Posted by
M. Scott on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 4:30:12 PM
"Blink" is the name of a book written by Malcolm Gladwell and in it he describes the trait that we humans have to size-up a person, object, or situation in the first two seconds of our encounter with it. Generally speaking, this is one of our positive traits -- a trait we can use to our advantage. But it can also be a hindrance to us in making good judgments. The third chapter of "Blink" describes one such situation in the history of the selection of our Presidents.
In 1899, Harry Daugherty, a lawyer and lobbyist in the state of Ohio, came into contact with Warren Harding who was about to be elected to the Ohio state senate. His first impressions of Warren Harding told him he was prime Presidential material. What he saw can be summarized by the words of a journalist of the day, Mark Sullivan, of what Daugherty saw:
Harding was worth looking at ... His head, features, and torso had a size that attracted attention, ... his lightness on his feet, his erectness, his easy bearing added to the impression of physical grace and virility ... his voice was noticeably resonant, masculine and warm ... .
Unfortunately, Harding was not very intelligent. He was particularly fond of poker, golf, alcohol and chasing women. He never distinguished himself in any political office that he held. While serving in the Ohio Senate he missed most of the votes and spent much of his time looking for jobs for his friends.
One Democratic leader, William Gibbs McAdoo, said of Harding's speeches: " ... an army of pompous phrases moving along the landscape in search of an idea." Yet, he became President. In the 1920 election, the Republican candidates were deadlocked. A group of Senators took control of the convention and turned to Harding. He won the election by a landslide of 60 percent of the popular vote.
It was fortunate for America, perhaps, that he was quite malleable because the Republicans in Congress were able to easily get his signatures on various bills: they slashed taxes; they established a Federal budget system; they restored high protective tariffs; they imposed tight limitations on immigration.
Today, we would call this "The Dream Congress."
My whole point in this is: Are Americans today, in their support for Barack Obama, committing what Malcolm Gladwell has called "The Harding Error"? Are they looking to a tall, dark and handsome man, who in many ways is still wet behind the ears when it comes to national and international issues, to lead America back on track and to a better future? Like Harding, Obama is a tall, dark, and handsome man. Like Harding, he speaks in phrases that perk the ears of America because we are tired of the political landscape and the wars that we have in Afghanistan and Iraq. It seems the American people are at a tipping point of frustration and that is why they are looking to Obama.
Here comes this fresh young face in the shape Barack Obama and a surprising number of Americans swoon at the sight of him. He says a few words like "Hope" and is able to continue the race all the way to the convention. But do his phrases really have any substance?History repeats itself and this seems to be like the 1920 election that brought Warren Harding into the White House. The difference, of course, is that there was a Congress who actually cared for the ideology around which America was formed and for the citizens of America -- not just for the special interests that "donated" the money to campaigns.
Unfortunately, I don't think Barack Obama has any intention of putting America "back on track." His interest instead lies in the direction of taking America down a whole new path. He is carrying too much baggage in the form of associations with people who have expressed a hatred for America. Even his wife's speeches are tinged with hatred, for Pete's sake. He can deny any accusations of harboring resentment, but when we really think about these associations can we not be expected to harbor some doubts of our own about him? After all,what do we really know about him?
If Barack Hussein Obama should be elected into office and the Democrats hold the power in Congress, those who are pushing for a socialist agenda will have a rubber stamp of Obama's signature. He really is not any different than Mrs. Clinton on the issues involving socialized medicine and the welfare state and so forth -- in some cases I think he is actually worse. He is one of those who would decimate the military and leave us open to attacks from our sworn enemies who are quite vocal about their hatred for us.
I fear that Obama, like Harding may be discovered to be one of the dimmer lights in the chandelier. I fear he will be too overwhelmed by the information overload which the President has to deal with on a daily basis. I fear his eyes will glaze-over soon after ascent to office (if he makes it) and he will not see what he needs to see to make an informed and responsible decision.
America, we need to stand up. We need to take an interest in our country and its future for everyone's sake and vote for the Presidential candidate that has America's interest at heart. We need to hedge our bets by voting for a representative to Congress that will work for America and the common citizen not for one whose interest is in a certain race or creed or political leaning -- one that will stand up to the pressures of the old guard in Congress. We need to vote out that old guard that is not working for the country and vote in those that will.