Dynamism & danger: Obama - Financial Times

[Leigh Meyers <the.buffalo.in.the.midst@xxxxxxxxx>]

The American "left" understand "American exceptionalism", the way a
rat 'understands' the bait in a trap.


"Each of his three central messages is as old as the Republic â the
promise of bipartisanship ("to put an end to the bickering and the
partisan ways of Washington"), an ethical foreign policy ("to restore
America's moral place in the world") and delivering change through
unity ("to stand up and say we are one nation; we are one people; and
our time for change has come").

Each of these themes also share two traits. First they are drawn from
the school of "American exceptionalism" â the belief that America
offers a uniquely moral beacon to the world. And second, they are
virtually impossible to accomplish."

The dynamism and the danger of Obama

By Edward Luce

Published: February 8 2008 18:57 | Last updated: February 8 2008 18:57

Some of Hillary Clinton's more optimistic supporters believe that
Barack Obama's wave crested on Tuesday when they drew even honours in
the mega-primary. But "Obamamania" could well resume as early as
Saturday night when the results of the next three contests are
declared (in Nebraska, Washington State and Louisiana).

Likewise at least two of the three "Potomac primaries" next Tuesday â
Maryland and Washington DC â are slated to go in his favour. Not to
mention the money race, in which Mr Obama's prowess at internet-based
fundraising is putting Hillary Clinton â and previous records â
increasingly into the shade. In January alone Mr Obama raised $32m,
more than double the amount raised by Mrs Clinton. His advisers
suggest that he is on track to match that fundraising record again
this month.

What is driving Obamamania? Many answers are offered. Some emphasise
Mr Obama's electrifying oratory. Others point to the symbolic antidote
that an Obama presidency would offer a cynical world after eight years
of President George W. Bush. Still others argue that a "post-racial"
President Obama would draw the remaining poison from America's fraught
racial history.

There is truth in all of these. It is also true â as Senator Edward
Kennedy said when he bestowed the aura of Camelot on Mr Obama in his
endorsement last month â that the freshman senator from Illinois is
the candidate of tomorrow, of the young and of the previously
apathetic. Mr Obama is like a giant political magnet who attracts new
voters to the polls in droves.

But to argue, as Mr Obama does, that he offers something completely
new may be to overstate his case a little.

In full: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6fa16890-d65f-11dc-b9f4-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1