m***@use.net
2008-10-30 17:14:03 UTC
Obama Mocks Socialist Attacks: "I Shared My Toys in Kindergarten"
Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 12:13 PM on October 29,
2008.
"By the end of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret
communist because ... I shared my peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
See Video: http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/105228/
Barack Obama campaigned earlier in Raleigh, North Carolina,
principally relying on the closing-statement speech he unveiled in
Ohio on Monday. Today, however, he added a new paragraph.
"[B]ecause he knows his economic theories don't work, he's been
spending these last few days calling me every name in the book," Obama
said. "Lately, he's called me a 'socialist' for wanting to roll back
the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans so we can finally give
tax relief to the middle class. I don't know what's next. By the end
of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because
I shared my toys in kindergarten. I shared my peanut butter and jelly
sandwich."
From time to time, over the course of the 20 or so months, Obama has
demonstrated an ability to use humor very effectively. Greg Sargent
noted earlier, "[This] kind of unforced mockery, even levity, tends to
be a good indicator of genuine confidence in the outcome."
I think that's true, but I'd add that Obama seems to use humor, light
mockery, and the occasional sarcasm even when he's less confident in
the outcome. For months, regardless of circumstance, even during the
primaries, when given a choice between delivering an angry response
and a humorous one, Obama almost always prefers the latter.
One gets the sense that Obama's not mad at the Republicans; he just
thinks they're ridiculous.
AlterNet is a nonprofit organization and does not make political
endorsements. The opinions expressed by its writers are their own.
Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 12:13 PM on October 29,
2008.
"By the end of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret
communist because ... I shared my peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
See Video: http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/105228/
Barack Obama campaigned earlier in Raleigh, North Carolina,
principally relying on the closing-statement speech he unveiled in
Ohio on Monday. Today, however, he added a new paragraph.
"[B]ecause he knows his economic theories don't work, he's been
spending these last few days calling me every name in the book," Obama
said. "Lately, he's called me a 'socialist' for wanting to roll back
the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans so we can finally give
tax relief to the middle class. I don't know what's next. By the end
of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because
I shared my toys in kindergarten. I shared my peanut butter and jelly
sandwich."
From time to time, over the course of the 20 or so months, Obama has
demonstrated an ability to use humor very effectively. Greg Sargent
noted earlier, "[This] kind of unforced mockery, even levity, tends to
be a good indicator of genuine confidence in the outcome."
I think that's true, but I'd add that Obama seems to use humor, light
mockery, and the occasional sarcasm even when he's less confident in
the outcome. For months, regardless of circumstance, even during the
primaries, when given a choice between delivering an angry response
and a humorous one, Obama almost always prefers the latter.
One gets the sense that Obama's not mad at the Republicans; he just
thinks they're ridiculous.
AlterNet is a nonprofit organization and does not make political
endorsements. The opinions expressed by its writers are their own.