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| == Origins and identity == | |||
| {{main|Early life and career of Barack Obama}} | |||
| === Race and culture === | |||
| {{seealso|A More Perfect Union (speech)}} | |||
| {{wikisource|A More Perfect Union}} | |||
| Obama is of ] background: the son of a ]n ] father and a ] ] mother of ] descent. With his upbringing in ] and ] and his ] education, Obama's early life experiences differ markedly from many of the ] politicians who launched their careers in the 1960s through participation in the ].<ref>{{cite news | last=Wallace-Wells | first=Benjamin | title=The Great Black Hope: What's Riding on Barack Obama? | date=November 2004 | work =Washington Monthly | url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0411.wallace-wells.html |accessdate=2008-04-07}} See also: {{cite news | first=Janny | last=Scott | title=A Member of a New Generation, Obama Walks a Fine Line | date=December 28, 2007 | url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/28/america/obama.php | work=International Herald Tribune | accessdate=2008-04-07}}</ref> In January 2007, ''The End of Blackness'' author ] warned against drawing favorable cultural implications from Obama's political rise: "Lumping us all together," Dickerson wrote in '']'', "erases the significance of ] and continuing ] while giving the appearance of progress."<ref>{{cite news | first=Debra J | last=Dickerson | title=Colorblind | date= January 22, 2007 | url=http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/01/22/obama/index.html | work=Salon | accessdate=2008-01-14}} For a sampling of views by other black commentators see: {{cite news | first=Gary | last=Younge | title=Obama: Black Like Me | date=posted October 27, 2006 (November 13, 2006 issue) | url =http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061113/younge | work=The Nation | accessdate=2008-04-07}} {{cite news | first=Stanley | last=Crouch | title=What Obama Isn't: Black Like Me | date=November 2, 2006 | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/467300p-393261c.html | work=New York Daily News | accessdate=2008-04-07 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070308142850/www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/467300p-393261c.html | archivedate=2007-03-08}} {{cite news | first=Laura | last=Washington | title=Whites May Embrace Obama, But Do 'Regular Black Folks'? | date=January 1, 2007 | url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obamacommentary/193216,CST-EDT-LAURA01.article | work =Chicago Sun-Times | accessdate=2008-04-07}} {{cite news | first=Clarence | last=Page | title=Is Barack Black Enough? Now That's a Silly Question | date=February 25, 2007 | url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/4580864.html | work=Houston Chronicle | accessdate=2008-04-07 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070308133020/www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/4580864.html | archivedate=2007-03-08}}</ref> Film critic ], writing in a March 2007 '']'' article, compared the cultural sources of Obama's favorable polling among whites to those of "]" roles played by black actors in ] movies.<ref>Ehrenstein, David. "", ''Los Angeles Times'', March 19, 2007. Retrieved on ].</ref> Expressing puzzlement over questions about whether he is "black enough," Obama told an August 2007 meeting of the ] that the debate is not about his physical appearance or his record on issues of concern to black voters. Obama said, "we're still locked in this notion that if you appeal to white folks then there must be something wrong."<ref>{{cite news | first=Les | last=Payne | title=In One Country, a Dual Audience | format=paid archive | date=August 19, 2007 | url =http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/1322008241.html?dids=1322008241:1322008241&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | work=Newsday | accessdate=2008-04-07}}</ref> | |||
| Obama won on a bed of hype despite the fact that there is no actual proof that he's a good politician, not that there is such a thing. Further more, just because you're a good orator does not make you a good anything else. America is going to go down in flames and he can't save us. | |||
| 53% of Americans polled said that they found Obama's comments, saying that McCain and other Republicans would try to scare voters, telling them that he (Obama) "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills," to be racist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/only_22_say_mccain_ad_racist_but_over_half_53_see_obama_dollar_bill_comment_that_way |title=Only 22% Say McCain Ad Racist, But Over Half (53%) See Obama Dollar-bill Comment That Way |publisher=Rasmussenreports.com |date=2008-08-03 |accessdate=2008-11-03}}</ref> Obama denied that the comment was on race. An aide later said that the remark was on the subject of race.<ref></ref> | |||
| === Religion === | |||
| {{seealso|Jeremiah Wright controversy}} | |||
| Obama is a Christian, specifically a member of the ], but July 2008 polls showed that some Americans believe incorrectly that he is Muslim or was raised Muslim (12% and 26%, respectively, in ]<ref>, ''Associated Press'' (10 July 2008).</ref> and Newsweek<ref name=newsweek-muslim-poll>Jonathan Darman, , ''Newsweek'' online exclusive (11 July 2008).</ref> polls). Citing the latter poll by CNN's ], Obama responded, "...I wasn't raised in a Muslim home," and said that advancement of the misconception insulted Muslim Americans.<ref>{{cite news | last = King | first = Larry | title = CNN Larry King Live: Interview with Sen. Barack Obama … | publisher = CNN | date = ] | url =http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0807/15/lkl.01.html | accessdate = 2008-07-17}}</ref> ], president of the ] expressed in a news report (reacting in part to ]) that ethnic caricature involving faulty depiction of Obama's faith harms Muslim Americans, impeding their "opportunity to participate in the political process."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/bal-te.magazine15jul15,0,4906395.story |title=Obama cartoon riles Democrats |publisher=Baltimoresun.com |date=2008-11-03 |accessdate=2008-11-03}}</ref> | |||
| Publications which speculate Obama's allegedly concealed Muslim heritage include '']'' (published August 1, 2008) by ]. His book opens with a quote by ], who the '']'',<ref name="Nation">{{cite news |first=Christopher |last=Hayes |authorlink=Christopher Hayes (journalist) |coauthors= |title=The New Right-Wing Smear Machine |url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071112/hayes/single |work=] |date= |accessdate=2008-10-14 }}</ref> '']'',<ref name="WaPo">Mosk, Matthew. . '']'', 2008-10-14.</ref> and '']''<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/us/politics/13martin.html|title=The Man Behind the Whispers About Obama |last=Rutenberg|first=Jim|date=October 12, 2008 |publisher='']''|accessdate=2008-10-14}}</ref> have ] for the allegations that Obama is concealing an alleged Muslim faith. | |||
| A post-2008 election poll by ] found that only 40% of Americans could successfully identify Obama as a Protestant Christian.<ref>. ]. Published December 12, 2008.</ref> | |||
| ==Political image== | ==Political image== | ||
Revision as of 02:07, 11 February 2009
Many aspects of the public image of U.S. President Barack Obama are unusual among American politicians, and stand in stark contrast to those of many of his former opponents.
During his candidacy for President, his international and biracial background was unprecedented and engendered questions of racial authenticity and religious affiliation. Obama's lack of experience on the national stage became a recurring theme used by former rivals Hillary Clinton and John McCain. His perceived combination of political savvy, calm and even temperament, and conservative support have all been credited with his ascendancy to the Presidential office.
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Obama won on a bed of hype despite the fact that there is no actual proof that he's a good politician, not that there is such a thing. Further more, just because you're a good orator does not make you a good anything else. America is going to go down in flames and he can't save us.
Political image
See also: Obama logoYouth and experience
In a December 2006 Wall Street Journal editorial headlined "The Man from Nowhere," Ronald Reagan speech writer and Fox News pundit Peggy Noonan advised "establishment" commentators to avoid becoming too quickly excited about Obama's still-early political career. Echoing the inaugural address of John F. Kennedy, Obama acknowledged his youthful image, saying in an October 2007 campaign speech, "I wouldn't be here if, time and again, the torch had not been passed to a new generation."
During the 2008 election season, Barack Obama's experience has been a topic of contention. Both Democratic and Republican politicians have criticized his experience in regard to whether he's ready to be President of the United States. Since his nomination the criticism has been mostly from Republican politicians; many Democratic politicians now believe that Obama is ready. Criticism has almost exclusively centered on his readiness for the position of commander in chief as opposed to his abilities as a public servant. Hillary Clinton often stated during her unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic nomination that Obama wouldn't be a candidate who's ready on "Day One". Since conceding the race for the nomination she has endorsed Obama. While campaigning for president, Joe Biden believed that Obama could eventually be ready for the job of president, but that at the time he wasn't ready. Biden, now Obama's vice president, has since revised his beliefs on Obama's readiness, but his quotes from the 2008 Democratic Debates have been used in campaign ads for John McCain. Independent Democrat Joe Lieberman has criticized Obama's experience and readiness, citing his response to the Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008.
Political savvy
A prominent part of Obama's political image is a belief that Obama's rhetoric and actions toward political reform are matched with a political savvy that often includes a measure of expediency. In a July 2008 The New Yorker feature article, for example, Ryan Lizza wrote, "(Obama) campaigns on reforming a broken political process, yet he has always played politics by the rules as they exist, not as he would like them to exist."
Alleged elitism
Obama’s Ivy League education, combined with remarks he has made about small-town Pennsylvanians, have led to questions about elitism. Obama has responded to such questions by pointing out that he was raised by a single mother, in a family that had little money, and he used scholarships to get his education.
Conservative support
See also: Republican and conservative support for Barack Obama in 2008Obama has been praised and endorsed by some Republicans and conservatives. Republicans who support Obama have been labeled Obamacans. Gallup has conducted weekly polls of registered voters to measure support amongst the candidates. The most recent poll conducted between October 13 and October 19 shows 5% support for Barack Obama from Conservative Republicans, and 15% support from Moderate/Liberal Republicans. Obama's support among Conservative Republicans peaked at 7% the week of June 16 - June 22, and among Liberal/Moderate Republicans peaked at 21% the week of July 21 - July 27.
Temperament
As one of many points of sharp contrast between him and his 2008 opponent John McCain, Barack Obama has been perceived as having a calm and even temperament, which has been praised by former presidential candidate Chris Dodd as well as numerous media sources as "cool" and "unflappable". Bill Maher remarked on Larry King Live, "...and they have the same temperament, so even. Obama never gets too high, never gets too low - nothing rattles this guy! President? I wish he was my broker!"
Speaking in support of Obama in March 2008 about his temperament and readiness to be Commander-in-Chief, retired Air Force General Merrill "Tony" McPeak referred to him as "no drama Obama" and "no shock Barack". These characterizations were picked up and continued to be used months later by other media commentators such as Andrew Sullivan, Arianna Huffington, and other news outlets.
Around the world
All twenty two countries covered in a September 2008 BBC poll said they would prefer to see Senator Obama elected president ahead of Republican opponent John McCain. In 17 of the 22 nations, people expected relations between the United States and the rest of the world to improve if Senator Obama won. More than 22,000 people were questioned by pollster GlobeScan in countries ranging from Canada to India and across Africa, Europe and South America. The margin in favor of Senator Obama ranged from 9% in India to 82% in Kenya (location of Obama's paternal ancestry), while an average of 49% across the 22 countries preferred Senator Obama compared with 12% preferring Senator McCain. Some four in ten did not take a view.
A similar global poll was held by Reader's Digest, with respondents "overwhelmingly" in favor of Obama from all 17 countries, including Mexico, Finland, Indonesia, Britain and Spain. Russia gave Obama the lowest score among the countries polled, but still preferred Obama over McCain with a 35% margin. An Australian poll conducted in August 2008 found that over 75% of Australians want Obama to win the presidential election, while only 10% showed support for McCain.
Similar results were found in New Zealand (65% in favor of Obama, 11% in favor of McCain), Japan (49% in favor of Obama, 13% in favor of McCain), France (65% in favor of Obama, 8% in favor of McCain), Italy (70% in favor of Obama, 15% in favor of McCain), Germany (67% in favor of Obama, 6% in favor of McCain) and the Netherlands (90% in favor of Obama, 6% in favor of McCain). The only country surveyed (other than the U.S.) where McCain's popularity rivalled Obama's was Jordan, where 22% were in favor of Obama and 23% in favor of McCain. Obama scored higher approval ratings in all 70 countries covered in an October 2008 Gallup poll, with the most favorable scores coming from Asian and European countries.
In 2007 German journalist Christoph von Marschall wrote a book entitled Barack Obama - Der schwarze Kennedy. The literal translation of its German title is "Barack Obama. The Black Kennedy". His book was a best seller in Germany, where other commentators had also compared the two Americans.
In addition to this, Obama has established close relationships with prominent foreign politicians and elected officials even before his presidential candidacy, notably with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whom he met in London in 2005, with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who visited him in Washington in 2006 as France's Interior Minister, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who spoke with Obama by telephone from Washington D.C. in 2008 (while Obama was campaigning elsewhere), as well as with Italy's Democratic Party leader, and then Mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, who was welcomed in Obama's Senate office in Washington in 2005 and later wrote the introduction to Obama's The Audacity of Hope Italian edition.
Depictions
The West Wing writer and producer Eli Attie based the character of Matt Santos (portrayed by Jimmy Smits) on Obama. At the time the politician was only a state senator. Obama later met Smits. Will Smith expressed interest in portraying Obama in a film, citing his physical resemblance – particularly their ears – to the President-elect, something which Obama concurred with while discussing the possibility with Smith.
Obama became a popular subject for artists during his presidential campaign. Shepard Fairey designed posters captioned "Hope", and he was commonly depicted as a superhero. Alex Ross painted a portrait of Obama as Superman, tearing open his suit to reveal a shirt with an 'O'-symbol, while in Entertainment Weekly he was depicted as Spider-Man opposite John McCain's Batman. The association of Obama with Superman was picked up by the media and by the candidate himself: at the 2008 Al Smith Dinner, Obama joked, "Contrary to the rumors you have heard, I was not born in a manger. I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father, Jor-El, to save the planet Earth." And The Washington Post titled two essays about the impact of Obama's election by Desmond Tutu and Ta-Nehisi Coates "The Man of Tomorrow", referencing a frequent sobriquet of Superman.
Marvel Comics released an special Inauguration Day comic of The Amazing Spider-Man with a picture portraying Barack Obama with Spider-Man hanging upside down behind him snapping his picture, quiping, "Hey, if you get to be on my cover, can I be on the dollar bill?" The comic also featuring a brief story where the Chameleon attempts to pose as Obama in order to be sworn in in his place, Obama subsequently shaking Spider-Man's hand in thanks and admitting that he's always been a fan despite the wall-crawler's negative public image. For copyright reasons, Marvel subsequently denied depictions of Obama as acting president in the Marvel Universe were intended to be him.
Similarities were drawn between Obama and Two-Face in the 2008 film The Dark Knight, released during Obama's campaign. The character, portrayed by Aaron Eckhart, and his time as the "white knight" district attorney – who provides hope in a demoralised city – is given major focus. Boris Johnson compared Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) in Quantum of Solace to Obama; the African-American CIA ally of James Bond is promoted to become Section Chief in South America over the previous corrupt agent.
See also
- "There's No One As Irish As Barack O'Bama"
- "Yes We Can"
- "I Got a Crush... on Obama"
- HOPE poster
- "Barack the Magic Negro"
References
- "Peggy Noonan on Political Impact of Illegal Immigration". Foxnews.com. 2008-06-08. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
- Noonan, Peggy (December 15, 2006). "The Man From Nowhere". OpinionJournal (Wall Street Journal). Retrieved 2008-04-07. See also: Obama (2006), pp. 122–124. For Noonan's comments on Obama winning the January 2008 Iowa Caucus, see: Noonan, Peggy (January 4, 2008). "Out With the Old, In With the New". OpinionJournal (Wall Street Journal). Retrieved 2008-04-07.
- Dorning, Mike (October 4, 2007). "Obama Reaches Across Decades to JFK" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-04-07. See also: Harnden, Toby (October 15, 2007). "Barack Obama is JFK Heir, Says Kennedy Aide". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
- Analysis: Is Obama ready for world's toughest job?
- USA Today: Will any presidential candidate be ready on 'Day One'?
- Politico: Statesman known for slips of his tongue
- Lieberman: Obama shows "inexperience" over Georgia
- Making It: How Chicago shaped Obama
- “Opponents Paint Obama as an Elitist; Clinton, McCain Try to Score Off 'Bitter' Remark”, Washington Post (2008-04-12): “You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania ….they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
- “The Candidates Respond To ‘Elitist’ Label”, CBS News (2008-10-15): “I think it's the Ivy League education - that somehow … puts you in this rarified air.”
- Regan, Tom (2008-01-18). "Barack Obama and His Conservative Fans". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
- Conservatives should rethink their support of Obama Thomas Sowell, Deseret News July 10, 2008.
- Candidate Support by Political Party and Ideology Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aGUESSOCzYlw&refer=columnist_carlson
- http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081005/OPINION03/810050308/1356/OPINION0330
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/16/AR2008101603436_pf.html
- http://society-culture.marc8.com/obamas-temperament-examined
- http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.28906/pub_detail.asp
- http://usliberals.about.com/od/obamavsmccainin08/a/ObamaWin_2.htm
- http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-president5-2008nov05,0,1889291.story
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_J5xvJbcHs&feature=related
- John McCormick (2008-03-13). "Obama enlists ex-commanders: 'No shock Barack' fires back at rivals". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- Andrew Sullivan (2008-06-05). "No Drama Obama". The Daily Dish. The Atlantic. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- Arianna Huffington (2008-11-24). "Hillary + Obama = High Drama". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- "Obama Urges Renewed Alliance With Europe in Berlin Speech"
- ^ World wants Obama as president: poll
- "Obama 'wins' global polls", Gulf Daily News. Retrieved on October 8, 2008.
- Knott, Matthew. "Aussies join world cheering for Obama", The Australian Online. Retrieved on October 8, 2008.
- Hudson, Phillip. "Obama wins by a landslide - in Australia", The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved on 2008-10-02
- "NZers overwhelmingly support Obama for president", The National Business Review. Retrieved on 2008-10-02
- Ito, Masami. "Poll: Voters favor Obama for U.S.", The Japan Times Online. Retrieved on 2008-10-02
- Blaire, David. "Barack Obama beats John McCain in European vote: US election 2008", telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-10-02
- Yeh, Joseph. "Taiwanese favor Obama over McCain, poll shows", Taiwan News. Retrieved on 8 October 2008.
- "The world loves Obama, except Jordan", Foreign Policy. Retrieved on 2008-10-02
- "Rest of world prefers Obama over McCain for US president: poll", The Sydney Morning Herald, 2008. Retrieved on October 23, 2008.
- Barack Obama - The Black Kennedy?!
- Germany’s Got a Crush on Obama, The Caucus: New York Times politics blog, January 6, 2008
- "Obama to visit nuclear, biological weapons destruction facilities in former Soviet Union" - Senate.gov
- "Sarkozy, Obama and McCain" - The Economist
- "Obama Statement on the U.S. Visit of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd", Obama.senate.gov, 2008.
- Rome Mayor's Leadership Bid May Lead to Early Italian Elections
- VELTRONI A NEW YORK - Il politico prevale sull' amministratore
- Libreria Rizzoli Galleria
- Jonathan Freedland (2008-02-21). "From West Wing to the real thing". guardian.co.uk. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2008-11-05.</
- Jocelyn Vena (2008-12-09). "Will Smith Still Interested In Playing Barack Obama - If He's Not 'Too Old'". MTV.com. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- "Barack Obama: I want Will Smith to play me". New Zealand Herald. 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- Nisha Gopalan (2008-10-23). "The Many Superhero Faces of Barack Obama". io9. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
- Rhee, Foon (October 17, 2008). "Candidates get funny, really". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|curly=ignored (help)
Boucher, Geoff (October 17, 2008). "Everyday Hero Headlines". Los Angeles Times. "Hero Complex" blog. Retrieved November 11, 2008. - Tutu, Desmond (November 9, 2008). "The Man of Tomorrow". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
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Coates, Ta-Nehisi (November 9, 2008). "The Man of Tomorrow". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 11, 2008.{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|curly=ignored (help) - Marvel Comics. "The Amazing Spider-Man Variant Edition". Marvel Comics. Retrieved 2009-1-10.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - Graeme McMillan (2009-02-01). "Marvel: This Is Not The President You Are Looking For". io9. Retrieved 2009-02-02.
- Ry Rivard (2008-07-23). "Is Barack Obama Our Harvey Dent?". cnn.com.
- Boris Johnson (2008-11-04). "US election: Like us, James Bond needed America's help to beat the bad guys". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
External links
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