From Berlin to Paris

The loud cacophony of disenchantment offered by progressive leaners regarding the latest John McCain political ad is laughable. It seems to have struck a nerve. The shot of Obama being hailed in Germany before throngs of adoring fans is reminiscent of a Beatles concert rather than a political speech. It also sends a signal that celebrity carries a less serious weight. That gravitas is necessary for the office of the Presidency. Such spectacles are unbecoming for a head of state. Unfortunately for Obama, he has cultivated a following of zealots.

It is this very image that McCain has decided to hammer home. Obama is a superstar! The Illinois senator himself, swelled head and all, seems to believe it too. He has anointed himself as the savior to a generation. Such self aggrandizement has a tendency to backfire in the long run. Just look at what happened to Jesus Christ! In the short term Obama appears to be a breath of fresh air, but like other great orators of the last 100 years, Clinton, Reagan and Hitler, what lurks behind the mask is likely very different from the persuasive cultivated image of a man.

As far as being perturbed about spotlighting Obama with Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton, you should know that liberals are upset because they readily recognize the antics of these two intellectual lightweights. McCain’s ad paints Obama with the decision making power of Ms. Spears. Remember the limo shots of her sans underwear? Not a bright choice. It also connects his image with the wealthy elitist Hilton who is the Typhoid Mary of the celebrity sect. Any starlet she touches becomes infected with lightning speed career ending disaster. Her touch seems to lead to self destruction.

To psychologically join Obama with these particular celebrities is effective in trivializing his stature via an avenue that his campaign thought to be their great strength, his charm, good looks, and charisma. McCain’s ad likens him to the privileged class and valley-girlish naiveté. For his part Obama’s views, though a bit muddled, are beginning to poke through the façade. The country is learning about him, and what they see they don’t trust. The veil of his past record is slowly being lifted and unfortunately for him, the electorate is still much more mainstream than socialist.

Senator McCain has a record of working against his own party at times. Obama is a staunch Democrat. The population is seeking someone to stand–up for them even if it means giving the finger to their own political party. Both candidates have a history. McCain is a wild-card maverick, and Obama, a card carrying socialist of the highest order. Those are the facts no matter how many ways each side tries to deny them.

Since his Magical Mystery Tour in the Middle East, Obama’s poll numbers have tumbled by 10 points, and McCain’s stock has risen. Some think McCain’s campaign has been lackluster. In reality, he has been a victim of celebrity too. He is not a pop-idol. The American culture, especially in Hollywood, holds few in less value than the elderly. McCain looks like your grandfather! He’s too old to be a cultural icon, so many avoid paying attention to him.

Defining the opposition is very important and Obama has not bee able to stop McCain and his Merriam Webster-like stealth force. When they are standing side by side debating on the same stage it would stand to reason that Obama would look like the epitome of vigor and McCain the pride of the geriatric. The evidence suggests though that the majority prefers its Presidents to be gruff older types rather than timid genteel pop stars.

American’s do love their celebrities. The one thing that they love more than creating a star is destroying one. Obama’s orbit is on an ominous trajectory unless he can find a way to correct it before he becomes the Paris Hilton of the political set. There he might be relegated to the likes of John Kerry, and Michael Dukakis. In politics days are a lifetime, so he has plenty of time to extricate himself. However, that will call him to a position of humble humility rather than elite star entitlement. Otherwise he might become career challenged amidst the likes of Brittany and Paris.