I watched Obama’s Berlin speech today on MSNBC. As soon as it was over, the bobble-head commentators (those erudite members of our once-vaunted Fourth Estate castrati) started trying to resuscitate the fading McCain in their desperation to keep the election an ad-selling horse race. There was endless speculation about whether Americans would be disgusted by Obama’s international popularity. And why, oh why, was Obama only “x” points ahead of McCain in such-and-such a poll? It was all so silly I decided to check the other “news” outlets…
CNN was declaring that it was a speech that anyone, even John McCain could have given. Was it presumptive of Obama to speak to an international audience even before he was POTUS? Of course, they then trotted out a clip of McCain declaring the he would only rise to oratory greatness after he was elected…
On to Fox News (faux news, in the opinion of most sentient beings). At first there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. Could John McCain still win? Oh, what to do?! Calmer heads finally prevailed and reminded us that the speech was primarily for the benefit of the German people, although it would certainly resonate with some liberals. Someone chimed in, “there will be tingling legs in San Francisco!” Wink, wink, know what I mean, squire?
As a contrast to Obama’s eloquence, I offer these fascinating video clips:
McCain, on why insurance companies pay for Viagra, but not birth control pills: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkQDbfF4RqA
Republican governor of South Carolina explains the difference between Bush and McCain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4qtgTAg_7o
Finally, why the world fears America: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijz1CdUj5fg