Green Cool-Aid

Soft-drink companies spend millions in R&D and market research to find the perfect color, taste and image for their beverages. When I was a child, you could choose Coke or Pepsi and maybe "Tab" diet soda if you wanted cola. There was "Tang" (the astronauts drink it!) for the orange-color set and, for every class party and scouting troop, the ubiquitous "Kool-Aid." (OK, remember "Fizzie" tablets?). 

Today, we are overwhelmed with choices in every drink category. Even Coke has multiple formulas for every palate and nutritional fad.

In 1979, however, a tragic identification with propaganda and a soft-drink entered our vocabulary. The horrific mass suicide of the Jonestown followers of Jim Jones involved drinking poisoned Kool-Aid. Every since that moment, pundits have used the soft-drink as a euphemism for blind followers swayed by empty promises and deceived by a dynamic leader. "Drinking the kool-aid" has become a metaphor for blindly following the manipulations of of deceitful leaders.

We are watching a large part of the American electorate drink political poison as Senator Obama wows the crowds on the campaign trail. While Obama has recently distanced himself from some of the unsavory comments of his friends and mentors (former Weathermen Underground terrorists and Afrocentric racist religious leaders), he remains the darling of the Left and the hope of America's enemies abroad.

Let's assume that Obama is sincere in his profession of Christianity, his denunciation of Rev. Wright's anti-patriotic and racist rhetoric and that his patriotism that is so deep he does not need to wear a flag on his lapel. Let's also assume that his wife's incendiary comments about America were overly-enthusiastic campaigning. The "green kool-aid" is still being dispensed. Consider the following facts about Obama:

Fact: He has never been poor and has lived a life of relative privilege. Any racism has been minimal and his rise to prominence rivals any white candidate. Yes, he experienced a broken home - just like nearly half of American children. 

Fact: he has almost no real world experience in business or even in law. "Community Activism" is hardly reality when it comes to understanding the needs of most Americans.

Fact: He cannot bring himself to give unequivocal support for Israel or place an necessary preconditions on negotiations with nations and organizations dedicated to the destruction of Israel, and, in the long run, the USA as well.

Fact: He knows nothing about economics, limited government or the real dynamics of delivering goods and services. 

Fact: He is no better or worse that other politicians who have unsavory friends and supporters. What makes Obama distinct is his refusal to engage in any real discussion of his associations or issues that he cannot control.

Fact: Obama has no immigration or NAFTA policies. He is proclaiming the current situation broken while winking at leaders on our northern and southern borders.

Fact: Obama is a brilliant orator in the tradition of JFK and RFK. Contrary to recent comments by Geraldine Ferraro, I think Obama would be successful regardless of his color - the populace is eager for something fresh.

If Obama actually believes all of his rhetoric, he is naively being manipulated by a variety of global forces: EU leaders, global capitalists, leftists who want to see the America humbled and even dismembered and Arabs who believe he is still secretly a Muslim. Obama's comments one year ago that his middle name helps him understand Muslims cannot be squared with the current campaign kool-aid that any mention of Hussein is inflammatory. 

Senator, change your name and change your tune and we might believe you.