25 May 2011
Obama’s Re-Election Edge
It’s tempting to contrast Stanford fellow Shelby Steele’s characterization, in the May 25, 2011, Wall Street Journal, of the Republicans’ dilemma created by President Obama’s “cultural charisma” with the accusation two days earlier by Princeton Professor Cornel West that Obama is “a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and a black puppet of corporate plutocrats.” Obama’s likeability numbers, driven by political correctness, certainly attest to the strength and skill of those power centers in determining the sentiments of America’s middle class. Those sentiments are indeed “normally subdued” until they are subjected to well-financed manipulation by public relations experts working for wealthy business interests.
These are the same interests who will assure a successful result for any re-election campaign. They are best not ignored by a black President who places more importance on his being in the White House than on spouting militant protests.
On the other hand, sweeping through the domestic stimulus package was made necessary by the recklessness of our politicians and financiers in building a subprime-mortgaged house of cards. And something must be done to reform our health-care system if our citizens are ever to enjoy their ever-elongating life spans.
It’s tempting to contrast Stanford fellow Shelby Steele’s characterization, in the May 25, 2011, Wall Street Journal, of the Republicans’ dilemma created by President Obama’s “cultural charisma” with the accusation two days earlier by Princeton Professor Cornel West that Obama is “a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and a black puppet of corporate plutocrats.” Obama’s likeability numbers, driven by political correctness, certainly attest to the strength and skill of those power centers in determining the sentiments of America’s middle class. Those sentiments are indeed “normally subdued” until they are subjected to well-financed manipulation by public relations experts working for wealthy business interests.
These are the same interests who will assure a successful result for any re-election campaign. They are best not ignored by a black President who places more importance on his being in the White House than on spouting militant protests.
On the other hand, sweeping through the domestic stimulus package was made necessary by the recklessness of our politicians and financiers in building a subprime-mortgaged house of cards. And something must be done to reform our health-care system if our citizens are ever to enjoy their ever-elongating life spans.
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