All Hat, No Cattle

From Andrew Sullivan
A reader writes:

Enough of this rah rah Obama crap. Yes, he's a captivating speaker. He could potentially unite us, lead us, and revive our international reputation. We get it already. But of all the "pro-O" bloggers (and there are many), I was really hoping that you would be the one to really scrutinize his policy positions. What happens when when he turns to Plouffe on election night and says, like Redford in The Candidate, "What do we do now?" When are you going to stop cheerleading and start asking the tough questions? Get to it, man! The idol-worship is wearing thin!

I find this criticism bewildering. Obama has a host of policy positions, on taxes, healthcare, Iraq, Afghanistan, immigration, climate change. There seems to be a meme that because someone is inspiring, there has to be no substance. But they are not mutually exclusive categories. In the Democratic race, the only real substantive difference is healthcare mandates. And compared with McCain, Obama is a wonk.

Here are three links which in go in detail into specific policy decisions
one , two, three

This next one regards specific policy he discussed on tuesday in wisconsin. Now, I know we are all not obsessed like I am with this process but with just a little work typing Obama and Policy in google I get the obama policy book. Each chapter is expanded upon further in his website.

Listen, I understand all your friends are getting on-board the Barack Express and you havent. It is annoying isnt it? All the Hope-Mongering. The mindless obama-bots and obamaniacs infiltrating your inner circles. Me, I am not going to jam him down your throat -- you are not my problem. He has proven that with exposure and time, he can consistently get the well educated, well paid voter, because no matter how annoying the barack-ophiles are or how unbeleivably appealing his speech is
you will eventually get to examine his voting record and history you will find the plaform easily, and consider it on its merits.

My problem is with the poor, uneducated who dont have the time or ability to actually read this stuff. All they know is the clinton brand name as something familiar and safe. These people are also respond most to phrases like "All Hat, No Cattle" and "Empty Suit." These are the voters he needs to reach -and some of them were reached in VA on Wednesday. So, it may be sad to write it, but the best way to combat whisper campaigns are not indepth policy speechs but more positive rhetoric, 30 second tv ads, and a branding of HOPE that include short populist quips.