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February 16, 2008

Who said that? (a continuing series)

Joseph Rosenberger
While Sen. Obama turns a phrase partially in the tradition of an inner-city AME evangelist, the exalting themes are not new: Lest we get too excited about inspiring political rhetoric, others have come before Sen. Obama  All he is doing, so far, it acquaint an otherwise illiterate generation with poetry and oratory - what was the lingua franca of politics before television and radio.  If one just reads the text of Sen. Obama's speeches, one finds them instantly juvenile -- nothing like a Lincoln, or Washington, or Reagan!)

If you can read these excerpts of earlier speeches, and hear Sen. Obama saying them -- then stop up your ears or start thinking instead of feeling: 

"But in that very fact there lies an inexhaustible source of strength. The conviction that our Movement is not sustained by money or the lust for gold, but only by our love for the people, that must ever give us fresh heart, that must ever fill us with courage for the fray. (1)

"If one has realized a truth, that truth is valueless so long as there is lacking the indomitable will to turn this realization into action!" ... That is the mightiest thing which our Movement must create: for these widespread, seeking and straying masses a new Faith which will not fail them in this hour of confusion, to which they can pledge themselves, on which they can build so that they may at least find once again a place which may bring calm to their hearts. (2)

"What we want lies clear before us: not war and not strife. Just as we have established peace within our own people, so we want nothing else than peace with the world. For we all know that our great work can succeed only in a time of peace."(3)

"Should anyone say to me: 'These are mere fantastic dreams, mere visions,' I can only reply that when I set out on my course in ...[1919] as an unknown, [nameless soldier] I built my hopes of the future upon a most vivid imagination. Yet all has come true.(4)"

(1) Adolf Hitler, Munich, July 28, 1922

(2) Adolf Hitler, Munich, April 12, 1922

(3) Adolf Hitler, Berlin, May 1 1935

(4) Adolf Hitler, Berlin, Rheinmetall-Borsig Works, December 10, 1940

Sen. Obama is no Hitler, to be sure. But swooning crowds before politicians are to be watched carefully.  Sen. Obama is untested.

From Hitler's Speeches:  http://www.hitler.org/speeches/

Update -- James Ring adds:

Besides telling school children someone should tell John McCain.

Update -- Joe Crowley adds:

Ever notice how Obama begins all his speeches with the same line as many show-people, i.e. comedians, Vegas types, P.T. Barnum - "What a great audience!"?

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