]

103. But... But... But....

...then I couldn't prove I'm RIGHT!!!!

[libbygurl]

110. LOL! is all I can do when I read things like his. 'She is a mean girl.' Yep,...

...she's so mean, she's only done so much for advocating the welfare of children with her working for the Children's Defense Fund, their education (raising standards in Arkansas), their health care (SCHIP), and the health care of military reservists, and even dared propose a national health care plan when it wasn't yet de riguer to do so, and did so against the powerful insurance, medical lobbies and Repubs.

Such a mean, mean girl, that Hillary!

[Justitia]

74. Where did folks get the idea that Clinton supporters love war & torture? Just asking! -eom

[Straight Shooter]

92. Don'tcha know? The BAM! started it all. Obama's handshake is transformative!

[IamyourTVandIownyou]

96. It;s the Clinton camp that is the cult.

A cult of Washington insiders.





"Nobody here but us gunslingers" - Paul Begala, 2004.

[AZBlue]

99. It's a sad Clintonian/Rovian meme.

[depakid]

101. LOL -this is just the sort of thing that cults members do

ascribe valid observations and criticisms to their "enemies."

In fact, people from as far away as Britain and Australia have come to this conclusion quite independently -from as long ago as last fall, based on their understanding of basic cult behaviors.

If anyone from Hillary's campaign has gotten involved at all, it's been very late in the game....

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

100. From lack of critical thinking, soundbites, and group mentality.

Ironic, isn't it?

Your picture shows women holding pictures hoping to get an autograph.

You'll see the same sort of thing at (much smaller) Clinton rallies, or at any given baseball game, rock concert, book signing, etc.

[libbygurl]

105. So why haven't the media ever described the Clinton supporters as 'a cult', too, if ...

...they're no different from the O camp?

And please do NOT repeat the idiocy about the HRC campaign being behind the 'cult' meme - many ordinary folks made the exact same observation months and months ago, before it ever hit the media.

It's the quasi-religious, tent revivalist tone of O's campaign that signals a certain disturbing creepiness to many people, including some of his own more level-headed supporters.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

118. Obama's running a cleaner campaign.

The "cult" meme is nothing new. It's an attempt at voter disenfranchisement. It's just another smear.

People were usign it against Dean supporters too.

[libbygurl]

119. Oh, so many outside observers' notes are all just 'smears' now? Even by people from the UK...

...and elsewhere?

'Cultism' suggests a blind kind of support for someone, with strange reactions in supporters of the kind that one finds in fanatical religious groups. I can see how that would apply to the 'Deaniacs', too.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

121. Yes, of course.

Looks like you fell for election rhetoric hook, line, and sinker.

That's a very gullible thing to do, Libby.

And deliciously ironic.

[libbygurl]

122. Nope - I just call it as I see it. As did so many others. You're not making sense here.

Why would the UK, Australia be calling the O campaign 'cultish'? To disenfranchise which voters now? UK and Australian?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

124. UK and Australia is not calling the campaign cultish.

There are people in Australia and the UK calling the Obama campaign cultish.

But only a few individuals, whose opinions are being exaggerated by desperate Clinton supporters who are grasping at straws.

It's argument from authority, with a foriegn kick.

[libbygurl]

140. Ah, so the reporters from the Guardian et al. are just 'a few individuals' who don't matter.

Exaggerated? When so many others have observed the same behaviour and make the same descriptions independent of each other?

Keep splitting those increasingly fine hairs. And the non-sequiturs, those are just lovely.

[robbedvoter]

144. There were some bona fide BO supporters asking fellows to tone it down

Joel Stein from LA Times comes to mind. He was eviscerated on DU.

[libbygurl]

145. Ehh, not surprised at the viciousness of that reaction.

How dare he mention the slightest negative thing about O's sacred campaign and saintly supporters.

[PaulaFarrell]

146. and how do you think they form their opinions?

they regurgitate what they see in the US news. As a Guardian reader, I can assure you, they don't get American culture at all, though they spend a lot of time trying. The only 'cult' references that I'm aware of appeared here in England after they were widespread in the US. Plus their editorial writers are often flat out wrong - they supported the war on Iraq, and breathlessly assured their readers that the subsequent anthrax attacks must be terrorism - even though I figured it was a rightwing nut, based purely on the victims involved. But a UK writer would be unlikely to see that, not understanding the nuances. And if they are saying that Obama's followers are cult-like, it's solely because that is what they are hearing and reading in the US.

[libbygurl]

147. Oh, you think the Guardian is so lazy as to just parrot the US media?

You haven't read all the pieces by the pieces by George Monbiot, obviously. The Guardian presents a variety of viewpoints, unlike the US media outlets. Although they publish pieces by US writers, they also print stories by their own people.

Oh, stop the denying the quasi-religious cultish character of O's campaigns. People have their own eyes and ears with which to make their OWN mind up about these events, you know.

I've had my say here. If you disagree, we'll have to agree to disagree about this and shan't waste more time on this.

[PaulaFarrell]

149. I haven't read ALL of Monbiot's pieces obviously

I have read a few of his books.

I was a loyal Guardian reader until the Iraq war, but even up to then they did print some rubbish, I admit. I now read the Indy, and I think they do much more in-depth stories on foreign politics. The only writer for the Guardian who provides any insight into American culture is Gary Younge, in my opinion.

Whatever your opinion of Obama's campaign and supporters, trying to use a foreign newspaper as some kind of evidence to back it up just doesn't wash.

[libbygurl]

120. I don't get what 'running a cleaner campaign' has to do with the cult flavour of his support.

nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

123. His supporters are not a cult.

The idea that it is a "cult" is a slur coming out of the Clinton campaign.

We Obama supporters could just as easily label Clinton supporters as having a cult mentality. Notice how they, you for example, latch on to the same sound bites over and over. Cults, plagiarism, Rezko, etc., without any sort of independent thinking.

But we choose not to label you such, since it's intellectually dishonest.

And we've got the moral highground.

[libbygurl]

125. Puhleeze, I just used my eyes, my own mind, and watched and listened to O, and early on...

...already noticed the cultish behaviour of his supporters way, way before the media said anything about it.

No one calls Clinton supporters 'cultish' because they don't display that tent revivalist, weeping, fainting kind of behaviour on the stump.

Give it up. The Clinton campaign has nothing to do with what lots of observers have noted independently - you know, with their own two eyes and two ears.

On the other hand, cultish supporters will blame absolutely everything that's negative for their candidate on the other candidate and his/her supporters.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

126. No you didn't.

You got "cult" from somebody else.

Do you really think you came up with that independently?

Because that would be even more ironic.

[libbygurl]

129. Oh, and you can prove that without a doubt? Or do you just BELIEVE it? As cultists do?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

131. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck, you know.

You're like a little kid with her hand in the cookie jar.

[libbygurl]

136. Looks like you did, you know. Fall off the turnip truck. I like cookies. You?

You're not getting anywhere with this argument.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

138. Do you think so?

:rofl:

[libbygurl]

148. LOL, indeed. Glad you still got your sense of humour.

:hi:

[libbygurl]

127. So the Chicago Sun-Times story on Rezko was also run by the Clinton campaign?

Gee, your paranoia about the Clintons is showing.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

128. The Clinton campaign is pushing the Rezko story.

Duh.

[libbygurl]

130. The Chicago Sun-TImes first wrote it up. DUH.

Love your eloquence. Right back at ya.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

132. Clinton brought it up at the South Carolina debate.

See, that's the difference between Clinton supporters and Obama supporters.

We pay attention. Who says what at debates, when there are caucuses, things like that.

[libbygurl]

134. And your point is? The story had ALREADY run in the Sun-Times.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

137. My point is the Clinton campaign pushes stories.

That's why her suppporters are always talking about the same dumb soundbites at the same time.

[libbygurl]

139. 'Dumb stories'? Only to O supporters who are in total denial about their...

...candidate's non-sainthood.

Sounds like cultish behaviour to me.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

141. Mmm, yes.

There's no implication of any wrong doing on Obama's part in the Rezko matter. That's part of the reason it's dumb. The other reason it's dumb is because of Clinton's own connections to Rezko.



This is what I'm talking about when I say independent thinking. If certain Clinton supporters were independently and rationally thinking, they never would have brought up Rezko, or at least would have dropped it once they embarassed themselves.

"Sounds like cultish behaviour to me."

See? There you go again.

[libbygurl]

143. Oh, that picture - of one of thousands and thousands of people who had their pic taken...

...with President and Mrs. Clinton.

So why isn't anyone else writing up the Clinton-Rezko story? Why only the Obama-Rezko story? Maybe because there's nothing to the Clinton-Rezko 'relationship'? And where did that pic come from? Does anyone know how that got into Drudge's hands?

[Az_lefty]

104. it was bullshit from hillary's supporters...

[libbygurl]

106. LOL! See my text comment in no. 105. This is exactly what I mean.

[anigbrowl]

107. I see the campaign was smart enought obuy the ads on RS website too

Obama's been making great use of targeted online advertising. I only see Hillary ads on Hillary sites. Oooooops.

[Apollo11]

111. I saw a Hillary ad popping up on the Washington Post website

Of course, it's a different demographic from Rolling Stone.

:kick:

[QC]

116. Simple observation. n/t

[AX10]

117. Simple minds like simple things.

[RememberWellstone]

133. Oompa Loompa Doompa

Dee doo..here they come, they are coming after you. I guess it is the weirdos and brain dead college kids running after him.

[Jack_DeLeon]

135. Cult of Personality....

all he needs is some Kim Jong-il sunglasses.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

142. Because it's successful and organized?