I personally find it somewhat of a move strictly in motivation to propel himself even further out of McCain's reach as each passing day shows Obama gaining ground and leaving McCain behind. This announcement may very well have put out any last hopes McCain had to stealing away the election from underneath Obama's popularity. In that respect, this very strategic. Strategic, but heartless.
At what cost did Obama publicize his grandmother's death? There will be no reprecussions from the public, except feelings of regret and sympathy for Obama, because no one can criticize a man when he has lost someone so near to him. But this resonates with McCain's rhetoric that Obama has his interests in front of the people's interest, only this time, he is placing his success at the cost of his family. In no other circumstance would anyone want to publicize such a saddening event unless they had a good reason to do so. And if that reason is for personal self-gaining interests, then that is not only selfish, but heartless. I see no reason for Obama or anybody for that matter to use bereavement as a form of rhetoric. It would greatly damage your image of sincerity towards the people if that is how you would treat someone who is close to you, let alone a citizen you will never know. And the fact that Obama had such a solid lead over McCain makes this even more unnecessary and all the more sickening. He has a strong hold over the election, only to advertise a death in the family to assure even more security. I understand he has to keep an image of rhetoric for himself, that he is a good family man and he doesn't forget where he came from, but I really see this as a degrading moment for Obama to use a dead family member who was so close to him to succeed.
6 comments:
He announced the death of his grandmother because he's a public figure and, as such, his life is an open book. It was probably less painful for him to just get it out of the way then to be constantly probed about it by reporters.
I tried to write a more developed comment but gave up. I'll leave at this: this was really hard to read, Guive.
Stop accusing Obama of trying to sway votes. He isn't trying to garner sympathy. His grandmother died, and to accuse him of making this announcement for "personal self-gaining interests" is a low blow. THAT is what is "sickening."
Unfortunately, I find this post to be quite distasteful. I feel you are accusing Obama of using his grandmother's death as a way to gain sympathy votes -- or sway voters. Thi is just...unbearable.
Guive - as I think has been pointed out, you can't equate Obama announcing that his grandmother has died with using her death for political gain, and I'm really shocked that anyone would even suggest it.
In fact, your suggestion that this is "most likely what Obama wanted" really disturbs me. I hope that you're misinterpreting the nature of these sorts of announcements, and not being so deeply cynical as your post seems.
Im am in no way down playing the death, I'm sorry that I offended any of you. I'm not going to try and argue what I wrote in any other way that i wrote because I can see you're all very mad.
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