The Providence Journal Endorses Barack Obama and A Pattern Develops
The Providence Journal has endorsed Barack Obama for President over John McCain. I do find the endorsement mildly surprising. The most interesting aspect of this endorsement, which I have found with several of Barack Obama's endorsements, is the rationale for the decision. Here's an excerpt where the editor's explain their decision:
The Illinois Democrat’s self-discipline, calm, intelligence, experiences, eloquence and ability to reach out to a panorama of Americans with widely different backgrounds have impressed us.
Let's take a moment to look at this closely. I won't dispute Barack Obama's self-discipline or intelligence, but I don't think he greatly surpasses John McCain, if at all, in either category. Next, the editors mention that Obama is "calm". John McCain is certainly more fiery than Barack Obama, but I don't see that as an achilles heel, I see it as a strength. Next, we have Barack Obama's "eloquence". As far as eloquence goes, Obama is excellent at delivering a speech, but so are lots of 20 year olds on the local college debate team. Should we elect them President in 15 years? Finally, we have Obama's "ability to reach out to a panorama of Americans". Reach out to a panorama of Americans? John McCain has a record of reaching out to Democrats with differing views. The same can not be said for Barack Obama.
The last one I would like to address is Obama's "experiences". Notice that it doesn't say experience, it says experiences. Well, let's do some comparing. John McCain was a pilot during the Vietnam War, a prisoner of war, served several terms in the House of Representatives and United States Senate, ran for President in 2000, and has shown the courage to go against those in his own party. Now we have Barack Obama: Community organizer, professor, state senator, and less than for years in the U.S. Senate. What is the Providence Journal thinking?
If you look at Obama's recent endorsements, look at some of the language that is used. Collin Powell said he is a "transformative" person, William Weld said he is a person of "deep intelligence" and "deep calm", while the Providence Journal mentions that he is "self-disciplined" and "calm". These are all very abstract. I think we all know someone who is calm, intelligent, and self-disciplined. Does that alone qualify them to be President? I think we are seeing a lot of people following the polls and jumping to the side they think will win, rather than the side they think should win. For me, this explains the abundance of abstract reasons, and the absence of more concrete facts.
http://www.projo.com/opinion/editorials/content/ED_obama26_10-26-08_8BC0MHT_v47.3e2b640.html
The Illinois Democrat’s self-discipline, calm, intelligence, experiences, eloquence and ability to reach out to a panorama of Americans with widely different backgrounds have impressed us.
Let's take a moment to look at this closely. I won't dispute Barack Obama's self-discipline or intelligence, but I don't think he greatly surpasses John McCain, if at all, in either category. Next, the editors mention that Obama is "calm". John McCain is certainly more fiery than Barack Obama, but I don't see that as an achilles heel, I see it as a strength. Next, we have Barack Obama's "eloquence". As far as eloquence goes, Obama is excellent at delivering a speech, but so are lots of 20 year olds on the local college debate team. Should we elect them President in 15 years? Finally, we have Obama's "ability to reach out to a panorama of Americans". Reach out to a panorama of Americans? John McCain has a record of reaching out to Democrats with differing views. The same can not be said for Barack Obama.
The last one I would like to address is Obama's "experiences". Notice that it doesn't say experience, it says experiences. Well, let's do some comparing. John McCain was a pilot during the Vietnam War, a prisoner of war, served several terms in the House of Representatives and United States Senate, ran for President in 2000, and has shown the courage to go against those in his own party. Now we have Barack Obama: Community organizer, professor, state senator, and less than for years in the U.S. Senate. What is the Providence Journal thinking?
If you look at Obama's recent endorsements, look at some of the language that is used. Collin Powell said he is a "transformative" person, William Weld said he is a person of "deep intelligence" and "deep calm", while the Providence Journal mentions that he is "self-disciplined" and "calm". These are all very abstract. I think we all know someone who is calm, intelligent, and self-disciplined. Does that alone qualify them to be President? I think we are seeing a lot of people following the polls and jumping to the side they think will win, rather than the side they think should win. For me, this explains the abundance of abstract reasons, and the absence of more concrete facts.
http://www.projo.com/opinion/editorials/content/ED_obama26_10-26-08_8BC0MHT_v47.3e2b640.html
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