"...Nobody joins a cult. You join a self-help group, a religious movement, a political organization.
They change so gradually, by the time you realize you're entrapped - and almost everybody does - you can't figure a safe way back out...."
- Deborah Layton, Survivor of Jim Jones' People's Temple
Great. Very clear, right? Easy to understand? That's how it happens. Watch out for it. No problem. O.K.
Now look at what I posted on October 12th, 2007, by clicking here.
Now look at what I wrote on October 16th, 2007, by clicking here.
And now read today's piece, below, by Jake Tapper of ABC News:
It's as if Tom Daschle descended from on high saying, "Be not afraid; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of Chicago a Savior, who is Barack the Democrat."
Describing various encounters with Obama supporters, she writes, "Excuse me, but this sounds more like a cult than a political campaign. The language used here is the language of evangelical Christianity – the Obama volunteers speak of 'coming to Obama' in the same way born-again Christians talk about 'coming to Jesus.'...So I say, we should all get a grip, stop all this unseemly mooning over Barack, see him and the political landscape he is a part of in a cooler, clearer, and more realistic light, and get to work."
"We are the ones we've been waiting for," Obama said. "This time can be different because this campaign for the presidency of the United States of America is different. It's different not because of me. It's different because of you."
Says Klein: "That is not just maddeningly vague but also disingenuous: the campaign is entirely about Obama and his ability to inspire. Rather than focusing on any specific issue or cause — other than an amorphous desire for change — the message is becoming dangerously self-referential. The Obama campaign all too often is about how wonderful the Obama campaign is. “
And behold, Obama met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
The Holy Season of Lent is upon us. Can Obama worshippers try to give up their Helter-Skelter cult-ish qualities for a few weeks?
At least until Easter, or the Pennsylvania primary, whichever comes first...
- jpt
UPDATE: Let me be clear: I'm not saying there shouldn't be enthusiasm in politics. I'm merely touching on the fact that some Obama supporters' exhuberance seems to be getting a little out of hand. Obama himself joked about this at a Hollywood fundraiser, as noted in Men's Vogue:
“When Morgan Freeman comes over to greet Obama, the senator begins bowing down both hands in worship. ‘This guy was president before I was,’ says Obama, referring to Freeman's turn in Deep Impact and, clearly, getting a little ahead of his own bio. Next, a nod to Bruce Almighty: ‘This guy was God before I was.’”
"Helter-Skelter cult-ish qualities"? "Getting a little out of hand"? Sure. TMR features a raving idiot and everybody else knows better than TMR. Right. So this raving idiot has a question for you in light of all this:
Your guess is as good as mine,...

A very fine observation on the whole Obamamania thing. I admit I found my cynicism cracking a bit listening to his New Hampshire speech laced with passionate talk about hope and change. While that's not a bad thing, it's definitely touching my genetic desire for a good father, a kind, compassionate alpha to follow. When he's crowned by America's own "good mother", well, no wonder the populace is swooning; it's in our DNA. Especially after 8 years of the abusive dry drunk father.
ReplyDeleteRebel,
ReplyDeleteIt's not "cynicism" but "skepticism" and you should NEVER let that go:
It's a survival mechanism.
Confusion over, and between, those two terms is exactly what cults encourage. People call me cynical all-the-time (and "negative", which I was just charged with last night) but they only do that because they can't abide anyone looking at their sacred cows without rose-colored glasses.
I don't dislike Obama but - especially when it came to hooking up with Oprah - he shoulda known better:
Like Hillary and the NewAge, it just ain't presidential.
Thanks for writing.
Quite useful information, thanks for your post.
ReplyDelete