Obama vs. McCain - sincerity for the American people
October 22nd 2008 22:55
A sharp departure from film reviews - but several newsworthy pieces caught my eye today. The above photo was found on DailyKos and is of Barack Obama's shoes, worn from all the walking he does for the campaign. The caption suggests that he's resoled them already.
Much of this campaign seems to be about the average American - directing a campaign at them is generally effective, as the average citizen is, by definition, average, which means has the largest portion of the population, in a normally distributed population.
McCain and Palin have been using language that seems to suggest that they are the ones that can help the blue-collar workers around the country, but, to me, it seems like straight out deception. Palin talks about "Joe Sixpack" and "hockey moms", then criticizes Obama for 'socialist' leanings.
Just to be straight - I don't get all the furor over 'socialism' in the USA. In Canada, we have a pretty healthy sense of socialism, which means that good schools, good hospitals and well-run cities are funded by the government.
Australia is much the same. If you were to propose that Australians give up universal healthcare in exchange for lower taxes, I think the country would roll its eyes.
Socialism, to some extent, is fantastic, because it guarantees a minimum quality of life. If that's not appealing to Joe Sixpack and hockey moms, then what is?
The Washington Post has a very clear graphic on each candidates tax plan, and it comes right out and defines the policies of each party.
Obama has been attacked for his socialist leanings, which means, in the case of taxes, adding taxes to the rich to help support the poor. I understand that the US has generally avoided this idea, but in order to guarantee a minimum quality of life, this is absolutely necessary.
There's been a growing awareness of income disparity in the world, and this is especially true in the United States, where 8 years of George W. Bush's tax cuts have left the country even more imbalanced and with a growing debt.
McCain's policies reflect that... while the lowest earners save an extra $19, the ultra-rich - the top 0.1%- are saving an average of $269 000. Overall, the American tax system loses $239 billion, plus McCain intends to keep finding terrorists in Iraq. I suppose that's why Al-Queda is supporting McCain, knowing that his policies are likely to bankrupt the country.
Are you kidding me? In these risky economic times? You're going to reward the investors and CEOs with even more tax cuts? You're going to continue a dangerous and unpopular war?
Obama's approach seems much more reasonable. The lowest wage earners save over $500, which may not seem like much to you, but is a reasonable amount on a tiny payroll cheque. Instead, the top two brackets get their taxes bumped up. Obama's approach seems to cost the government around $32 billion, plus he seems to want to bring the troops home.
On top of all this is Sarah Palin, who the RNC found it necessary to spend over $150 000 on clothes, makeup and accessories for her and her family, so that they looked good.
The idea is that the clothes will be later auctioned off, which makes it totally permissible to the spin bowlers at Fox News. The crazy part about the story is that the money wasn't just for clothing:
"The vice-presidential hopeful worked with Priscilla Shanks, a voice coach and Hollywood actor, to help refine her speaking style before her speech at the Republican convention."
Refine her speech? The lady that talks like this? What did she sound like before the voice coaching?
It may well have been necessary to dress up Palin and her family. But I was struck by this story of a desperate Norwegian lady who, 20 years ago, was stuck at Miami airport because she didn't have the money to pay for her extra luggage.
Her husband had gone ahead of her to Norway, and she had no one else to call. The luggage surcharge was 103 dollars, but she didn't have any money - the idea of being stranded in this hot, humid Miami airport broke her down and she started crying. She couldn't leave behind one of the suitcases, as she had carefully packed all their remaining belongings into these bags.
Barack Obama was behind her in line, and softly offered to pay for her fee. Of course, back then, no one knew Barack Obama... he had just finished his role as a community organizer, and was starting at Harvard. He didn't have much money, nor did he have any reason to trust this bawling woman. She remembers how he looked:
"He was nicely dressed, fashionably dressed with brown leather shoes, a cotton shirt open at the throat and khaki pants, says Mary.
She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her."
She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her."
Now, 20 years later, she's still thrilled that Obama might be the next President of the Unites States.
And here's the difference... while Sarah Palin needed to upgrade her image, working with consultants and trainers, trying desperately to look the part, Barack Obama appears to have grown into the role, naturally learning how to act, how to speak and how to look.
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Comment by Two Guys Sports
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Excellent post! Maybe you delve into politics more often in your posts. I love the story about the Norwegian lady.
The only change I would make in that tax plan on Obama's side is - increase the section that doesn't change to pay a little bit more, and take the same amount off of the top tier. It might help them stop complaining about it a little bit.
As far as McCain's plan I am betting if you held it up to a chart of both Bushes, and Reagan's tax record it would show the same setup of decline in all categories with the biggest decline at the top. It is a Republican pattern. All the while in order to barely offset (not really offset because the deficit climbs the entire time) those tax reductions they have to cut all government programs. . . well all but one. They NEVER cut military/defense spending.
Gene
Comment by Cibbuano
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Thanks for reading - I know what you mean. I would have probably suggested something similar, but what I appreciate about Obama's campaign is that they come from a position of contemplation. I think every measure is backed with a decent reason.
Comment by DeAnne
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Comment by Cibbuano
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As for announcing terror attacks, Al-Queda and other terrorist organizations have realized that the most effective attack, is the one that never comes. I saw an interview with Eugene Jarecki on the Daily Show, and he mentioned how Roosevelt said something along the lines of 'it's easier for a country to be destroyed from within than from without' - in reference to the idea of terror and paranoia.
Comment by RubySoho
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That's not say that i think he is the perfect candidate. Only that I think the world senses it's time to move in a different direction.
Comment by Cibbuano
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It's a good point about the rest of the world. There must be polls in other countries, right? Can we get some information on that?
Comment by RubySoho
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In 70 countries polled only four (Georgia, Laos, Phillipines, Cambodia) backed McCain.
Who would you personally rather see elected president of the United States?
Obama McCain
Britain 60% 15%
Canada 67% 27%
Chile 43% 9%
France 64% 4%
Georgia 15% 23%
Germany 62% 10%
Japan 66% 15%
Kenya 89% 3%
Laos 24% 25%
Mexico 27% 9%
Philippines 20% 28%
Rwanda 57% 12%
Note: Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
TONIA COWAN/THE GLOBE AND MAIL // SOURCE: GALLUP
It's not the above graph but Australia is one of the countries that came out most strongly for Obama with a staggering 2/3 of respondents saying they would prefer Obama
Comment by Cibbuano
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it should be noted, though, that the news story states that the poll was taken 'earlier this year'. It might not reflect current opinions in those countries...
Comment by RubySoho
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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it actually makes me sick when i see all the footage of George Bush out on the golf course, it seems like he has spent half his presidency there
thanks so much for this post, its great to see Obama is a real human being!
Comment by Janet Collins
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This was a very interesting post. I particularly noted your comment that "socialism guarantees a minimum quality of life" which is somthing that is continually overlooked. Australia once had a system based on this called "The Australian System" (although no-one really admitted that it was based on socialism).
Once neo-liberalism, the third way and market economics swept the western world, we got so caught up in the wave that it was all abandoned.
And Ruby I hope you're right and it's not only the rest of the world but America too wants to now move in a different direction.
Janet
Comment by Cibbuano
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Morgan, I'm a little excited, I have to admit. I just hope that Obama comes through... at least, we don't end up feeling sick of him.
Janet, thanks for reading. I'm not sure what it was like in Australia before, but I know that the education system was better funded...
Comment by D. Armenta
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BTW, "Socialized" is only a bad word when it's twisted around in the mouths of FoxNews et.al. You don't have to convert to Socialism to have a better quality of life.
I swear, TV just grows more and more poisonous...
Comment by Jeff Musall
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Comment by Ahmed
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You're only supporting obama cos you're black.
Comment by Postmodern Critic
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Great post, I'm glad you diverged from the 20/20 norm this time... Go Obama!
Btw, I'm so glad that the race issue isn't popping up nearly as often now. Everyone seems to have gotten used to Obama's colour now...
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Al-Qaeda supports McCain:
Washington Post
BBC
FoxNews
Times Online
and McCain Campaign rejects Al-Qaeda endorsement
Also, I'm not shocked that Palin has PR managers, I'm just shocked that she needed $150k.
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by D. Armenta
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Is this a joke?
Anyone who casts a vote for a person who is running for election as the leader of a country based on anything other than that person's track record, qualifications for the job, and proposals to fix that country's problems...is a moron.
Anyone who votes for a world leader:
1) because the leader candidate is black (or a member of a particular race)
2) because the leader candidate is a woman
3) because the leader candidate is "the lesser of the the evils"
--is not only a moron, but a bigot as well.
Jesus, people put more thought and study into who should win dumb contests like "American Idol" than they do their own nation's leader.