Fast Eddie Obama

David Brooks is perhaps the most perspicuous columnist in American journalism today. Here is another fine example. 

It’s not as if Obama flip-flops irritate me; you don’t become a serious contender for American presidency (in all of four years) if you are not a mean son of a bitch. In fact, you shouldn’t even try to be the American president if you are not a tough bastard. It is not a job for pansies. Obama is no Mayawati (1) but then he doesn’t have to be one; the political considerations are entirely different. 

It is his wildly cheering (permanently doped?) band of uber-liberals who consider Obama the next best thing to sex–a messianic figure who will transform the world–who irritate the hell out of me. There are enough examples of such folks even in the Indian blogosphere who, one suspects, have as much understanding of American politics as Rahul Gandhi has of UP politics.

Take Obama’s stand on turning down public financing for his campaign. Now, his decision makes absolute sense. Money is important in fighting elections in America and Obama can raise much more money privately than he will get from the tax payer. I have no doubt that if McCain had the same monetary resources as Obama, he would have done the same. But he would have been pilloried for it. Obama, as Brooks points out, will paint this as a victory against special interest and folks would fall for it. In fact, Obama may end up raising more money because his followers now can’t afford to let down their Christ!.

There are enough genuine reasons for Republicans to lose this elections. George W Bush being the foremost. But even if the playing field was even, Obama would still have won. He is simply too smart!

1. Mayawati’s ruthlessness–and this is a sincere compliment–is stunning. Her decision to withdraw support to the UPA government just at the moment when the Congress needed her most is a political masterstroke. In one gesture she has told the Congress (and anyone else paying attention), don’t mess with me.