Robert Schlesinger

Obama, King, and the 'Greek Temple'

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August 27, 2008 RSS Feed Print
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DENVER—I haven't seen the already-mythical "Greek temple" from which Barack Obama will give his Mile High sermon Thursday night, but I suspect that—in spite of all the conservative hyperventilating—Josh Marshall is correct: On the 45th anniversary of "I have a dream," Obama's campaign is likely trying to evoke the Lincoln Memorial. (When I suggested this to Barone, he started rattling off the number of columns the memorial has—another reason why I love this job.)

Of course if Barack starts hurling lightning bolts, I'll stand corrected.

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Democratic National Convention,
Barack Obama

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There seems to be a strange movement for Obama 'followers'to anoint Obama as the new Lincoln.

I like Obama...but when someone asks me [even before he is sworn in as president] what do I think of him as president...My answer is:" I will tell you that one year from now".

Abraham Lincoln is possibly the greatest President ever...his place in history was achieved through uniting a country through years of a horrible civil war...his Knowledge,Experience, Sacrifice and Morals were second to none.A truly great man.

Now we have people determined to overshadow Lincoln with Obama..a man who as yet has really done nothing, but is presenting himself as a "composite" of the greatest american heroes.

Obama is a very good speaker, and certainly charismatic..but one must remember that most of these speeches are words from Washington,Kennedy, King and Lincoln...not Obama...and not original.

I hope Obama can be a good president, I really do...but he can never be Abraham Lincoln..(even if he does 'borrow' Abe's well thought out words). The Lincoln memorial IS the LINCOLN MEMORIAL...please respect that while putting Obama (or any other political) signs and slogans all over it.

Steve W 6:56PM November 07, 2008

Why is Barack Obama trying to potray himself as a god? He is a sick person and will lose many votes because of this decision.

Anthony of 8:49PM August 28, 2008

Those columns are impressive- they have to be .After all the intended audience is the "little guy"in the cheap seats.It worked at a particularly memorable Olympics in 1936.Recycled in 1984.Been there ...Take it from this little guy it would be more impressive and indicative of great things to come if the budget was not spent on such grandoise expressions visually .Obamas' words (or his speechwriters')should have been sufficient to frame those columns in the mind's eye.

John Patrick of 5:07PM August 28, 2008

Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger is managing editor for opinion at U.S. News and World Report, overseeing all opinion editorial content. He is the author of "White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters." E-mail him at rschlesinger@usnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @rschles.

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