The Obama Voodoo Machine

Written on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 at 9:32 pm | by Ben Paypon

The so-called Barrack Obama magic is casting its spell among Americans and Filipinos alike much more powerful than a Katrina roll of late. And this is dangerous because it could be very destructive. It first dumped a charismatic Hilary Clinton and probably would swipe out Republican hopeful John McCain if left unmolested.

Do Americans need an inspiring minister who pulpitizes righteousness from the political podium?

Do Americans need a reformist that promises an overhaul of almost all of America’s culture or way of life?

Do Americans need a combination of a white and black gene to save them from the recession?

Americans will cast their votes in two months and the United States of America may never be the same again if the answers to the above questions are answered in the affirmative.

As a voter or sympathizer, would you like a new America? Is there a need to overhaul? Is there a need to reform?

Common guys, let’s probe. Let’s start with foreign policy? Do you want to withdraw American troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, parts of Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia? Do you want Uncle Sam to stop meddling in other countries’ affairs? Put it nicely, do you want to confine Uncle Sam in Washington? Do you want to bury the hatchet and forget all about Al Qaida?

Do you want to reform business or America’s economy and save the most powerful nation from economic collapse?

How about the US military, Pentagon, the CIA, the FBI, the Homeland Security Force, do you have any idea on how to deal with these independent fully armed organizations?

America, despite its weak or powerful leaders in the past has withstood the test of times and remains the most powerful country in the world today. Good leaders even had to be eliminated because they were a threat to the system; others had to resign because they violated the law and the institution they vowed to uphold; and still others had only abbreviated terms because they did not meet the expectations of the voters. And “institutions” well set in place since time immemorial to save America had played major roles in all these experiences, not to mention the strong character of the liberated American. And due credit should be given to the framers of the American Constitution.

Politicians should be watched as politicians not as reformists, ministers or savior. Pretenders or voodoos have no place in American politics or face the ghost busters.

Tags: 2008 elections, barack obama

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About The Author: Ben Paypon email at :benpaypon@gmail.com -- Valenzuela, Philippines. He is a Publisher, Broadcast Commentator, News Analyst. President – Philippine Union of Broadcasters 'PLENARYO PUBLIKO" -- Radio Program DZAR 1026 Khz – 8am to 9am Mondays thru Fridays

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Comments

32 Responses to “The Obama Voodoo Machine”

EQualizer on August 28th, 2008 10:13 pm

“Do Americans need a combination of a white and black gene to save them from the recession?”Ben Paypon

Do we need this kind of bigotry?
Philman on August 28th, 2008 10:36 pm

You’re engaging in demagoguery, Sir Paypon of the great American tradition.

I always wonder, why some Fil-Ams ‘mas Amerikano pa sa mga mainstream Americans?’
Bencard on August 29th, 2008 3:31 am

as i see it, obama’s election would be a triumph of radicalism in the u.s., a blossoming of extreme liberalism and libertarianism - where anything and everything can be justified in the name of unbridled “freedom”.

there are, i believe, ominous signs that cannot be ignored, including his past (and present) association with the likes of jonathan wright, farrakhian, malcom x, william ayres and his “weatherman”. obama’s advocacy of a reduced military strength for the u.s., coupled with kid-glove treatment of rogue regimes under euphemistic codes such as “peace through negotiation”, “live and let live”, “make love, not war”, etc. are downright dangerous. enemies and haters of america will celebrate an obama victory. i’m a clinton democrat, and i will vote for mccain.
Billary on August 29th, 2008 4:35 am

We are Mr. and Mrs. Clinton, and we will vote for Obama.

“No way. No how. No McCain” - Hillary Clinton

“Obama will restore America’s leadership in the world” - Bill Clinton.

Benpay and Bencard, magkatugma nga kayo.
Ding Gagelonia on August 29th, 2008 8:23 am

It that you, Kuya Ben?

Welcome to FV. I have reservations, though about your use of “voodoo” and all its pejorative connotations, literal or otherwise.

I would leave the Americans to their own affairs. Given their global influence, I understand your concern.

But I’d watch out more for how Obama, if he does become president, tweak American foreign policy towards our part of the world.

Not by much, I would think. In the end, America looks after its own, and others simply by extension.

We Filipinos would do well to handle our own worries and not to always look to Uncle Sam for ’solutions’ with palms open ‘mendicantly’.

Still, welcome to FV, Kuya.
Jon Limjap on August 29th, 2008 10:42 am

LOL, the old whites and their deeply-ingrained Ku Klux Klan slash Nazi white supremacisms.

Oh wait… is this an Old Filipino with their open self-castigation and white-worshiping ways that led to the demise of whatever dignity the Philippines had in the past?
cvj on August 29th, 2008 11:29 am

Jon, i think the answer to your question would be ‘yes’.
Nick on August 29th, 2008 2:16 pm

@Ben, I respectfully disagree, because much of what you are accusing regarding his foreign policy is not correct. Barack Obama never said he is withdrawing from Afghanistan. On the contrary, he realizes the strategic need to fight Al Qaeda directly, not because of oil, but because of where their stronghold is. It is in Pakistan, in Afghanistan.

His foreign policy is not to withdraw from every sector, that would be more in line with what libertarians believe, and although there is a grain of truth into the fact that The United States should stop thinking of itself as an imperial power…

Barack Obama’s foreign policy is focused on gathering a united front, and not simply a gung-ho style in which Bush and McCain is inclined to.

Other parts in which I would disagree is the use of voodoo.. It is a great part of being a leader that this person needs to inspire a nation, in this respect, I would say that it is the Obama Magic that has the possibility of leading an entire nation.. I don’t know about you, but I think an inspiring leader is very effective.

I am in The United States, and believe me, it may seem rosy, but there are millions of Americans who still live without adequate healthcare, who fear their future because of an uncertain retirement.. There are many things that are broken, trust me.

So when you ask if America needs a leader to get them out of a recession, I say yes. Because on the other side of the coin is McCain, who is out of touch and who doesn’t realize that the economy is even broken.

But I digress, as you can see, I have much disagreement with what you have written.. But I am glad, that you have put forward, the views that many Americans may just hold, especially from the Republican Party… and maybe Fox News..
Bencard on August 30th, 2008 12:45 am

i stayed up late to try to listen to obama’s “historical” speech hoping to hear something of substance after a show-biz type video on his “origins”. after the first five or ten minutes of more-of-the-same, i was treated to a rehash of the democrats’ theme that reminds me of the vietnam-era mcgovern campaign of 1972 that ended in a rout of the democrats. the speech lulled me to sleep in the middle of it.

i did find the cult-like adulation of 84,000 democrats at the mile high stadium a bit scary. i sense something biblical about it that i just can’t put my finger on.
Philman on August 30th, 2008 12:53 am

‘i sense something biblical about it that i just can’t put my finger on.’ -Bencard

Could it be that you are referring to the sign of the ‘666′? I call that Biblical demagoguery.
Bencard on August 30th, 2008 1:21 am

call it whatever you want, philman, but i do hope to God, i’m wrong.

btw, i’ll give you a good example of demagoguery.
hitler’s “peace” speech of 1936.
Philman on August 30th, 2008 1:58 am

Bencard,

According to some blogs: Evangelicals seriously prayed for bad weather (thunderstorm, rain, hurricane) to strike Denver during the Obama speech. Well what d’ya know, the weather was perfect, the fireworks lit up a beautiful twilight sky. And get this, there are last minute talks to postpone the Republican convention because of hurricane Gustav which might strike St. Louis at precisely the time of their convention. Talk of divine intervention.
Bencard on August 30th, 2008 2:13 am

philman, know your subject before you speak (or write). not that i am saying that the good weather for the democrats, and the bad weather for the republicans, are by “divine intervention”. but even satan has the trappings of “heavenly” powers. since you mentioned the “biblical 666″ do you know what powers he has and the source of that power?
Philman on August 30th, 2008 2:16 am

Bencard,

What are you saying? As I said those came from some blogs. They’re not my observations. What the heaven?
Bencard on August 30th, 2008 2:27 am

philman, sorry for my overreaction. now i see what you meant. thanks for the info about the “blogs”.
UP n student on August 30th, 2008 3:34 am

And then, there are the Vice-presidentiable’s, and a writer on the Wshington Post has this to say:

If Palin’s presence on the GOP ticket inspires white evangelicals and pro-life Catholics to put their full weight behind McCain’s candidacy, it could prove disastrous for the Democrats.

In 2004, President Bush’s re-election was sealed with the support he got from white evangelicals and Catholics. Bush won nearly 80 percent of the white evangelical vote and 52 percent of the Catholic vote — including 55 percent in the key swing state of Ohio. A recent Time magazine poll showed that nearly 60 percent of Catholic voters consider themselves pro-life voters.

As megachurch pastor Rick Warren told the Wall Street Journal, the abortion issue is just as important to evangelicals. “A lot of people hear (about a broader evangelicla agenda) and they think, ‘Oh, evangelicals are giving up on believing that life begins at conception. They’re not giving up on that at all. Not at all.”
UP n student on August 30th, 2008 3:36 am

So Abe Margallo’s vote nulls out Bencard’s vote… while Ben Paypon wishes he can vote against Obama.
Jon Limjap on August 30th, 2008 8:42 am

Hmmm,

Was Dick Chenney a factor in Bush’s re/election? Was any VP ever a factor in the success of the presidential nominee’s election?

I find it funny that it is the pro-lifers who put into power a man who caused war, devastation, and ultimately, death, to a country with an accusation of weapons of mass destruction that turned out to be unfounded.

So much for pro-life.
ben paypon on August 30th, 2008 10:08 pm

Guys,
you make me feel welcome…I really wanted to inject some thoughts that are not normally voiced out.The reaction is terrific…expect more from me. thanks.
Nick on August 30th, 2008 11:01 pm

If George Bush could pick Dick Cheney as his running mate the second time around, I’m still certain that the ultimate sway for voters is the candidate himself.

As for Palin, both McCain and Obama have refuted their own campaign thrusts..

For Obama, going for Change, and yet choosing an established, and long time Washington Politico..

For McCain, going for experience, and yet choosing a relatively new, inexperienced Governor, lacking in national policy credentials, and foreign policy experience..

It looks to me like an even field now..

@Ben, we discuss and debate furiously, to challenge ideas, welcome to the fray..
Bencard on August 31st, 2008 8:15 am

with one BIG difference, nick. the democrats have an inexperienced, unprepared junior legislator as candidate for the HIGHEST office of the land with nothing of substance to show as accomplishment (other than, as hillary clinton put it, a speech in 2003 democratic convention). on the other hand, the republicans have a relatively unknown achiever with executive experience, as candidate for the SECOND highest office.

nah, the field is not “even”.
Jon Limjap on August 31st, 2008 3:37 pm

Bencard,

I believe it goes two-fold, on whether you want the “primo” to be the long-time-Washington-politics-player-with-links-to-the-Mafia-who-dumped-his-paraplegic-wife-for-a-younger-richer-woman, or if you want it to be the inexperienced-legislator-speaking-of-Change-but-went-to-church-under-some-asshole-pastor-and-has-no-real-card-up-his-sleeve-nor-chip-on-his-shoulder-other-than-rockstardom.

Lesser of two evils, it appears. Sounds familiar, Pinoy friends?
Dean Jorge Bocobo on September 1st, 2008 12:29 am

Every election pits two men against one another, not the one we don’t favor against the principles that we do. That would be silly because it doesn’t take any mental energy at all to pull it off. The opinions here expressed are the writer’s own, with no attempt at a comparison of the two candidates (except by innuendo). I’m sure anyone who doesn’t like McCain could come up with a similar diatribe based on his own skewed views of what the Republican candidate stands for or does not, has or has not said and done, etc. (including almost becoming a Democrat in 2004 after GWB savaged his campaign in 2000)

But I like watching the US elections not so much through the polls which measure who the respondents want to win, but through the election futures markets (like the Iowa Election Markets) which measure who the participants think will win (by putting their money where their mouths are!).

While I’ve voted Republican in most elections, I’m really leaning heavily towards Barack Obama this time around. He’s got the right temperament to be President at this point in history, he’s a thinking man, a fellow Harvard alumni, a brilliant legal and political mind, a devoted family man, and I am satisfied that he is a true patriot who loves America and will make a great President. (John McCain would only be a good President).

The choice of Phalin is inexplicable. After all that talk about experience to be commander in chief, I’m very disappointed in John McCain for choosing someone who clearly is NOT qualified to be in that job. I doubt she does as well as for McCain as Geraldine Ferraro did for Walter Mondale (which was dismal!) Some judgment.

I think many Republicans may sit out the election for this same reason, and she will only remind Hillarycrats of why they are Democrats and not Republicans.

By the way, there really are some factual distortions in this piece. Barack Obama is talking about shifting the focus of the war on terror to Afghanistan to complete the destruction of both the Taliban and Al Qaeda. His big foreign policy speech earlier this year has recently been compared to the hawkishness of JFK on foreign policy.

But it will all boil down to Character, the criterion that has most often decided all American elections.

During the upcoming debates the character of both men may become decisively obvious to most. McCain will blow his top out of sheer frustration. Watch!

Corrigibility is America’s greatest virtue. Abe Lincoln always knew that someday we would have a black president, but probably only Thomas Jefferson thought we might start with a half-breed.
Bencard on September 1st, 2008 5:03 am

jon, i must really be out of touch. i’ve been living in the u.s. for over 35 years getting a liberal doze of its politics day in and day out, yet i’ve never heard of your “primo”-with-link-to-mafia who’s trying to become president. if that’s not a compelling proof that internet is not for the gullible, i don’t know what is.
J on September 1st, 2008 9:18 am

Wow. The arrogance.
Jon Limjap on September 1st, 2008 9:47 am

Bencard,

I was talking about the Keating Five controversy.

The focus, of course, would be on McCain, who is married to Cindy Hensley, whose father had heavily invested on Keating interests. Keating has been linked to the mafia, thus, the “link” I was talking about.
Dean Jorge Bocobo on September 1st, 2008 2:26 pm

Ben Paypon said, “Politicians should be watched as politicians not as reformists, ministers or savior. Pretenders or voodoos have no place in American politics or face the ghost busters.”

haha! Tell that to Thomas Jefferson or Abe Lincoln or Ronald Reagan. Indeed any President you admire, for who among them was not in some small or great measure a reformer of the corrupt, a minister to the wounded, a savior of the weak or stupid?

Only the barnacles on the ship of state from some far-flung archipelago, could fail to appreciate the importance of the Captain because of the bulk of the ship to which they are securely fastened, and of the Eternal Principles that guide its course and navigation.
benign0 on September 1st, 2008 3:32 pm

Here we are discussing American politics when we cannot even sort out our own.

Talk about a fly sitting on the arse of a bull.
Benj on September 1st, 2008 6:33 pm

^ WIN! lol
Bencard on September 1st, 2008 6:45 pm

jon, so we all have a link to nero and caligula since we all have descended from adam and eve?
Jon Limjap on September 1st, 2008 10:08 pm

Bencard,

Somewhat, but finding yourself in a room as a senator while representing the interests of your father-in-law’s close business associate and, in essence, harassing federal banking authorities is not something that can be ignored with a passing reference to Nero fiddling on the roof.

Of course I do recognize that McCain “said sorry” for that particular transgression, much the same way that GMA said sorry for calling up Garci.
Dan Orosa on October 10th, 2008 2:12 am

All Filipinos should support Senator Obama, because
Patrick Buchanan (who endorses Mccain) of the Republican Party has called Filipinos “little monkeys,” and that America
should end legal immigration from all parts of Asia
because the “little monkeys are mixing their blood with
pure white women.”