While responding to FISA criticism, Barack Obama said that he will listen to criticism and respond to questions raised, if not he agrees with critics. So in that spirit, here are some questions and comments to Barack Obama and his campaign:
1. Has Barack Obama watched movie Wall-E? Has he read Frank Rich’s criticism based on this movie? ( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/opinion/06rich.html?hp ) The point is about the dangerous political tone of the campaign and what Rich says ‘…he is drifting away from the leadership he promised…’. Yes, Barack Obama campaign is indeed giving distinct stench of ‘run of the mill politician’ who is deliberately trying to be vague, changing his past policy statements with impunity and worst off all – showing extreme arrogance and cockiness. General sense is he and his campaign are also disregarding any sensible inputs from grass roots. So much for the promised ‘Change’. It is sad that Barack Obama has to chide his supporters by saying ‘what alternative do you have then?’ Remember, the single biggest reason why substantial traditional backers of Democratic Party and Establishment went away from Hillary – her imploring of supporters to ‘go to other candidates’ when she was asked to ‘account’ for Iraq war resolution support. It seems unfortunately we are on similar grounds with Barack Obama campaign too except that ‘liberal grass root supporters’ are at ransom here since we can not vote McCain in this case.
2. Of course, a common voter like me understands that one Frank Rich column or continued punditry by Karl Rove in ‘Wall Street Journal’ do not make for the serious business of campaigning with vast number of voters for presidential election. Neither common voters are interested in ‘subtle and calibrated’ adjustment of Obama Campaign to move to ‘Centrist’ position in ideological spectrum nor it is of much significance to us when New York Times finds New Barack Obama as he refuses some of these ‘litmus tests’. But what is off interest to common people is ‘gas price’. What has Barack Obama campaign done lately (or ever) to highlight the plight of Americans who are literally flogged at gas station? Why is not this campaign pounding on the table to ‘limit speculation’ in oil prices? Why is he not adopting sensible advice as advocated by Daniel Dicker? ( http://www.thestreet.com/p/rmoney/oil/10423562.html ) It was right and has been always right that Barack refuse the gimmick of ‘gas tax holiday’. But he has the responsibility to prod Congress, now, and force politicians politically to adopt measures which will eliminate speculation in oil prices. What we want is Barack Obama who will withstand the cacophony of ‘no speculation’ as sprouted by Secretary Paulson, laud mouth JJ Crammer, Paul Krugman and magazine Economists.
3. We know that Barack Obama succumbed to Iowa partisan voters when backed corn based ethanol mandate. Where is Barack’s ‘courage’ in realizing the senselessness of ‘corn based ethanol mandate’ policy:
- effectively more energy consumption to produce paltry quantities of oil,
- diversion of corn from food chain, consequently dramatic increase in food prices and overall inflation,
- induced hunger in many parts of the world and
- no reduction in carbon footprint.
Where are the benefits apart from some few farmers in Iowa? If Barack Obama does not see the folly of this policy, he fails fundamentally to be a different leader and effectively he lies when he says he wants to change Washington. With this policy he is NOT changing Washington but joining that club with vengeance.
4. I am not dumb not to understand that removal of speculation in oil prices and stopping corn for ethanol production are not sufficient to address our energy crisis. So then why do we not hear a concrete framework and energy plan from Obama campaign at the stump? We are sick and tired of our politicians talking about ‘patriotism or someone’s military service’ and unfortunately Obama campaign and Barack Obama himself are not doing anything different. Energy Policy is not something like an Iraq war problem where unless Barack Obama is in Oval office he can not make tactical decisions. It is a domestic agenda where ‘the candidate of change’ can be very, very specific and concrete with total top to bottom framework with all dollars and cents. Sure, I find all these details of his energy plan on the campaign website. But it is a ‘catch all’ generic propaganda document. Politics is about making ‘choices’ and actually rejecting certain ‘alternatives’ or ‘current ways of doing’. We need explicit mention from Barack what he will stop and what he will do in earnest to start moving America away from oil.
Hope is Barack Obama will respond to these questions and comments.
Comments are closed for this post.
