Obama, King, and the 'Greek Temple'

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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

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

A Greek Temple? Togas? Mean, mean, mean. And now they are pointing out that they hired Britney Spears' set designers!

That is the meanest thing I ever heard! Ya know what I mean!

David of FL 3:52PM August 28, 2008

Brian of OH, New Orleans and Louisiana were run by democrats when Katrina hit. New Orleans still has the same democrat mayor who failed them before. Just a reminder.

of GA 1:42PM August 28, 2008

Thank you Schlesinger for correcting a horrible story that started most irresponsibly in Reuters. The staff writer is likely a Republican who wanted to paint a Federalist or Georgian style or Lincoln Memorial (I caught just a glimpse of it and it was nothing like the Parthenon)...as a Greek Temple of all things to portray Obama as worshipping a foreign or weird religion so they could make fun.

As the first Black candidate of a major party I suppose that Senator Obama should have known he had it coming that his ethnicity and religion would be questioned since they cannot outright attack him for being black.

For instance, Ralph Nader is Arab, but he has never been drawn on the New Yorker magazine as a member of Al-Quaeda. I think that all this violates Senator Obama's EEOC rights....but I am not sure if politicans can file a lawsuit the same as other kinds of workers...or where it would get him.

Well, we know Republicans are just mean anyway.

Anice Lady of GA 11:58AM August 28, 2008

I'm Brian from Ohio and I've got to respond to my namesake in Michigan.

I think it was W and his odd and pious synchophants who claimed he was a "messenger from God". I've got no way to verify that, but if it's true, it's further proof that God seems to be some kind of cosmic joker and revenge artist -- big into plague, pestilance and Republicans.

Nobody's really done more to turn the loving teachings of Christ into ugly, contemptuous anti-Christian hate than W and Republicans.

I saw where the Republicans had organized some kind of pray-in to ask their version of "God" for Obama's stadium gig to get rained on.

Apparently, that's not going to happen. But he seems to be sending a hurricane up to interrput the Republican Convention and remind people of what happens when you put corrupt, Christ-perverting haters in charge of Government. Kind of Katrina redux.

If he delivers that. He's got my vote.

Brian of OH 10:29AM August 28, 2008

But your "logic" doesn't hold water here.

It is clear that Obama is buying into his celebrity status and his calling as the anointed one... (example: Nancy Pelosi stating that he is a leader "God has blessed us with at this time")

When he already has the majority of the black vote sewn up, why would Obama go the the trouble of trying to evoke the memory of MLK's "I have a dream" speech with his acceptance speech. Even those on the extreme left admit that he has to appeal to white, blue collar voters to have a realistic shot in this election. Surely you can think of better ways to reach out to undecided white voters than that.

No, Obama is trying to portray himself as a god because he and those around him believe him to be near "godlike" status. And no amount of your ridiculous spin can rationalize away the brazen arrogance of the chosen one and his minions.

(PS--The Chosen One already came, about 2,000 years ago and change. You and your ilk may do well to find a new way to portray yourselves)

I'm Brian from Michigan and I approve this message.

Brian of MI 10:25PM August 27, 2008

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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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