Barack Obama: A Politician For Our Times

Whilst he has my grudging support, I can’t claim that Barack Obama – despite the relentless, exhausting hype surrounding him – is an inspiring choice for US President. In fact, the only reason why he has my support is because he isn’t running with that self-styled pitbull in lipstick or, as I prefer to think of Sarah Palin, the fundamentalist in borrowed clothing. Barack Obama is the least worst option; and as such, he is very much the politician of our times.

Despite the media spotlight shining on him, Obama has still managed to fail to explain what he stands for. We’ve got a pretty good idea of what he doesn’t stand for – he isn’t like George W Bush, he isn’t like Hillary Clinton, he doesn’t like the Iraq War and he thinks that the current economic crisis is a bummer. However, there is precious little from that candidate on what he does stand for, other than the audacity of hope. Which sounds great, but when you really break it down, it is not unlike a Miss World candidate wishing for world peace. It is a great aspiration, but it would be nice to know how the ruddy fuck we get there.

Obama represents the new breed of politicians - he stands as perhaps the most shining (certainly the newest) example of the dubious line of publicity hungry politicos that includes Blair, Clinton and Cameron. Those politicians who don't rely on ideology or policy details to get them into power. Instead they focus on looking good for the cameras, and grinning in the right company. They remind me a little of used car salesmen - except they actually have nothing to offer, and even the best possible used car salesman needs a product to sell before they can fleece you for your money.

It is often said that politicians will do pretty much anything to get elected. Obama et al stand as a rebuke to this truism. Don't get me wrong, they'll do pretty much anything to get elected but they stop short of doing just two things. They won't tell you what they believe in, or what they plan to do when they actually get into power. That's the audacity of hope, see. You have to be audacious enough to hope that Obama will be good when he gets into power. All he is actually willing to commit to is being less awful than his opponent.