Is Obama an Opportunist or a True Believer? (The Commons at Paulie World)

Is Obama an Opportunist or a True Believer?

My colleagues and I have been debating whether Obama is simply an opportunist who, if he gets to the White House, will triangulate like Clinton, or whether he is a true believer in redistribution and other socialist ideas. My theory has always been that he is more opportunist than true believer. He seems able to cast aside past allies without any qualms (much like Clinton), even suggestng his own grandmother was a racist. Jim Geraghty at The Corner had a running gag that "all of Barack Obama's promises come with an expriation date." However, recent revelations, including the Joe the Plumber response and the 9/6/01 radio interview where he lamented the Warren Court's failure to engage in "redistributive change," make me fear that he does, in fact, believe in a solicalist agenda.

I also fear that we are going to discover the answer to this question after next Tuesday.

Posted by John Adams on October 31, 2008 12:03 AM | Permalink

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.paulieworld.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/36

Comments (2)

Paulie at The Commons

Mr. Adams,

Have you actually read Saul Alinsky? I quote, "the fundamental idea [is] that one communicates within the experience of his audience." "If the real radical finds that having long hair sets up psychological barriers to communication and organization, he cuts his hair."

Or, disown my friends like they never existed to over the hurdle.

My boss used to say, "MF them like it was cool."

There is a paradox in Alinsky, because he states that the Organizer must become schizoid to avoid becoming a True Believer. Yet, his text is itself an instruction for the true believer.

I think Obama has been a True Believer who studied Organizing very, very well, with some amazing - really - support from a rogue's gallery.

Posted by Paulie at The Commons | November 1, 2008 12:21 AM

Posted on November 1, 2008 00:21

Paulie at The Commons

And, I don't really think Clinton "triangulated" as much as he held on for dear life against a hostile Republican majority. I think "triangulation" is part of the media spin.

Posted by Paulie at The Commons | November 1, 2008 11:39 PM

Posted on November 1, 2008 23:39

The Commons at Paulie World