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The American presidential candidate who can do no wrong is experiencing the first signs of dip in popularity that has been called the “Barack-lash.”
Barack Obama has become a darling of the internet generation since starting his underdog campaign to beat the wife of a former president and become the first black leader of the Free World.
Millions downloaded a YouTube video of his “Yes We Can” speech set to music by the Black Eyed Peas front-man will.i.am with celebrity friends who included the actresses Scarlett Johansson and Amber Valletta.
But Mr Obama’s popularity has begun to rebound on him now that he has emerged as the Democratic front-runner. Even supporters are questioning whether he can really deliver on all their hopes.
Mathew Honan, a freelance writer and contributor to Mr Obama’s campaign, set up a website called www.obamaisyournewbicycle.com after his wife, Harper, a nurse and avid cyclist, began exhibiting symptoms of “Obamamania”.
In less than two weeks, there have been more than 2.3 million visits to the minimalist site, which carries messages such as: “Barack Obama escorted your Gramma across the street”; “Barack Obama baked you a pie”; “Barack Obama dedicated a song to you”; “Barack Obama carries a picture of you in his wallet”; and “Barack Obama remembered your birthday”.
The website obamamessiah.blogs-pot.com, asks: “Is Obama the Messiah?” and boasts a “transfiguration” scene of the Christlike candidate addressing supporters from a staircase.
In a section on “Obama Conversion Stories”, it quotes the author Deepak Chopra calling Mr Obama’s candidacy “a quantum leap in American consciousness”. The novelist Toni Morrison, who once called Bill Clinton “America’s first black president”, is quoted as calling Mr Obama “creative imagination, which, coupled with brilliance, equals wisdom”.
The SenatorObamas.com site pokes fun at the Illinois senator and his unusual name by portraying him in a variety of guises, from “Obamarama” to the nightwear-clad “Pajamabama”.
Before the Hollywood writers’ strike, Mr Obama won sympathy on the widely watched Saturday Night Live television comedy show, on November 3, playing himself as a guest at a party thrown by the presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and her husband, Bill.
With the writers back at work, Saturday Night Live returned to lampoon the media obsession with Mr Obama. A white actor played Mr Obama in a sketch parodying the latest Democratic debate. The moderator confessed that she had been “clinically diagnosed as an Obamamaniac”.
Uncle Wiggly, a blogger on www.mydd.com, observed: “This will become a big deal inside the media ‘village’. I live in DC and know that every single political reporter and pundit fool watches every [ Saturday Night Live] during election time and all saw or will see this. They were or will be shocked, I mean quite shocked, to find out that they were the ones being ridiculed.”
David Brooks, a columnist for The New York Times, has diagnosed the mood swing felt by many liberals as “Obama Comedown Syndrome”.
“The afflicted had already been through the phases of Obamamania - fainting at rallies, weeping over their touch screens while watching Obama videos, spending hours making folk crafts featuring Michelle Obama’s face. These patients had experienced intense surges of hope-amine, the brain chemical that fuels euphoric sensations of historic change and personal salvation,” Mr Brooks wrote.
“But they found that as the weeks went on, they needed more and purer hope-injections just to preserve the rush. They wound up craving more hope than even the Hope Pope could provide, and they began experiencing brooding moments of suboptimal hopefulness. Anxious posts began to appear on the Yes We Can! Facebook pages. A sense of ennui began to creep through the nation’s Ian McEwan-centered book clubs.”
Fault lines
— Sites have popped up indicating that the online Obamamania has hit a wall. What kind of wall? A snarky, ironic, this-Obama-thing-has-gotten-over-the-top wall José Antonio Vargas in The Washington Post
— Obama has this almost irrational following, and I myself can’t sometimes explain why I’m supporting him. He’s all things to all men. At least that’s how I put it Noah Norman, 25, founder of www.SenatorObamas.com
— The internet is about authenticity. When somebody gets too popular, too mainstream, their authenticity is questioned. It’s like an indie band joining a major label. It’s like Kurt Cobain. It’s like ‘Juno’ Joshua Levy of TechPresident, a blog tracking online political campaigning
— One of the things about internet culture is there’s a smugness, a self-satisfaction about being ahead of the curve. But now that Obamamania has gotten to be so widespread online, folks are twisting and tweaking it Peter Leyden, director of New Politics Institute, a liberal think-tank
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I am aa social worker and I am really disheartened with
the direction this counry is going. I work with ex-inmates--
they cannot find housing, jobs etc. that is why they become
desperate and commit more crimes and return to prison.
This does not only concern the blacks but the whites also.
Why?
lynn tyler, Mansfield, USA
About 38% of U.S. households pay no income tax today. Under a President Obama (whose policies would shave 15.3 million households off the tax rolls) that share would grow to nearly half of all American households.
Sam, NYC, USA
Obama's tax plans would directly or indirectly harm U.S. investors by raising the capital gains and dividend taxes. More than half of U.S. households are equity owners, so Mr. Obama's proposal risks alienating half the population.
Sam, NYC, USA
Ones of the links is incorrect.
Here's the correct link:
http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/
Good stuff there. Humorous page
Howie Larson, Chicago , IL
i never heard of him except when the media brought him out like a rockstar in early 2007 ..looks like some kinda experiment is going on over there where you bring something out suddenly and thru TV popularise it..what's going on here???
don plummer, georgetown, south america
Until he starts to put forward solid policies rather than catchphrases about change his popularity is going to keep slipping. It's all well and good to not be forthright about policies for a while but he has gone on too long.
The idea that his lack of policies is making him more likely to win is nothing short of laughable.
Kevin, Balla, Ireland
(corrected for typos)
I don't see any lasting signs that Obama's popularity is fading. All the experts agree that his surge is still on the rise, as the BBC also noted today. Until at least he begins his term as US president, everyone's going to be on the edge of their seats wondering how he's going to perform. Whether or not he does deliver is beside the point. Hillary Clinton has banged on so incessantly about him being all talk and no action, that now everyone is dying to find out if she's right and won't be satisfied until he is elected. The most brilliant strategist could not have devised a more wickedly cunning campaign.
Simon, London, UK
TimesOnline. You have consistently tried to poohpooh Obama's appeal to legiosn of people, and I believe that a large part of the reason for that is that he is black. Sorry, but you don't fool me.
Simon, London, UK
Obama is another puppet of the Zionist regime that runs America, the UK and many other countries.
Phred, UK, UK
Oh please. There is no sign of backlash, only of Clinton's desperation. Obama is running the best campaign and Clinton hasn't a chance. That's why people are voting for him. Americans are tired of the old democratic machine that lost two elections to Bush, and we're moving on. It doesn't take a messiah. Just a good organizer. The movement was already happening. Obama just had the good sense to step out front.
mel, washington, dc
Obama clearly distinct from Hillary? Oh come off it, everyone! Sen Obama's voting record in the Senate (when he does bother to attend) is virtually identical to Hillary's, including funding for the Iraq War - he voted exactly as she did on that, namely: 'yes'.
Did he vote for the war? No - because he wasn't even a Senator at the time. Derrr!!!
Elaine, UK,
a million different donors, is that what you really think???!!!
OPRAH, baby......OPRAH!
WHAT A SCAM! and he has NO accomplishments; NONE.
wake up you fools!
Brian Fowler, Bensenville, IL
sounds like people are not checking out the canadates very well .All of them have web sites so you can read about them and their policies.No one can say any of the candates haven't said anything about their policies.Senator Obama has said that we will save billions if this war in Iraq is ended and threw savings could help with many of his plans for the future. Senator Obama has also said it will take all of us to make change not just one person.He has shown that he can get people to work together for a common goal..She does not seem to know the word compromise.The last few days have shown the Clinton machine at it's best with the negative campaigning.
hmm, Wales, Wi USA
A million different small donors MUST be wrong!
I shudder at the thought of what thousands of unemployed lobbyists might mean to the country at this difficult economic time.
Viva la Status Quo!!!!
Stacey Marko-Franks, Broomfield, Colorado
Obama has no experience. End of story.
john, seattle,
No one has yet to question his membership in an exclusively black church.
Check it out. Senator Clinton could not get away with it..why can he?
John T, Louisville, USA KY
When people are just sick of how popular you are, I'd say you're doing all right.
One point I haven't heard mentioned among all the "change vs. experience" talk is the one quality that most draws me to Obama-- he explains a clear logic for his positions. Clinton just rails at her opponents and says, "You know," a lot.
People talk as if he's hypnotizing crowds with some kind of supernatural charm, but I just like that he's a politician who is intelligent AND straight with the people. His policy agenda is nothing too radical, he doesn't polarize in the way that Clinton does, and he rallies up citizen involvement.
Anyway, Clinton went from being a Presidential spouse to being a Senator. Obama didn't have that sort of help. His experience-- what he's done with the opportunities presented to him-- impresses me a lot more, honestly, and that's the sort of ingenuity that I want to see in the White House.
Adam, Kent, WA, USA
Lois, you are very ill informed. Obama has been very clear and specific as to his proposed policies.
"Looks like Hillary has your vote" ?
Given how ill informed you are about Senator Obama's policies, it's probably safe to assume you didn't realize the CA primaries had come and gone.
Tweety, Los Angeles,
As a Republican and a veteran, who supports Obama let me tell you that our support is not wavering... We stand behind him more now then ever before. When I first investigated the candidates, I went to the web sites and read the policies, this is where I decided to support Obama.....he had my vote.
The motivation and the hope is where I started to believe again in politics, and I was and am, energized to share with others this renewed hope.
Maybe what you are seeing as a decline in enegy that has nothing to do with our loyalty to the candidate, but many of Obamas supporters as not mere spectators, they are working hard night after night, staying informed, making calls, staying up late watching the votes come in (I can't emagin how thw candidates are doing it)....it's a long campain and we're all a little tierd, but we stand fast and hold our ground with confidence that Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States.
Jasmine , Apex, NC
A lot of the ill-tempered sarcasm about Obama's success is just plain JEALOUSY, SOUR GRAPES -- call it what you will.
Imagine how thrilled Hillary and McCain would be if their supporters loved them as much as we love Obama, or if they were the objects of an adoring cult of followers. Since when has a politician been criticised for being a "Messiah"? They are just green with envy!
I've got the Obama Syndrome real bad -- and I must say it feels really good. Not since John F. Kennedy have I felt so good, and so proud of the United States. At last we have a candidate who is worthy of this great country.
I believe that Obama is God's gift to the United States. HE IS THE MAN! Thank God if you are suffering from Obamamania. This kind of man only appears once every hundred years.
Marshall, London,
Note: the posted domain in the article : www.obamaisyournewbicycle.com is to a domain squatter!
The real url is: http://barackobamaisyournewbicycle.com/
drc, S Wales,
Obama is not a religious prophet but now hes out there winning its sure republicans AND beaten democrats are out for his blood . I do hope Americans are free to choose a good man and honest leader and then we can all breath a little easier .
Andrew ex pat, Paris , France
Eric from Ottowa - to be fair, if your predecessor is George Bush then how much of a disaster can you be? Obama would have to work HARD at that one!
Owen, London, UK
Sorry to disullusion anyone but Obama is not Black he is mixed race (or is he actually a chameleon - and that is not a reference to the level of pigmentation inhis skin). Not only that but he, and his wife, both had middle class up bringings and middle class educations and have little in common with the majority of Black African-Americans ; we should also keep in mind that the American part of Obama is of a white heritage. His proponents are doing nothing more than playing the race card but would be calling raqcism if anyone else were to do so.
Denise B, Oldbury, UK
Thank Godness some people are seeing sense. We would never act like Obama's supporters do over Gordon Brown or David Cameron...I mean ewh.
Sarah , Northern Ireland,
His Policies are there and one of them is 850 billion to the UN for world poverty ,Great,According to him our economy is in the tank and he wants to give 850 Billion to the UN
Jeff Jaworski, Monroe , Ct.
Go bama
Obama
Go bama
Obama
Farrukh, Woking, UK
Canada went through a similar 'empty idol' adoration phase in the late 1960s with 'Trudeaumania', and elected Pierre Trudeau, the biggest disaster of a Prime Minister this country has seen.
Eric, Ottawa, Canada
An end to the hysteria? About time. The whole thing has turned into a most disturbing cult of personality, and, as Paul Krugman noted in a recent NYT column, one that has led to an overly emotional flurry of anti-Clinton sentiment bordering on hate on the part of Obama supporters. As for the Messiah himself - eloquent but empty, as such figures often are.
student, oxford, uk
Mike Gee thinks an Obama veep choice might be Tom Daschle. Drinking way too much mind altering liquids. There are a large number of choices, but Tom Daschle is not my long or short list. My bet is on the LA mayor or another hispanic with exectutive experiance.
And no, I will vote for McCan.
David Anderson, Denver, Colorado
I think once the hype settles down and Obama is the Democratic ticket, everyone will see his substance. It's actually already there in plain view but too many dazzled voters are too lazy to read his policies on barackobama.com or either of the two books he's written (without a ghost writer, I might add).
Also, his selection of a veep (likely Tom Daschle) will make his substance even more obvious.
That said, enjoy the buzz while it's there, my friends. He truly is a historical figure and this is a great moment for America. Don't let any myopic cynics tell you otherwise!
Mick Gee, Brooklyn, NY
Lois from Los Angeles,
You must not have been listening very hard. Obama has just as detailed policies as Hillary and he talks about them just as much as she does, both in debates and speeches. Many of his policy details can be found on his website barackobama.com , under "issues" (that's if you're genuinely interested and not just trying to make an uninformed point). And, strangely enough, the Chicago Tribune has just today published an article in which they studied candidate's speeches and found:
"In fact, read side-by-side with the other candidates' current stump speeches, the Obama script makes at least as many references to policy proposals as do theirs."
Lisa, New York,
This is in answer to -
Lois
Lois Armand, Los Angeles, California
His policies are very clear and well layed out. If you click on his campaign website and look in 'Issues' you can find them there.
Orhan Catan, Istanbul, Turkey
Motherhood&ApplePie statements ... heard them all before.
What we have NOT HEARD YET from Obama .... are actual P O L I C I E S and D E T A I L S. So far, only Hillary has explained thoroughly the POLICIES and the practical DETAILS I need to hear. Looks like Hillary has my vote.
Lois
Lois Armand, Los Angeles, California