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| Many aspects of the '''public image of''' U.S. ] ''']''' are unusual among American politicians, and stand in stark contrast to those of many of his former opponents. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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 ] and ]. 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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| == 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> | |||
| 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== | |||
| {{seealso|Obama logo}} | |||
| ===Youth and experience=== | |||
| In a December 2006 '']'' editorial headlined "The Man from Nowhere," ] speech writer and ] pundit ] advised "]" commentators to avoid becoming too quickly excited about Obama's still-early political career.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198685,00.html |title=Peggy Noonan on Political Impact of Illegal Immigration |publisher=Foxnews.com |date=2008-06-08 |accessdate=2008-11-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Peggy | last=Noonan | title=The Man From Nowhere|date=December 15, 2006 | url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110009388 | work=OpinionJournal (Wall Street Journal) | accessdate=2008-04-07}} See also: Obama (2006), pp. 122–124. For Noonan's comments on Obama winning the January 2008 Iowa Caucus, see: {{cite news | first=Peggy | last=Noonan | title=Out With the Old, In With the New | date=January 4, 2008 | url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110011083 | work=OpinionJournal (Wall Street Journal) | accessdate=2008-04-07}}</ref> Echoing the ], 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."<ref>{{cite news | first=Mike | last=Dorning | title=Obama Reaches Across Decades to JFK | format=paid archive | date=October 4, 2007 | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/1353513781.html?dids=1353513781:1353513781&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+4%2C+2007&author=Mike+Dorning | work=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=2008-04-07}} See also: {{cite news | first=Toby | last=Harnden | title=Barack Obama is JFK Heir, Says Kennedy Aide | date=October 15, 2007 | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565992/Barack-Obama-is-JFK-heir%2C-says-Kennedy-aide.html | work=Daily Telegraph | accessdate=2008-04-07}}</ref> | |||
| During the ], 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 ]. Since his nomination the criticism has been mostly from Republican politicians; many Democratic politicians now believe that Obama is ready.<ref></ref> Criticism has almost exclusively centered on his readiness for the position of commander in chief as opposed to his abilities as a public servant. ] often stated during her unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic nomination that Obama wouldn't be a candidate who's ready on "Day One".<ref></ref> Since conceding the race for the nomination she has endorsed Obama. While campaigning for president, ] 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 ].<ref></ref> Independent Democrat ] has criticized Obama's experience and readiness, citing his response to the Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008.<ref></ref> | |||
| ===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 '']'' 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."<ref></ref> | |||
| ===Alleged elitism=== | |||
| Obama’s Ivy League education, combined with remarks he has made about small-town ]s,<ref>, Washington Post (]): “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."</ref> have led to questions about ]. 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.<ref>, CBS News (]): “I think it's the Ivy League education - that somehow … puts you in this rarified air.”</ref> | |||
| ===Conservative support=== | |||
| {{seealso|Republican and conservative support for Barack Obama in 2008}} | |||
| Obama has been praised and endorsed by some Republicans and conservatives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/news/2008/01/barack_obama_and_his_conservat_1.html |title=Barack Obama and His Conservative Fans |accessdate=2008-09-28|last=Regan |first=Tom|date=2008-01-18 |publisher=]}}</ref> Republicans who support Obama have been labeled ]s.<ref> ], ] July 10, 2008.</ref> ] has conducted weekly polls of registered voters to measure support amongst the candidates. The most recent poll conducted between ] and ] 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 ] - ], and among Liberal/Moderate Republicans peaked at 21% the week of ] - ].<ref> Retrieved ].</ref> | |||
| ===Temperament=== | |||
| As one of many points of sharp contrast between him and his 2008 opponent ], Barack Obama has been perceived as having a calm and even ], which has been praised by former presidential candidate ]<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aGUESSOCzYlw&refer=columnist_carlson</ref> as well as numerous media sources as "cool" and "unflappable".<ref>http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081005/OPINION03/810050308/1356/OPINION0330</ref><ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/16/AR2008101603436_pf.html</ref><ref>http://society-culture.marc8.com/obamas-temperament-examined</ref><ref>http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.28906/pub_detail.asp</ref><ref>http://usliberals.about.com/od/obamavsmccainin08/a/ObamaWin_2.htm</ref><ref>http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-president5-2008nov05,0,1889291.story</ref> ] remarked on ], "...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!"<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_J5xvJbcHs&feature=related</ref> | |||
| Speaking in support of Obama in March 2008 about his temperament and readiness to be Commander-in-Chief, retired Air Force General ] referred to him as "no drama Obama" and "no shock Barack".<ref "nodrama">{{cite news| url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-democrats_thumar13,0,1828250.story | title=Obama enlists ex-commanders: 'No shock Barack' fires back at rivals | author=John McCormick | publisher=Chicago Tribune | date=2008-03-13 | accessdate=2008-12-09}}</ref> These characterizations were picked up and continued to be used months later by other media commentators such as ],<ref "dish">{{cite web| url=http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/06/no-drama-obama.html | title=No Drama Obama | author=Andrew Sullivan | publisher=The Atlantic | work=The Daily Dish | date=2008-06-05 | accessdate=2008-12-09}}</ref> ],<ref "huffpodrama">{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/hillary-obama-high-drama_b_146102.html | work=The Huffington Post | author=Arianna Huffington | title=Hillary + Obama = High Drama | date=2008-11-24 | accessdate=2008-12-09}}</ref> and other news outlets. | |||
| == Around the world == | |||
| </ref> at the ] in ] on July 24, 2008]] | |||
| All twenty two countries covered in a September 2008 ] poll said they would prefer to see Senator Obama elected president ahead of Republican opponent ].<ref name="World wants"></ref> 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.<ref name="World wants"/> More than 22,000 people were questioned by pollster ] in countries ranging from ] to ] and across ], ] and ].<ref name="World wants"/> The margin in favor of Senator Obama ranged from 9% in ] to 82% in ] (location of Obama's paternal ancestry), while an average of 49% across the 22 countries preferred Senator Obama compared with 12% preferring Senator McCain.<ref name="World wants"/> Some four in ten did not take a view.<ref name="World wants"/> | |||
| A similar global poll was held by '']'', with respondents "overwhelmingly" in favor of Obama from all 17 countries, including ], ], ], ] and ]. ] gave Obama the lowest score among the countries polled, but still preferred Obama over McCain with a 35% margin.<ref>"", ''Gulf Daily News''. Retrieved on October 8, 2008.</ref> An ] 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.<ref>Knott, Matthew. "", ''The Australian Online''. Retrieved on October 8, 2008.</ref><ref>Hudson, Phillip. "", ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. Retrieved on ]]</ref> | |||
| Similar results were found in ] (65% in favor of Obama, 11% in favor of McCain),<ref>"", ''The National Business Review''. Retrieved on ]]</ref> ] (49% in favor of Obama, 13% in favor of McCain),<ref>Ito, Masami. "", ''The Japan Times Online''. Retrieved on ]]</ref> ] (65% in favor of Obama, 8% in favor of McCain), ] (70% in favor of Obama, 15% in favor of McCain), ] (67% in favor of Obama, 6% in favor of McCain) and the ] (90% in favor of Obama, 6% in favor of McCain).<ref>Blaire, David. "", telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved on ]]</ref><ref>Yeh, Joseph. "", ''Taiwan News''. Retrieved on 8 October 2008.</ref> The only country surveyed (other than the U.S.) where McCain's popularity rivalled Obama's was ], where 22% were in favor of Obama and 23% in favor of McCain.<ref>"", '']''. Retrieved on ]]</ref> Obama scored higher approval ratings in all 70 countries covered in an October 2008 ] poll, with the most favorable scores coming from Asian and European countries.<ref>"", ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 2008. Retrieved on October 23, 2008.</ref> | |||
| In 2007 German journalist ] wrote a book entitled '']''. The literal translation of its German title is "Barack Obama. The Black Kennedy".<ref></ref> His book was a best seller in Germany, where other commentators had also compared the two Americans.<ref>, The Caucus: New York Times politics blog, January 6, 2008</ref> | |||
| In addition to this, Obama has established close relationships with prominent foreign politicians and elected officials even before his presidential candidacy, notably with former ] ], whom he met in ] in ],<ref></ref> with ] ], who visited him in ] in ] as ]'s ],<ref></ref> ] ],<ref>"", Obama.senate.gov, 2008.</ref> who spoke with Obama by telephone from ] in ] (while Obama was campaigning elsewhere), as well as with ]'s ] leader, and then Mayor of ], ], who was welcomed in Obama's Senate office in Washington in ]<ref></ref><ref></ref> and later wrote the introduction to Obama's '']'' Italian edition.<ref></ref> | |||
| ==Depictions== | |||
| ]]] | |||
| '']'' writer and producer ] based the character of ] (portrayed by ]) on Obama. At the time the politician was only a state senator. Obama later met Smits.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jonathan Freedland|title=From West Wing to the real thing|work=]|publisher=]|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/21/barackobama.uselections2008|date=2008-02-21 |accessdate=2008-11-05}}</</ref> ] expressed interest in portraying Obama in a film, citing his physical resemblance – particularly their ears – to the President-elect,<ref>{{cite news|author=Jocelyn Vena|title=Will Smith Still Interested In Playing Barack Obama - If He's Not 'Too Old'|work=].com|date=2008-12-09|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1600986/story.jhtml|accessdate=2008-12-10}}</ref> something which Obama concurred with while discussing the possibility with Smith.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barack Obama: I want Will Smith to play me|work=]|date=2008-02-27|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10494905|accessdate=2008-12-10}}</ref> | |||
| Obama became a popular subject for artists during his presidential campaign. ] designed ], and he was commonly depicted as a ]. ] painted a portrait of Obama as ], tearing open his suit to reveal a shirt with an 'O'-symbol, while in '']'' he was depicted as ] opposite ]'s ].<ref>{{cite news|author=Nisha Gopalan|title=The Many Superhero Faces of Barack Obama|work=]|publisher=]|date=2008-10-23|url=http://io9.com/5067987/the-many-superhero-faces-of-barack-obama|accessdate=2008-11-05}}</ref> The association of Obama with Superman was picked up by the media and by the candidate himself: at the 2008 ], Obama joked, "Contrary to the rumors you have heard, I was not born in a manger. I was actually born on ] and sent here by my father, ], to save the planet Earth."<ref>{{cite news |first=Foon |last=Rhee |title=Candidates get funny, really |curly=y |url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/10/candidates_get.html |work=] |date=October 17, 2008 |accessdate=November 11, 2008 }}<br/>{{cite web |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2008/10/everyday-her-10.html |title=Everyday Hero Headlines |accessdate=November 11, 2008 |last=Boucher |first=Geoff |date=October 17, 2008 |work=] |publisher="Hero Complex" blog}}</ref> And '']'' titled two essays about the impact of Obama's election by ] and ] "The Man of Tomorrow", referencing a ] of Superman.<ref>{{cite news |first=Desmond |last=Tutu |authorlink=Desmond Tutu |title=The Man of Tomorrow |curly=y |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110702896.html |work=] |date=November 9, 2008 |accessdate=November 11, 2008 }}<br/>{{cite news |first=Ta-Nehisi |last=Coates |authorlink=Ta-Nehisi Coates |title=The Man of Tomorrow |curly=y |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110702897.html?sid=ST2008110900999&s_pos=list |work=] |date=November 9, 2008 |accessdate=November 11, 2008 }}</ref> | |||
| ] released an special ] comic of '']'' 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 ] 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.<ref>{{cite news|author=Marvel Comics|title=The Amazing Spider-Man Variant Edition|publisher=]|url=http://www.facebook.com/s.php?init=q&q=Marvel&ref=ts&sid=26f0868714b3e3ec6dff4681c2728a9b#/photo.php?pid=1162463&id=6883542487|accessdate=2009-1-10}}</ref> For copyright reasons, Marvel subsequently denied depictions of Obama as acting president in the ] were intended to be him.<ref>{{cite web|author=Graeme McMillan|title=Marvel: This Is Not The President You Are Looking For|work=]|date=2009-02-01|url=http://io9.com/5143622/marvel-this-is-not-the-president-you-are-looking-for|accessdate=2009-02-02}}</ref> | |||
| Similarities were drawn between Obama and ] in the 2008 film '']'', released during Obama's campaign. The character, portrayed by ], and his time as the "white knight" district attorney – who provides hope in a demoralised city – is given major focus.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ry Rivard|title=Is Barack Obama Our Harvey Dent?|work=cnn.com|date=2008-07-23|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/23/politics/uwire/main4288694.shtml}}</ref> ] compared ] (]) in '']'' to Obama; the African-American CIA ally of ] is promoted to become Section Chief in South America over the previous corrupt agent.<ref>{{cite news|author=]|title=US election: Like us, James Bond needed America's help to beat the bad guys|work=]|date=2008-11-04|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/11/04/do0401.xml|accessdate=2008-11-04}}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *"]" | |||
| *"]" | |||
| *"]" | |||
| *] | |||
| *"]" | |||
| == References == | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| {{Barack Obama}} | |||
| {{Public image of Barack Obama|state=expand}} | |||
| {{United States presidential election, 2008 navigation}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 02:10, 11 February 2009
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.