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Barack Obama has a lot going for him. He's young, intelligent, charismatic and undeniably one of the most gifted orators in American politics. Certainly the thought of electing America's first black President is enticing as we seek to distance ourselves from the prejudices and inequities of the past.
While the senator may look good on television, on paper he appears to be seriously under qualified to lead the free world. Obama has no executive or foreign policy experience. He has never led a business or government and would enter the presidency with less foreign policy experience than his predecessor did in 2000. Maybe it's just me, but that seems a little frightening. When it comes to experience, Obama may be left with little to say to the American people other than: "I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night."
An exploration of Obama's record reveals no trace of a centrist or even moderate record of governing. According to the National Journal, he was the most liberal member of the United States Senate in 2007. He believes in unfettered abortion, government-run health care, higher taxes and increased government spending. He's as much a believer in the right to bear arms as George W. Bush is in fiscal responsibility.
In a recent analysis of Obama's economic plan, the New York Times characterized Obama's policies as "more left than the Clinton administration's." Starting to get the picture?
Barack Obama is one of the few politicians with the ability to make Hillary Clinton appear conservative. If Hillary's policies are "way out in left field," Obama's policies are probably somewhere out in the parking lot.
To his credit, Obama does not try to distance himself from his left-of-center views. He says what he believes and believes what he says. For that, he should earn your respect, but certainly not your vote.
Obama's pledge to transcend American politics and unite the country may be inspiring, but it is far from promising. Though he possesses many of the essential personal qualities of a good leader, his ability to unite the country behind a common purpose would be crippled by his polarizing political philosophy. If Obama's voting record is any indication of how he would govern, I can assure you, he would be the most divisive president in American history.
Can a man who opposes the federal ban on partial birth abortion unite our country? Can a man who supports giving social security, welfare and driver's licenses to illegal immigrants unite our country? I think not.
While Obama continues to mesmerize the electorate with his eloquent speeches and endless talk of "hope" and "change," he has yet to tell the electorate what they are to hope for, what he plans to change, or how he plans to change it. I try not to make a habit of agreeing with Hillary Clinton, but I have to concur with her characterization of Obama as "all hat and no cattle." Never have I heard someone talk so much and yet say so little.
Don't be deceived when pundits tell you that Obama is the next John F. Kennedy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kennedy was a conservative Democrat and a decorated war hero. Obama is a liberal Democrat with no military or foreign policy experience whatsoever. Kennedy had experience, Obama does not.
As the Illinois Senator continues to spend millions of dollars trying to convince us that he's ready to lead, I hope we all remember that talk is no substitute for action, and rhetoric can never take the place of experience. A thousand oratories will never create a single job, secure an open border or secure peace.
Reach columnist Tim Carr at Tim.Carr@usd.edu
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