Quick hit: Cass Sunstein on Barack Obama
University of Chicago law professor and whilom Op-Ed page contributor Cass R. Sunstein had some words with his former colleague Barack Obama:
On this occasion, he had an important topic to discuss: the controversy over President Bush's warrantless surveillance of international telephone calls between Americans and suspected terrorists. I had written a short essay suggesting that the surveillance might be lawful. Before taking a public position, Obama wanted to talk the problem through.
Sunstein goes on to praise Obama's intellectual independence -- and his many Republican fans in Chicago -- and offers an image contrary to the one most hold of the candidate, including former Blowbacker Sarah M. Miller:
Those of us who have long known Obama are impressed and not a little amazed by his rhetorical skills. Who could have expected that our colleague, a teacher of law, is able to inspire large crowds?
The Obama we know is no rhetorician; he shines not because he can move people, but because of his problem-solving abilities, creativity and attention to detail.
The rest of the Op-Ed is mostly recaps Obama's policies, and offers only one real concern (and one that Sunstein quickly dismisses) about a future Obama administration -- that cultish reverence of the candidate could lead to an administration of yes men. To commenters weary (and wary) of Obama hype -- does Sunstein make you feel better? Or not? Leave your comments below.
*Photo courtesy AFP
Obama is a breath of fresh air.........not the good old boys from Washington DC
Posted by: Vectorpedia (Rick) | March 18, 2008 at 06:52 AM
Folks, just read what Sean Hannity of Fox news is urging people to Barack in case he is elected, you will be shocked:
Hannity's Website Speculates About Assassination Of Obama
Reported by Ellen - March 15, 2008 - 370 comments
The next time you hear Bill O'Reilly or Sean Hannity complain about left-wing blogs, you can ask them about this entry from Hannity.com, titled I believe Barack Hussein Obama Will Be in danger of an Assassination attempt. It was posted on 3/15/08, at 12:55 am (presumably Eastern Time) and it's still up there at 8:30 PM ET, 19 hours later. The post says, "I think more people knowing about Obama's background now is going to hurt him extensively and almost assuradly get him killed if he is elected as president." UPDATED.
The author continues,
There are too many people who are going to be freaking out by this guy and too many nuts out there who will be willing to do the deed. When I was talking with one of my friends earlier today, he even said "when important people die, it inspires people."
...I wonder how many other people think this way... To make a statement like that, almost makes me wonder if a lot of people think it's going to happen and that it will inspire and send a message to us all?
... I just feel that with the more we learn about the racial implications in his past, the more likely it is for sure he will be killed. I'd hope for it not to happen, but when it comes down to it, I have to bring myself back to reality.
This is the kind of talk that the FOX News witchhunt against Obama engenders. A screen grab of the post is below.
(H/T GrannyStandingForTruth)
UPDATE: Well, well, well. Although the post stayed on Hannity.com for almost 24 hours, not long after I put up my post, someone took theirs down. Of course, when a similar situation happened on Huffington Post, that wasn't good enough for Sean Hannity. Then, he argued that HuffPo approved of the post and
Posted by: siam | March 16, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Thank you, katya! I'm so sick of PARTIAL quotes that leave out important information JUST to color the "news" in a certain fashion.
If the media would get responsible it would be such a joy.
And as soon as there is a MAJOR media outlet (TV, newspaper, online) that ceases having a "view point" - other than FACTS - the public will swarm to it like bees to honey.
We are headed into a new era of reporting. Much of that is due to the availability of online "media". How refreshing for us! Not only can we comment, we can focus on sources that give us facts without slant and spin.
MANY Americans are fed up with biased reporting. We want news that gives us ONLY facts - AND ALL THE FACTS - and let us decide how to interpret them. We're sick of spin and "partial fact reporting" that leaves the media source deciding how we should view the information.
Americans are thirsty for a major media source with INTEGRITY and HONESTY. The first to achieve that objective will be the "source of the future" and ASSURED a major following. One would think there would be a huge competition to BE that source. So far, that doesn't seem to be happening. But it will, and when it does, that source will also lead in advertising $$$ and do excellently financially.
Imagine a true competition to be the major media outlet dedicated to facts... without spin. Not just CLAIMING to be that - but actually BEING that source.
It's almost impossible for reporters to "speak truth to power" when that power has the ability to fire them and keep them from working for other large news sources. Pretty sad.
It will only take ONE major source to break that stranglehold on honest reporting, and then there will be a scramble to follow. And it's coming. Not as fast as many of us would like, but it's coming.
Posted by: ByTheSeaWA | March 15, 2008 at 01:36 PM
you forgot to add the last part of the article, and the fact that obama plans to have many republicans and "dissenters" in his cabinet so that he doesn't fall into an ideological track.
Posted by: katya | March 14, 2008 at 11:19 PM