"Elite" Obama on the Front Lines--McCain AWOL
In case the media has not shown you, Barack Obama is on the front lines of the flood, helping residents clean up and start over. Working, not just a photo op. On the ground, not just a fly-over.
What is this? A President-to-be that actually gets down and dirty with a rescue effort? And, not only a President-to-be, but an "elite" President-to-be at that!
Of all the mischaracterizations heaped upon the Obamas, none has seemed more ridiculous than the charge that they were "elite." This son of single mother who was on food stamps for a while, this community organizer who was able to pay off his college loans only because of his best-selling book...he is called elite.
But, John McCain, the son and grandson of Admirals, who played around in college like the son of the privileged and who later dumped his injured wife for a glamorous heiress....he is the common man? Apparently, in the same way that "all hat, no cattle" George W. Bush was sold to the country as a rancher.
John McCain's campaign is full-to-the-last-drop with DC lobbyists and establishment figures. So much so that they cannot get out of one another's way as they exit, stage-right, when their conflicts-of-interest are revealed.
And, yet, they call the Obamas elite.
John McCain wrote into his campaign finance reform bill an exception for people who use family-owned planes. That was so he could fly in his wife's private jet without having to account for it.
And, yet, they call the Obamas elite.
When Katrina struck, George Bush was not the only one AWOL. John McCain was partying at the Bush so-called ranch that he bought just for the 2000 campaign. And, who can ever forget Barbara Bush's comment: "these people (Katrina victims) were disadvantaged anyway, so this is working out well for them"?
And, yet, they call the Obamas elite.
As soon as Barack Obama became the presumptive nominee, he made the Democratic National Committee conform to his strict fundraising policies -- no PAC money, no lobbyist money.
And, yet, they call Barack Obama elite.
Barack Obama is not only aiding the relief effort himself, he is asking his campaign donors to help out as well. All 1.5 million of them.
Where is John McCain in this effort? Is he pitching in to help? Or, is he off to another party at the Bush "ranch"? In his wife's jet?
Barack Obama should do more days like this. Go to Wisconsin, go to Iowa, go to Indiana, go to one place after another that has been flooded, and just roll up his sleeves. Not just for an hour, but for a day.
Pitching in directly has already delivered a powerful message about what Barack cares about, with whom he sides, and the people whose priorities need not only a voice, but action.
John McCain's absence from the frontlines has delivered his own message.
The American people have a clear choice.
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McCain would never have been a POW were it not for his 'elitist' roots. His family connections enabled his Naval career, which would have ended long before he was given an aircraft to fly over Vietnam due to his own incompetance.
Obama has faught and struggled for much of what he has, and continues to do so.
Nuff said.
no, he would never have been a POW if he had FLOWN THE DAMN PLANE PROPERLY....have you read the guys so called military history? apparently cant fly to save his life...literally!!
You know what the irony is Obama is in his own element this is what he has spent his life doing rebuilding communities thats why I not only find charges of elitism ludicrious but also charges that he is NOT patriotic. If Patriotic is define as working to make our country better how is what he has done in his career not patriotic?
Carol
And, the message of such moments? That we don't need the government at all, but only need to role up our sleeves and help ourselves. What does this action promote? A standing military and the military-prison-industrial complex. No, the government needs to help these people, and our tax money needs to go for such services, not for perpetual war.
If Obama wants to get down with the people, perhaps he should go visit coal mining country and listen to what the folks have to say. He's so much more comfortable with Iowa-nice.
I believe Obama has already visited the coal mines. And I don't think Iowa is going to be real friendly with the GOP if they don't get off their butts and get some help to these folks soon.
Benne,
What have YOU done for the people in the coal mining country?
What did Bush do? Or what did McCain or the Clintons do to help them?........... NOTHING
Put up or shut up!!!!!!
Obama is helping out with the MOST PRESSING PROBLEM which is the most current ..... People have lost their houses, business and farms because of the floods, and are doing all they can to curtail the damage ............ sandbags and all.
McCain chose to go to a fund raiser, and Bush chose to have tea with Queen Elizabeth....... Those people got the same lame words from Bush/McCain as the victims of Katrina did with NO ACTION.
Obama rolled up his sleeves and went to work ..... He not only talks the talk, but he walks the walk.
This is what I imagine in my wildest dreams my next president to be! Barack, you rock!!!
When it comes to matters as such,I am sure they will hurrily cite the fact that McCain is 100% disable.And then ,that brings us to the question how then can he be able enough to be president,then they rush in again to say his bearings are in a working order.
You cant have it both ways,he is either ABLE or DISABLE. Take your pick.
John McBush is so out of touch, I doubt very much if he EVEN KNOWS that there are floods and tornadoes ravishing our cities.
A clear choice as they awaken from there long nightmare and realize what was stolen from them.
I gave $50 to the Red Cross directly from the my.bo front page. I'm sure there are plenty of BO volunteers on those same front lines. McCain? Nossomuch.
Oh, and "elite" is code for "uppity."
Somebody had to say it. Can't have those uppity negroes rising above their station, now, can we?
How on earth anyone is buying that Obama's elite and McCain is the common man is right up there with how G.W. Bush was elected in my disbelief files. Along with the media and so many others proving racism so culturally acceptable that they couldn't even see how racist they were.
Thank you both for clarifying the whole 'elite' thing. I was having serious problems trying to understand how the GOP machine was justifying the smear. Now I see it is a lower order form of communication with the GOP masses. Obama is obviously not an elitist by definition, but then the actual definition of word and/or using words in proper context is so 'elitist'; isn't it John.
The way Obama has conducted his campaign and the way he reaches out to others in a crisis is an indication of his leadership skills and willingness to roll up his sleeves when necessary.. He had called on his supporters to also reach out and offer assistance during this difficult time
Obama was right to go to Quincy IL, because a.) it's part of is constituency and b.) because they were working to prevent flooding as they hadn't yet been flooded. As it is his going to IA or the flooded parts of WI would more likely interfere with the efforts of people on the front-lines with the need for security for him and by shifting the work that the people on the ground need to do. So Obama rightly stayed away from the flooded parts of IA and WI. Ash he should continue to do so.
But still, your larger point is one I agree with. Obama had giving to the flood and Red Cross as part of his front page. Same for Hillary, actually. McCain had nothing like that for a while and even then, didn't make it part of his front-page or ask his donors to give to the Red Cross.
Obama also sent out emails to the donors in the area asking if they could help sand-bagging or giving supplies. So he didn't just ask for money from his donors, but effort as well. Because not everyone could give money, but if close by, they might be able to help with sand bags, or help handing out water, or whatever they could. Very community focused.
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