Barack Obama = Huey Long

[M]

So I was discussing the race with my mother the other day and she was telling me how inane and meaningless she found his speeches. I agreed that he wasn't an orator; that his force and charisma made up for rather than enhancing any special service or ability. I then suggested that we were living through a modern Huey Long. She said that she had been about to make the same suggestion but thought against it. She said, "I think Obama has the potential to be a real demagogue".

In terms of the force of his personality being one and the same as his qualification for office, can we agree that Obama is a modern Long? Curious to hear Obama supporters on this one.

[© tweed]

hope so.

[Flying Dog]

lol. Cultists, Jim Jones and now Huey Long. What next?

[Ben.]

Dont see it myself... dont think there has been a parallel to Long for decades certianly not Obama.

[Platypus]

I think that's a huge jump, I certainly believe he believes what he says. Whilst it could be self-deception and deception of the masses, I also choose o believe in the change that is possible.

[NHPolitico]

lol. Cultists, Jim Jones and now Huey Long. What next?

Hitler. I've heard "You know who else gave stirring and mesmerizing speeches and drew huge crowds?"

Also, Anti-christ. He's charismatic and will let Israel be destroyed.

The attacks are so serious, I would almost be surprised if he lived to Election Day, if he wins the nomination. There are a lot of crazies in the country.

[AltWorlder]

You know, likening him to a non-aristocratic, non-philandering JFK would be damning with faint praise enough.  Kennedy is pretty overrated despite public perception.

[Thereisnospoon]

I would think this "comparison" would make slightly more sense with Edwards considering his positions and populist approach. That doesn't really matter now, though.

Obama? I don't see it. "Yes We Can" doesn't exactly strike me as "Make Every Man a King." Just because the man can speak doesn't make him the next great dictator.

[MarkWarner08]

I made that comparison last night. After thinking it over, I think RFK and MLK are more accurate parallels. Unlike Long, Obama has never accepted bribes and besides the Rezko affair (which is comparable to the boneheaded Whitewater scandal), Obama is "clean," to borrow a term for Biden's lexicon.

Other differences:
Obama avoids invective and scapegoatism.
Obama doesn't bash wealthy elites (most of his advisers subscribe to the Milton Friedman school of economic thought)
Obama has no history of using patronage to buy influence

If one thinks about, Obama could be compared to Long, but so could McCain be compared to Dole. Besides superficial similarities (McCain and Dole were both old Senators when they ran for POTUS), there is few little in common between those two candidates.

[J. J.]

I don't see it.  The Kingfish had a plan, such as it was; he had a rhetorical flourish but also had a populist plan.  One of the criticisms I have of Obama is that his rhetoric isn't matched by his substance, so far.

I'll also add that Obama is more honest by light years than Long.

[MarkWarner08]

One of the criticisms I have of Obama is that his rhetoric isn't matched by his substance, so far.

One could argue that his work as an inner-city community organizer is echoed in his rhetorical emphasis on conciliation and unity.