Bob Herbert says this isn’t the Obama he thought he knew
posted at 10:00 am on July 8, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Let’s start off by acknowledging that Bob Herbert is as likely to vote against Barack Obama as … Michelle Obama. However, the bloom has definitely fallen off of the rose with the New York Times columnist, and he argues that Obama may have taken his supporters on the Left too much for granted. Obama has squandered his exceptionality in a series of zig-zags, Herbert writes, and what’s left without that exceptionality?
Only an idiot would think or hope that a politician going through the crucible of a presidential campaign could hold fast to every position, steer clear of the stumbling blocks of nuance and never make a mistake. But Barack Obama went out of his way to create the impression that he was a new kind of political leader — more honest, less cynical and less relentlessly calculating than most.
You would be able to listen to him without worrying about what the meaning of “is” is.
In other words, he was the progressive anti-Clinton, which explains a lot about his surprising victory over Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately, as Herbert and the rest of the nation has discovered, he’s actually Clinton squared:
But Senator Obama is not just tacking gently toward the center. He’s lurching right when it suits him, and he’s zigging with the kind of reckless abandon that’s guaranteed to cause disillusion, if not whiplash.
In other words, he’s not just becoming another old-style politician — he’s another old-style politician with no experience and little grasp of the major issues the nation faces. During the primaries, he asked America to consider his judgment instead of his opponents’ experience, but then stumbled through a series of gaffes to an unenthusiastic finish in the primaries. Now he has started discarding the positions that demonstrated his supposedly superior judgment. What’s left except a thirst for power?
Of course, this will have little effect on his true believers. Or will it? Herbert wonders:
There has been a reluctance among blacks to openly criticize Senator Obama, the first black candidate with a real shot at the presidency. But behind the scenes, there is discontent among African-Americans, as well, over Mr. Obama’s move away from progressive issues, including his support of the Supreme Court’s decision affirming the constitutional right of individuals to bear arms.
Like Herbert, it seems inconceivable that a significant number of black voters would pull the lever for John McCain over Barack Obama. A lessening of enthusiasm might create a large problem, though. African-American voters traditionally turn out in much larger numbers than the general population, usually 70% or better. That will probably go up this year, but if it doesn’t, Obama may find himself struggling to keep pace with McCain.
Even if Herbert isn’t ready to throw Obama under the bus, the disillusionment is clear. If a true believer like Herbert feels this way, the centrists and independents who saw Obama as a post-partisan model of New Politics may feel the disillusionment even more. He’s not the New Politician they think he was — and without that, he’s a greenhorn with no executive or military experience who wants to lead a nation at war.
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And it’s only going to get worse for Obama when the debates roll around. Should be really interesting.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 8, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Come November we may see a race in which each candidate hopes his supporters are less disillusioned than his opponents.
MarkTheGreat on July 8, 2008 at 10:08 AM
While blacks may be very reluctant to support Obama’s opponent, what about other minorities?
MarkTheGreat on July 8, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Heh.
Jaibones on July 8, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Didn’t listen to him before, won’t be starting now.
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Voting for a candidate because he is the same skin color, even though he changes his positions daily? could it be…Racism?
Would it be Racism, if white American’s voted for John McCain for the same reason most black American’s want to vote for Obama?
Without 95% of the black vote, he is not viable. Post racial, my arse.
JayHaw Phrenzie on July 8, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Word’s out in force! How about that?! It’s about time. Those who enjoyed the free beer on the Obama Bandwagon have jumped ship to regain some sanity, if not sobriety. Nothing worse than a perpetual migraine hangover for POTUS.
maverick muse on July 8, 2008 at 10:15 AM
We are getting to the point where the only thing left for the Dems is to support Obama for his Blackness. Quite the post racial candidate.
Buford Gooch on July 8, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Obama is not “becoming” another old-style politician — that’s exactly what he has been all along: a lying, pandering con man, willing to tell voters whatever he thinks they want to hear, and then taking the opposite position whenever that becomes politically expedient.
Obama went out of his way to create that impression because he believed (correctly) that it would gain him enough votes from leftist dupes like Herbert to win the Democratic nomination.
AZCoyote on July 8, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Debates? Are there going to be debates?
Perhaps two or three instances where McCain reaches across the isle to go on MSNBC and be insulted, interrogated by Chris Matthews, and or Olberdork while Chris pisses himself at the mere sight of Obamasiah?
dhunter on July 8, 2008 at 10:20 AM
A poll just came out in Miami.
Hispanics could definitely be a problem for Obambi.
amerpundit on July 8, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Well now,
That’s not the Bob Herbert I know….
Micah on July 8, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Obama’s true believers don’t care. They wink at each other and know that he is lying to get elected. In fact they’re probably proud of his sly ways… they know once he’s in the White House he’ll revert to be a good little Marxist. Ends justifies means….
max1 on July 8, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Barack Obama and Zig-Zags? That’s racist.
/sarc
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 8, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Yes, but I have a feeling those are going to be very limited and very controlled. I don’t need to explain why.
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 10:21 AM
I certainly hope that McCain is surrounding himself with people who are making note of all Obama’s flips. And I agree with you - McCain will eat Obama’s lunch during the debate. Get out the popcorn. It should be very entertaining.
pullingmyhairout on July 8, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Typical self-serving B.S. from Herbert. This is just like a parent trying to sound tough while scolding their child, but the child knows the parent is full of crap. Is Bob Herbert really going to vote McCain now that Obama doesn’t seem to be as much of a lefty as he did a few months ago? Is more than 10% of black America going to vote McCain? Of course not.
This is just more sophistry from Herbert. Business as usual.
Enrique on July 8, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Two words for the Democrat party: Buyer’s remorse.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 8, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Oh, come on now.
These silly articles are meant to target the uncommitted lame-brains, so they will think Obama is not a leftist.
Surely nobody at HA is falling for this, right?
faraway on July 8, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Even so.
Without his teleprompter, St. Barack will look like a stooge compared to McCain’s comprehension (Damn, I hate using McCain and and word that has “comprehensi” in a sentence) of the issues. If they dare to put/have the debates moderated by “Obama”-friendly sources, McCain should be able to use/spin it to demonstrate how the media is in the tank for the Obamessiah.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 8, 2008 at 10:26 AM
And here’s the rub as they say. So what!
This would all mean something if McCain and crew knew what to do about it. Yes John, tell us more about the glories of cap and trade, the massive new governmental department you will have to set up. Oh, I forgot, no worries, you will be balancing the budget in four years. All that and more with the Dems controlling both houses of Congress. Look over there John, your favorite friend, a flying pig.
Lord help us all.
Maybe Mr. Murphy will help.
patrick neid on July 8, 2008 at 10:28 AM
We all know Sen. Obama is about as unqualified as they come for the office of POTUS but his followers didn’t care and come November they still might not care. It’s all about how eloquent he supposedly is and that fluffy back lacking in substance message he’s so good at delivering. However, for some it’s looking like that might be changing and I hope that is the case.
Yakko77 on July 8, 2008 at 10:30 AM
They could have voted for Hillary who would have a real shot at the presidency, but they voted for an inexperienced, hack Chicago politician.
Don’t get me wrong, Hillary is not all the glorious either, but I believe she would beat McCain.
Obama’s own worst enemy is Obama. More mistakes, associations, and arrogance will turn off voters and would make them vote for McCain or third party candidates.
jencab on July 8, 2008 at 10:30 AM
It does explain a lot. I actually see now that a lot of democrats were afraid they’d have to protect Hillary like they had to defend Bill. Just like many republicans are tired of defending against the incessant Bush Derangement Syndrome crap, they must fear the Clinton drumbeat.
Interesting.
Dash on July 8, 2008 at 10:31 AM
So the Nutroots might vote for McCain?
A-ha-ha-ha… cough… ha! Obama is taking them for granted because his political instincts are nearly perfect.
Beagle on July 8, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Blackness is the only thing that has ever mattered to his black supporters. They could care less about his policies, otherwise his position on abortion should strike them as toxic for their ethnic group. The rest of the donks have cynically used his blackness as a tool to get his Marxist policies into place.
a capella on July 8, 2008 at 10:32 AM
About this Obama person. My pesonal take on the matter is not that he is tacking either right or left as ends in themselves. No, he is just trying to please EVERYONE thinking that this is the way to deal with the issue of winning. Perhaps he is the ultimate pragmatist? This requires him to ignore(or exist without)real principles and do whatever he thinks the situation calls for at the time. Not sure if this is a good or bad trait in today’s world though!!!!!
jeanie on July 8, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Obama up 4 in latest Gallup…my guess is the cranks on the far-right and libertarian fringe are doing all they can to get Obama elected by not supporting McCain
jp on July 8, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Fluff, Fluff, all about the hype…that is why he will be accepting his nomination in a football arena…..The messiah has been exposed as a old style politician….except he is truly so inexperienced and lacking in knowlege of the issues that he will be worst then Jimmah Carter.
robo on July 8, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Great point! Anyway, I hope that the ‘Silent Majority’ are watching Obama closely…
KarmiCommunist on July 8, 2008 at 10:36 AM
The person in this race who can legitimately claim to be a new kind of post-partisan politician is John McCain. I am not saying that’s a good thing, of course. But nobody has worked more across the aisle than McCain. Certainly not Barack Obama, who is so far to the Hard Left that he will never be able to reach commend ground with his own Party, much less the Republicans…
gridlock2 on July 8, 2008 at 10:36 AM
They have them here on Hot Air, that is apparent. Perot all over again, without Perot.
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Exactly. A very public correction that will go ignored, since Obambi and his handlers know a lot more about winning elections than Bob Herbert.
Jaibones on July 8, 2008 at 10:44 AM
I agree, but with the limited debate schedule Barack will insist on, their will be few chances. Plus the questions will be vetted.
You then have the faction that jp just touted, the far right and libertarian are adamant about getting Barack elected. So we are fighting the far left, the far right, and the libertarians and the liberals.
What strange bedfellows…
They will do everything they can to “water down” McCains superior knowledge on the issues.
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 10:44 AM
I thought this statement reflected Herbert’s elite circle of friends, but I did some research before responding. Apparently, he’s right. The NRA needs to figure out someway to reach out to the black community. The trouble is that the gangsta “niggers” in the music industry hurt the image of guns as they hurt the image of black people in general and promote black on black crime. Against the musical religion of hip-hop, I don’t have a clue how to promote healthier attitudes in lower income black communities and incidentally increase black opposition to gun control. If you think about this for long, you just end in despair about the human condition.
thuja on July 8, 2008 at 10:44 AM
David Axelrod had three good tactical ideas last year: run to Hillary’s left on Iraq, raise a bunch of money on the Internet to cancel out Hillary’s big donors, and out-organize her in the caucus states.
The problem he has now is that tactics never win general elections. General elections are won on character and ideas. Constantly shifting positions leaves voters with no idea of your character or the ideas that are your bedrock. McCain’s character is unassailable, and he is throwing out a barrage of ideas that has Obama’s campaign on its heels.
rockmom on July 8, 2008 at 10:45 AM
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
I remember having arguments with quite a few Democrats back in 1992.
They weren’t concerned that Clinton was manuevering to the center, they knew in their hearts that he was one of them and was just saying what needed to be said in order to be elected.
They weren’t concerned about Clinton’s lack of character. They told me time and again that they weren’t electing a saint, they were electing a president who would get certain policies passed.
I asked them, if he’s willing to lie to the general public now, how do you know he wasn’t lying to you in the primary?
I asked them, if he has no character, how do you know that he will continue to back your policies when times get rough.
The only redeeming feature of the Clinton years was that for eight years, I got to rub the noses of certain Democratic voters in the many Clinton policy reversals and scandals.
Now we are being told again, that lying to the voters doesn’t matter, and that character doesn’t matter. All that matters is, he’s one of us.
MarkTheGreat on July 8, 2008 at 10:45 AM
this election is simply a repeat of Conn seante election. the hard left got their man in Lamont and during the general election Liberman cleaned his clock.
unseen on July 8, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Turns out Geraldine Ferraro was way ahead of the curve.
fogw on July 8, 2008 at 10:46 AM
I think Giuliani, Romney, and even Thompson would have eaten his lunch in a debate. However The Cranky Old Bastard will be too much of a “gentleman” to go for the jugular.
Hilts on July 8, 2008 at 10:51 AM
The next time someone complains about the length of the American election cycle, and how the British have their elections in 5 minutes, remind them that we don’t have a media or parties that vet the candidates, so the public has to painstakingly do it themselves. That takes times.
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2008 at 10:54 AM
I agree with whomever above said that Liberterians and far right cranks are skewing polls etc whenever possible. Apparently they feel that by exposing the country to 4 years of the extreme left will turn everyone into arch conservatives in 2010 and 12.(as in Carter/Reagan)They fail to take into account the irreparable damage 4 years of hard left can create—such things as a far left Supreme Court can change even the Constitution. A dangerous premise I think. I suspect this explains places like Montana for example.
jeanie on July 8, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Obama’s true-believers and fainters probably won’t abandon him–where else would they go? Ralph Nader? The 70,000-plus Floridians who voted for Nader in 2000 learned their lesson, and Nader’s vote was much lower in 2004.
But the danger in Obama’s sudden lurch to the center is that he might fool independent voters, those that both candidates need to win. The McCain campaign needs to be taking notes, and making ads comparing Obama’s hard-left positions in the primary to his sudden “centrist” positions now, and telling voters that Obama can’t be trusted, since nobody knows what he would really do as President.
With Obama now saying that the “surge” in Iraq is working, McCain needs to jump all over that, saying that he (McCain) truly had the “judgment to lead” by suggesting the surge two years ago, and had the foresight to find the winning strategy (and convince President Bush to adopt it) when the previous strategy had failed. McCain can label Obama as a “sunshine soldier” eager to declare victory, who was ready to surrender two years ago when things were tough. Why should people vote for Me-Too McCain-Lite when they can have the real McCain?
Steve Z on July 8, 2008 at 10:58 AM
I’m reluctant to call someone with 10 years in elected office a “greenhorn.” He’s not green or wet behind the ears anymore. He’s got a track record as a do-nothing, risk-nothing back-bencher, with a record of failure in his “primary qualification” as a community organizer. His few “accomplishments” in the Illinois Senate were handed to him by a kingmaker (Emil Jones) who wanted to make him a US Senator.
There’s no “there” there. Obama has nothing to offer but ambition, arrogance, and a willingness to say anything as long as he doesn’t have to commit to it, or take responsibility for it.
But he’s willing to start out at the bottom as President, and work his way up from there.
NeighborhoodCatLady on July 8, 2008 at 11:11 AM
they do that now.
right4life on July 8, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Bob Herbert and Barack Obama are shining examples why affirmative action should be abolished.
JammieWearingFool on July 8, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Yes, absolutely. But then again, since I am a White Conservative male I am automatically a racist and even more so for agreeing with you… Just ask any BHO supporter.
Swinehound on July 8, 2008 at 11:15 AM
I have always maintained that obama is a COMMUNIST. He has done nothing to change my mind.
tormod on July 8, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Exactly right!
Del Dolemonte on July 8, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Untrue. Perot was a crank, but he was a crank with cred, a guy who worked for his success without leaning on preferences or any of the other PC crutches the Democrats so love.
What bothers me about Osama Obama is this: since his “policies” change so rapidly, we can’t know what he really believes, what horrific ideas lie deep within his soul.
I’d rather have to contend with a Chavez or Mugabe. At least they are honest thugs.
MrScribbler on July 8, 2008 at 11:27 AM
He is mixed race, not black.
And certainly not “black” as in a descendant of slaves black.
I don’t want to hear a word about whites voting for McCain as being racist.
Blacks won’t even consider McCain because they will vote for the “black” candidate, no matter who he/she is.
ArmyAunt on July 8, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Obama could eat babies on live TV and it won’t erode his lock on 95%+ of the black vote. Disillusionment can and will, however, affect the youth turnout. Young voters are notoriously fickle. They looked like they were going to turn out like never before–they DID turn out like never before in many primaries–but that was because they were convinced that Obama was different and that he represented hope for the future. As soon as they catch a whiff of the fact that he’s no different from any other politician, they’ll go back to being apathetic and won’t show up in November. That won’t hand it to McCain, but it will cut back on the tremendous lead Obama was enjoying.
aero on July 8, 2008 at 11:36 AM
You know when he was convincing you he’s not relentlessly calculating? Guess what he was being?
Jim Treacher on July 8, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Obama- everything to everybody!
(…unless you want something different.)
Chump Change You Can Believe In
(…or maybe not).
profitsbeard on July 8, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Blacks, in their rush to see one of their own as president, might also want to condsider the long view. How would a disaster presidency under Obama affect the nomination of another black in the future?
GarandFan on July 8, 2008 at 12:00 PM
You missed my point, Perot was an excuse to not vote Republican. Most weren’t voting for Perot, as much as against “read my lips” Bush.
Now for those who don’t want to vote Republican, they don’t have Perot, so they create fairy tales, and scary scenarios, to convince themselves not to vote for McCain. If they had a Perot, they would vote for him and say “Perot has cred”.
Primarily based on McCain’s weak border policy, the far right (and libertarians) have joined with the far-left and are denouncing McCain. However, being smarter then the far right, the far left will elect Obama, because the far right has “principles”…and because they are stupid.
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Well, using the logic of more then a couple of poster on HA. Racists should elect Barack, then when he fails your post hold true.
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Yes. It’s also the coolness factor fading - the cycle of “new/hip/different” is very fast with young voters. Once someone’s been their friend on Facebook for awhile they get bored and move on to the next big thing.
Meanwhile, Obama has spent months courting them by painting McCain as “the old guy,” which could hurt him with seniors. Oops.
Missy on July 8, 2008 at 12:05 PM
The problem area for Obama is the young voters; his zigzags will not exactly generate the enthusiasm necessary for them to even show up at the polls. Without them, he could blow it (and it definitely is the Dems to lose).
michaelo on July 8, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Obama’s graying quickly on the campaign trail. He might have to ask Hillary for help with the hair dye and botox before election day.
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Yes, because seniors actually DO turn out to vote.
But even if young voters do turn out in great numbers in November, I’m not worried. They won’t know what to do since their ballots won’t say, “Blacken this oval to confirm Barack Obama’s Friend Request.” LOL! (Just teasing, you Facebook addicts.)
aero on July 8, 2008 at 12:22 PM
McCain can’t use a computer. Obama’s supporters can’t use a pencil :)
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Precisely. And Obama lost the senior vote to Hillary in Ohio by 41 points, 69-28. But, he can console himself with the fact that he only lost it by 18 points in PA (the second oldest state in the country next to Florida).
Missy on July 8, 2008 at 12:28 PM
LOL. No joke, though - I work at a university and I get questions from students every November asking where they go to vote online.
Missy on July 8, 2008 at 12:30 PM
A clever operative could set up a website:
VoteOnlineForObama.com
-and have it merely be a cunning poll page disguised as real online voting site.
To siphon off and neutralize the votes of the airheads you mention.
profitsbeard on July 8, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Sneaky! But, luckily, those airheads are usually non-voters anyway, because they weren’t smart enough to have registered in time.
Missy on July 8, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Simple solution for that:
RegisterToVoteForObama.com !
CHANGE HOPE BELIEVE!
profitsbeard on July 8, 2008 at 12:48 PM
In other words, Bob Herbert doesn’t even HAVE a bus.
jl on July 8, 2008 at 12:55 PM
The most significant change here is not that Obama may be disappointing committed voters, but that he’s begun disappointing his cheerleaders in the press. Having long worried that wouldn’t happen in time to affect his coverage in the general election, I’m quite encouraged by the Herbert development here. With a record as thin and as questionable as Obama’s, he basically holds few substantive advantages. Aside from a guaranteed block of black voters and a national case of Republican fatigue, the universal pass he’s gotten from the press has been his most important asset. More skepticism in those quarters could change the dynamics of the race entirely.
As for the electorate itself, swooning true believers will probably continue to swoon, but a loss of enthusiasm among progressives could have real ramifications when it comes to manning critical GOTV operations.
JM Hanes on July 8, 2008 at 1:41 PM
While Herbert is merely having indigestion, the meal has already been swallowed.What one hopes for is that undecideds will see the truth.
drjohn on July 8, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Bob Herbert et al: “Where did our cute little pet Marxist go? We thought we had him on the leash. Well, that’s okay–he’s microchipped. Someone will probably return him to us after the election.”
aero on July 8, 2008 at 3:02 PM
I wonder if this disillusionment will effect fund raising as well turn out?
Terrye on July 8, 2008 at 4:48 PM
I look forward to the explanation of why multiple face-to-face debates were absolutely required to help the voters pick the right D and R candidates, but they are not really relelvant to the actual election for President.
And I look forward to reading that explanation in the New York Times, where I am sure I will in fact be reading it someday soon, as soon as Pinch has a brainwave on how to spin it.
By creating a candidate out of an empty suit just because they could, the media has now put in place a scenario that may not only result in a stinging defeat for the Democrats, but has exposed the bankruptcy of their claim of evenhanded truth-telling and special status as a guardian of the publics interests.
I hope they enjoy their slow death - I know I will.
drunyan8315 on July 8, 2008 at 5:08 PM
Huh? Got a cite for that? Everything I’ve previously read suggests that African-American voters turn out in lower numbers than the general population, and nowhere near 70%.
Hollowpoint on July 8, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Right, black Americans are up in arms, no pun intended, over that SCOTUS decision. These leftist “journalists” just make stuff up as they go along.
peacenprosperity on July 8, 2008 at 5:30 PM
That’s why the democrats pray for good weather on election day and when the weather is bad they go to court to have the polls kept open.
peacenprosperity on July 8, 2008 at 5:32 PM
The Left are eating their own.
whitetop on July 8, 2008 at 7:29 PM
…appeasing Gaia –
elvis on July 8, 2008 at 9:14 PM
This thread is NOT helping Michelle’s children.
platypus on July 9, 2008 at 3:36 AM