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Hello!
Normally I hate David brooks, but I think he hit it in the head with his column today; as has Roger Simon. Obama is definitely the candidate of the modern meritocracy, and I could picture folks getting real tired of him, real fast, if he were to use the presidential bully pulpit in the wrong way. I am sorry to sound racist, but most of the high-achieving African-Americans I know can get almost rude in the way they dole out "helpful" advice to people who did not necessarily ask for it.
While I firmly believe that America needs a firm talking to, I can see Obama talking that kind of talk too far, and losing a lot of electoral affection. Like when he tells black parents to turn off the TV and stop feeding their children junk. Technically true, but it's not the kind of thing that's going to make me feel good about his leadership. Or the comment about guns/religion/bitterness: again, technically accurate, but endearing or empowering? No sir!
So much about the meritocracy culture is built on the assumption that everybody wants to change and be/do better. That may not necessarily be the case, though -- and people like Obama tend to have a tin ear for others' foibles.
But I never would have picked Hillary to be the one to present a more sympathetic face to voters!
What a world, what a world ...
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