The man is slipping from the limelight. The marquee man from MSM and Hollywood and Vine is headed for Sunset Boulevard.
Right from the start of his 2008 campaign, the MSM gave Obama the star treatment. He was their main event. He was billed as a transformational figure -- a visionary who would (1) unify the country and (2) lead us to a fairer economic prosperity and (3) bring us respect abroad in a world of lessened tensions.
In 2009 Newsweek editor Evan Thomas summed up the MSM adoration of Obama when he said, "I mean in a way Obama's standing above the country, above -- above the world, he's sort of God."
The god-factor resulted in a de facto "don't ask don't tell" pact between Obama and the media.
The media didn't ask Obama to detail his hope and change and he didn't tell. Gods don't have to explain themselves. It was just hope and change -- trust me ("Just give us our orders" Chris Matthews). That gave Obama an air of mystery that simply enhanced his front-page appeal.
The mystery element has been crucial to Obama's success. It made him impervious to conventional political attacks and attacks on his person. A twenty-year association with an America-bashing Reverend Wright? His association with Ayers? His college records? How petty. How droll. These might be questions one asked of an ordinary politician, but not a man of high-minded vision who would unite us on our path to his mysterious place where all of us get a fair shot and a fair shake and leave our petty biases and prejudices behind.
Just how did this hack work out for America?
As a country, we're really united, aren't we Tingles????
