Sirotablog
David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.
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July 12, 2007 8:02 AM
Embracing the Seinfeld Campaign
I read this in the Chicago Tribune today:
"PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- Stealing a page from Oprah Winfrey -- his close friend and fellow Chicago celebrity -- Sen. Barack Obama launched book clubs in a dozen New Hampshire towns and online this week. His life story is the first topic of discussion...Their assigned reading [is] "Dreams from My Father," Obama's best-selling memoir...Book club participants will also be able to dial into conference calls throughout the summer with significant figures from his life."
If you can get past the sheer in-your-face conceit of a person establishing a book club to focus on their own personal life story, there's the political question here. Obama knows the major questions surrounding his candidacy revolve around the fact that many believe his candidacy is less about actual issues and substantive change for America and more a nebulous cult of personality and glorification of one deified individual. A person setting up a book club with the sole purpose of exploring how incredibly awesome this his personality is - rather than, say, a book club that focuses on issues like health care or even Obama's specific position on issues - seems to do nothing other than reinforce the Seinfeld-ish quality of the campaign itself.
By the way, in advance of my run for President, be sure to stay tuned for me setting up a book club focusing exclusively on my life, starting with a detailed account of my days as a star canoe paddler at summer camp - a compelling tale that must, of course, be central to anyone's run for the most powerful office on the Planet...
P.S. More of this kind of thing, Barack, less of trying to make it all about you and your personal awesomeness...
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About David Sirota
David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Hostile Takeover. He lives in Denver, Colorado. His daily blog can be found at CREDO Action. He contributes regularly to the Denver Post's Web site, is a senior editor at In These Times magazine and is working on his second book. He has been profiled in Newsweek and the Rocky Mountain News and is widely known for his reporting on political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties. Sirota serves as co-chair of the Progressive States Network, a 501(c)3 organization that supports state legislators and that is a partner of CREDO.
You can subscribe to Sirota's e-mail newsletter by going to davidsirota.com and signing up in the lefthand corner. To find out more about Sirota, download his official biography or see his recent media appearances. You can e-mail him at sirota@credoaction.com.
The views expressed on this blog are his own, and do not necessarily represent the views of Working Assets (publisher of CREDO Action) or the institutions Sirota works for.
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Discussion
'Enough about you and the problems that face the country, now lets talk about my awesomeness, ok?'
This seems to be the message that Obama is sending with his bizarro book club and frankly it creeps me out. It reeks of as Sirota put it "a nebulous cult of the personality" and a out of control ego on the part of Obama himself.
It is a Seinfeld campaign Barak is running David you got that right..
I have yet to really hear him speak in anything but platitudes and banal generalities..
I'm waiting to hear him say:
"We must endeavor to persevere..!"
Last year, the Democrats relied on the Seinfeld Strategy to win as you pointed out. Since they were lucky by fluke and will no doubt cling and give credit to the shitty DO NOTHING Seinfeldian strategy, the party must be PITCHFORKED to DEATH and rebuilt.
P.S.: I got banned from DKos for bringing it up as well as protesting Ben FUCKING Nelson. So much for democracy on either extremes !
Last year, the Democrats relied on the Seinfeld Strategy to win as you pointed out. Since they were lucky by fluke and will no doubt cling and give credit to the shitty DO NOTHING Seinfeldian strategy, the party must be PITCHFORKED to DEATH and rebuilt.
P.S.: I got banned from DKos for bringing it up as well as protesting Ben FUCKING Nelson. So much for democracy on either extremes !
Seinfeldian, indeed! Maybe Obama will hire George Costanza to be the assistant to his traveling secretary. "Obama likes his calzones!"
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