The CNN Compassion Forum
by tdaxp ~ April 13th, 2008
The background for tonight’s “Compassion Forum” (consecutive question-and-answer sessions with the Democratic candidates) was Obama’s shockingly ignorant remarks in San Francisco the other day. Not this:
“You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them,” Obama said. “And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it’s not surprising then 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.”
which is no more notable than a white candidate, say, explaining the charismatic nature of many black churches as a result of the high unemployment rate. No, Obama’s troublesome and strange remarks were given later, as he tried to dig his way out of his slip:
“People don’t vote on economic issues because they don’t expect anybody is going to help them,” Obama told a crowd at a Terre Haute, Ind., high school Friday evening. “So people end up voting on issues like guns and are they going to have the right to bear arms. They vote on issues like gay marriage. They take refuge in their faith and their community, and their family, and the things they can count on. But they don’t believe they can count on Washington.”
Obama increasingly strikes me as an institutional economic determinist as it comes to American policy, which is a dogmatic approach that attempts to explain all political behavior in terms of economic grievances and the institutions that mediate them. Doubtless Obama can explain a lot of what happens through that lens, but religion is not merely an consequence of institutions and markets, but also of culture, environment, and genetics. Obama’s hip marxism sounds smart, but it is as scientific as psychoanalysis.
So the Compassion Forum was an opportunity for Obama to try to dig out of his hole, or Clinton to push him further down. As it happened, both candidates played defense. Clinton’s session was very emotive, in which she dwelt on the emotional impact and meaningfulness of religion on a personal level. At one point she drew tears in many eyes, including my own. (Whether or not Hillary is a snake in the grass is besides the point: the story was moving and deep.) Obama’s time, however, was reflective, continuing his quiet theme of viewing religion as a legitimate form of political organization. His performance was generally good, though his last few minutes contained a few missteps.
Through their words, Clinton and Obama both attempted to strengthen their support among their bases (Hillary’s uneducated white and latinos, Obama’s educated whites and blacks). Both doubtless succeeded.
A humorous side-note: At one point, I said out-loud: “Hillary is doing good work.”
“No,” sister-of-tdaxp interjected, “Hillary’s doing God’s work!”
I think this is your...
April 13th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I disagree – and that’s Democracy.
RE: your assessment of Senator Obama’s “generally good” performance.
Hillary…another Billary – it’s all the same.
April 14th, 2008 at 7:22 am
The longer primary schedule has turned out to be a blessing. I would not have thought so a year ago.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I thought that everyone was foolish for having an early primary season, but the decision turns out to be quite late.
And Dan, I can’t find your email address anywhere, could you email me? I have a question on another matter.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
tdaxp,
As a new reader, I find your analysis of politics very insightful. Very cool blog sir.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
“But they don’t believe they can count on Washington”.
Amen. Nor should they.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
There are enough human beings who think they are doing “Gawds Work” already in office around the planet to punish us all forever and ever amen.
Can someone find me a President who will arrange for me to have Dental?
Seriously…this is the 21st Century, and I am in danger of losing my life because I can’t afford extensive dental work!
Maybe if I had a gun I’d be clutching it.
Bitterness already/easily/widely available.
April 14th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Lexington & Kindns,
Paragraphs 33 & 46 of Pope Leo XII’s open letter, “Rerum Novarum” [1], provide remarkable guidance as it comes to healthcare:
Healthcare is clearly a requirement for comfort and welfare. Further, the risks we are born with and the risks we cannot control are enemies of ownership, as they artificially alter our discount rates. The State should provide healthcare for its citizens.
VAGrandmotherof4,
If “Billary” means more NAFTA, more WTO, more welfare reform, and more markets, then that would be a good thing.
Purpleslog & Steve,
I wonder if those Democrats who supported Obama and insisted that the long primary campaign was good for the party still feel this way? I doubt it. [2]
Galrahn,
Thanks! I particularly liked your post on the USS Lassen’s recent visit to Shanghai! [3]
[1] http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum_en.html
[2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/04/14/at-least-willie-horton-didnt-question-why-you-confess-your-religion.html
[3] http://informationdissemination.blogspot.com/2008/04/sunday-photo-album-pictures-from.html