Posted by
Juliana Johnson on Tuesday, October 09, 2007 12:57:35 PM
Fred Thompson is not
the only presidential candidate suffering under the weight of
unrealistic expectations. It appears that exuberant Democrat primary
voters are finding out that Barack Obama's appeal begins and ends with
his personal story.
Hillary Clinton's cryogenic personality and
tractor trailer full of personal and political baggage had opened a
window of opportunity for a contrast candidate.
Yet, according
to a recent national poll (Washington Post/ABC), Hillary's lead over
Obama has ballooned to 33-points just as she has also emerged as the
frontrunner in Iowa.
Hillary may be running her campaign with
the ruthless efficiency of a Japanese automaker but Obama's pixie dust
is losing its hold on Democrat primary voters because his second story,
that of being a reformer challenging the system, does not comport with
the reality of his past or the rhetoric of his present.
In the
past, Obama spent his time in the Illinois State Senate as a toady for
current Senate President Emil Jones, not exactly a name synonymous with
government reform.
It was also during the time that he was
being toted around our state's capitol by Emil Jones like some
celebutant's cockapoo that he bonded with other purveyors of good
government like Tony Rezko, currently awaiting the start of his federal
corruption trial.
In the present, Obama talks about talking
about big, bold ideas but he never quite gets around to offering
any--unless you count his inspirational stand against American flag
lapel pins.
Otherwise he's a biracial George McGovern, offering
the same humdrum, big government liberalism pushed by the Left since
the Great Society.
Even on the War in Iraq, his self-selected
defining issue, Obama is awash in contradiction. He sponsored
legislation calling for complete troop withdrawal by the end of March
2008 but then recently refused to commit to complete troop withdrawal
by the end of his first term--that's 2013--were he elected President.
After
watching Obama grope in the dark for the past 9 months, it is not
surprising he is down 33 points. It is surprising he is down
only 33 points.
Dan Proft is a Principal of
Urquhart Media LLC, a Chicago-based public affairs firm and political
commentator for the Don Wade & Roma Morning Show (5-9am) on
Chicago's number one news talk radio station, WLS-AM 890. He can be
reached at dan@urqmedia.com.
For other Dan Proft commentaries (radio & print), please visit: http://www.urqmedia.com/proft/
For other recent Don Wade & Roma interviews, commentary, and discussions visit: http://www.wlsam.com/sectional.asp?id=16410
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