The Obama Delusion

all this talk about mr. obama not having experience is nonsense. he is a senator right? so is mrs. clinton. what president of this country had experience as a president before actually becoming a president? what experience does hillary have, besides being an ex presidents wife? every president this country has had, has made their mistakes, and messed something up in this country one way or the other during their time! and enough of being the president of the united states, being a job to be passed down to family members!! we need a new face, a new name, a new way to get things done here in the u.s.! i don't care what anyone says about barack obama, he's got my vote. and if i could vote a thousand times for him i would!

dc wilkes barre, pa

Senator Barack Obama is the person that can deliver the solutions this Nation needs on domestic issues as well as gain respect from the international community for the United Sates of America. Fear based decisions bring tragic outcome. We can not fear our future and this nation has to stop behaving in racists ways. Barack Obama has earned my respect and the respect of the mayority of citizens in our country. Yes we can direct our country's future to prosperity and peace for ALL.

The job of the presidency is, afterall, a day by day job and much of the old stalemates and dead-ends on proposals are because of the "different sides of the aisle." Therefore, if a president can successfully mobilize republicans and democrats, SO much more could be enacted. It's not IDEAS that are needed, really, it's the ability to see those ideas to fruition. Nobody really wants to sound quite this sappy, but actually, it is "the power of love."

The qualities Mr. Obama brings to the table are long awaited in my opinion. Someone who has a record of opposing the very issues that have put this country in the state it's in. A war we should never have started, international trade deals that only benefited the wealthy and other countries and he's someone who is willing to listen to the American people. The government is supposed to reflect and act on the will of the people. Something the current administration has failed at miserably.

I for one am ready for someone who is willing to talk and negotiate with other countries. Someone who is not willing to sell his influence to the highest bidder.. Someone who has shown sound judgement from day one on controversial decisions that were not at the time popular for his career but, in time have shown his true wisdom.

Whether we agree or not,, as a country, we have to understand the world is different from country to country. We can no longer continue to go around flexing our power and will on other countries and expect the rest of the world to just accept it because we are the GREAT USA. Respect is earned not forced. To try and force our way of life on other cultures is not spreading democracy. It is being totaletarion. Something as far from democracy as you can get. You teach by example. If what we have become as a nation is a democracy...I can undersatnd why other countries see it in such a negative way.

How odd that Samuelson worries about tax burdens now, but has been a consistent (until very lately) cheerleader for the disastrous and unprecedented Bush/Republican tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans during a time of war and for revenue-sucking "privatization" of Social Security, even as he has turned deaf/mute to no-bid contracts for Bush/Cheney cronies. "UGAPHD" has Samuelson pegged to a "t".

I agree with this writer. Obama does not have the experience we need to move forward or out of the problems we have in this Country. Also I do not think he will be able to win over Mcain. Alot of people i have spoken with are telling me they will vote for Mcain rather than Obama. I am also swaying that way. Clinton is more seasoned in all political areas and I think would hold up much better that Obama against Mcain.

I applaud your article.....I don't understand what is happening. Did you see Chris Matthews last night...he was brilliant when he asked a senator from Texas to list Obama's legislative accomplishments.......and he got a "deer in the headlights" look.......... The senator was dumb-founded and couldn't respond.......
I thought I'd see that clip all over the media today and it has apparently been buried...........it's not even on "You-tube."
Who is Obama?? What are his accomplishments?
And what about religion........Mitt Romney was pounded for being a Mormon, and Huckabee for being an evangelical Christian...............but what about Obama?? Is he Christian, Muslim?? Why is he immune from the typical scrutiny?? Why is he the teflon man?

So now our choices are Billary Clinton, McCain (100 years war in Iraq), and Obama (Door # 3)- who sounds inspiring but what is really behind the door??

These are scary choices.

I am concerned about our future in America.

I am not sure why the author is judging Obama when he has not had a chance to follow through on his proposed policies. It seems Clinton and McCain have had many chances and Americans do not like the direction our country is going into. However, a lot of Obama's work has been grass roots and I do not see you making reference to what he has done locally as well as with his voice in the senate. Please gather your facts and evaluate them fairly...or else you come off as a pessimistic old fart afraid of change...good or bad.

The qualities Mr. Obama brings to the table are long awaited in my opinion. Someone who has a record of opposing the very issues that have put this country in the state it's in. A war we should never have started, international trade deals that only benefited the wealthy and other countries and he's someone who is willing to listen to the American people. The government is supposed to reflect and act on the will of the people. Something the current administration has failed at miserably.

I for one am ready for someone who is willing to talk and negotiate with other countries. Someone who is not willing to sell his influence to the highest bidder.. Someone who has shown sound judgement from day one on controversial decisions that were not at the time popular for his career but, in time have shown his true wisdom.

Whether we agree or not,, as a country, we have to understand the world is different from country to country. We can no longer continue to go around flexing our power and will on other countries and expect the rest of the world to just accept it because we are the GREAT USA. Respect is earned not forced. To try and force our way of life on other cultures is not spreading democracy. It is being totaletarion. Something as far from democracy as you can get. You teach by example. If what we have become as a nation is a democracy...I can undersatnd why other countries see it in such a negative way.

I am not sure why the author is judging Obama when he has not had a chance to follow through on his proposed policies. It seems Clinton and McCain have had many chances and Americans do not like the direction our country is going into. However, a lot of Obama's work has been grass roots and I do not see you making reference to what he has done locally as well as with his voice in the senate. Please gather your facts and evaluate them fairly...or else you come off as a pessimistic old fart afraid of change...good or bad.

Both he and Hillary are Socialists, plain and simple. I guess we'll become like New Zealand, for example, who offers free healthcare, social security, college, etc. Sounds great, doesn't it. But not so much when you hear half, yes half, of your income goes to taxes, so you can pay for your neighbors kid to go to college, and so you can have sub-standard healthcare. If you want better healthcare, that has a cost. Knowing that they offer "better" healthcare for more money should tell you something. The free healthcare isn't the best. Wake up America -- this is not the type of change we should want! And pull out of Iraq right away, don't even get me started. There will be a price -- much higher than what we're currently spending on the war!

jUST MORE NEGATIVE ATTACKS ON SEN OBAMA. I AGREE HE IS NOT PERFECT, BUT IS A FAR BETTER CHOICE THAN MCCAIN, CLINTON, AND BUSH. WHY NOT GO WITH OBAMA. ALL THIS TALK OF EXPERIENCE MEANS NOTHING. AMERICA HAS BEEN IN A TAIL SPIN WITH THE SO CALLED "EXPERIENCED" PEOPLE IS WASHINGTON. IN THIS COUNTRY E"EXPERIENCE" IS THE NEW WAY OF PREVENTING TALENTED INDIVIDUALS TO SHINE AND UNDERMINE THEIR ABILITY. I KNOW THIS FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERINCE AS A NAVAL OFFICER. THIS HAS TO STOP NOW.

I don't quite follow Mr. Samuelson's logic here. He says all three candidates have generic policy prescriptions. One of them happens to be a vastly better speaker than the other two, and he views this as somehow being a liability for that candidate.
The social security and Medicare problems Mr. Samuelson describes are real, and there are no magical solutions. Precisely because these issues are so difficult it's going to require someone who can inspire people and bring them together to make any sort of progress. So again, why is being inspirational a negative for Senator Obama?

James G. Mathis
Wyomissing, PA

After reading some of your other articles, Robert Samuelson, articles, which are an attempt to spin perception into fact, admit that you are indeed a registered Republican voter. At least establish who is paying your salary, a quote I heard, but I am not aware who is author, is warranted at this time. ???It is hard to get a man to understand the truth, when he is paid not to understand.??? Robert Samuelson, the intellect you attempt to imply, is not present, you are another dime store phony attempting to coerce the American people to accept the failed status quo, and frankly, I am disgusted by your filth.

Comment: This is one of those male chauvinists who refuse to see the need for a change, who are blinded by a narrow thinking mind. Of course they are jealous that an intelligent Obama is reaching new heights they themselves could not dream of achieving. America needs change and change must come and there is no stoping the power of change. Maybe he need to go research what triggers change instead of wasting his time writing these baseless statement. Do you think the American people are stupid? No we are not and it takes a smart mind like Obama to assemble the best team that need to move this country forward. OBAMA IS THE MAN! Please vote for OBAMA

It seems to me that the author of this article is missing the point of Mr. Obama's campaign. I'm not necessarily a supporter of Mr. Obama, but understand the issue to be that 1) yes, his ideas are similar to those of others and those that have been utilized in the past for politicians to win elections, but 2) the difference is that he will attempt to follow through on these boilerplate solutions which Americans have wanted. That does seem like a difference and I don't think you can judge him on his "higher standard" of action v. inaction until he has a chance to follow through with some of his plans. Just my 2 cents.

Shold we consider Mr. Samuelson the 'token' voice at Newsweek? The lone voice not in harmony with Obama? Regardless of the messanger, what he is saying is correct - obama is a walking contradiction. From ethics to policy, obama's attitude is 'do what I say, not as I do'...

It seems to me that the author of this article is missing the point of Mr. Obama's campaign. I'm not necessarily a supporter of Mr. Obama, but understand the issue to be that 1) yes, his ideas are similar to those of others and those that have been utilized in the past for politicians to win elections, but 2) the difference is that he will attempt to follow through on these boilerplate solutions which Americans have wanted. That does seem like a difference and I don't think you can judge him on his "higher standard" of action v. inaction until he has a chance to follow through with some of his plans. Just my 2 cents.

Agreed, but it appears that the larger public wants to be moved by wishing on a star rather than substance. I am not among those Democrats who will, in anger, move to McCain. If Obama is the nominee for the Democrats I will vote for him albeit with sadness. The choice of McCain and the bankrupt (literally and figuratively) agenda of the Republican party would be inviting a national direction sure to lead to more of the same policies that have lead us deeper and deeper into financial and moral bankruptcy as a nation. I am not sure of the direction Obama wishes to go but I am sure that McCain cannot serve conservatism and the needs of the American people. At this point in time there is a disconnect between the goals of conservatism and the needs of the American people and it is not the party capable of leading us. Hillary Clinton does have the skill, knowledge and grasp of the issues and the ability to forge a new direction. She lacks the charismatic pull of Obama. If she is not the nominee we can only hope that Obama wins the presidency and has the wisdom to select national leadership to complement his charism.